my 2 week old netbook is running really slowly

Hi i recently purchased an asus netbook to replace my old one as i needed a bigger hard drive etc. The problem is this one seems to be all of a sudden running really slowly. I have avast anti virus on it and there doesn't seem to be any viruses etc. and i downloaded codestuff starter to disable a few startup programs but to no avail can anyone help me. thanks. col

More system information please.

ASUS makes a lot of notebooks with various configurations and operating systems and also may have offered TrendMicro which is fine but can be a hog on low resource machines.
So we need more info.

One way to get a good overview of your machine, operating system, and software, plus indicators of functionality, is to run the PCPitstop - Overdrive.

Here's how:

You must use your Internet Explorer for this procedure. (doesn't work so well in Firefox or others). If your machine is running Vista or Windows 7, you must Select IE to “Run as Administrator”. After completing PCPitstop OverDrive you can close your IE browser and re-open it Normally so that you are no longer running as administrator.

Go to: http://www.pcpitstop.com
Click on "Free Computer Check-up" listed below PC Pitstop OverDrive
In the User Login - Click on "Sign up FREE!"
You'll need to submit a valid email address and create your own password, then click - Create Account(button)

Now enter your email address and password to Log in, Select - Scan this system Now!(button)
You will then be asked to download an ActiveX component and allow it to install.
It is safe and does not compromise your privacy.
Follow the on-screen prompts to install the ActiveX and to allow the Full Tests to be run on your machine.

The Full Tests take about 2 1/2 - 3 minutes on most machines.
When complete, a Results - Summary - Recommended Fixes will be displayed.

Please post the URL internet address, from your Results, back here into this Topic Thread so that we can review the configuration and present performance levels of your machine.

Note: During the graphics 2D and graphics 3D testing, your screen will display some rapidly moving objects.
If you are sensitive to visual flashing, it may cause dizziness. Therefore, look away from the screen during that portion of the testing.

After reviewing the results we will be more informed and may be able to provide better recommendations for you to work towards improving your machine's performance.

While PCPitstop does offer a variety of Paid Products, the PCPitstop OverDrive testing is FREE. Please ignore the references to Paid Products. At WTT we prefer to provide manual solution instructions that you can apply directly to your machine.

Best Regards

Hi i have done as you asked not sure what you mean by select IE to run as administrator, i thought i was an administrator on this computer but can't be sure i am a bit of a novice and really only know the basics

kind regards, col


http://www.pcpitstop.com/betapit/sec.asp?conid=24948008

"run as administrator" is an elevation of permission which allows your machine to access information about itself and share that information with the PCPitstop Overdrive software. (no personally identifying information is disclosed) Overdrive (run in Internet Explorer) is only one of many utility and application programs that require "elevation of permissions". Here's how to run Internet Explorer as "run as administrator". Go to the Start Orb. If IE is visible in the left-hand list, you can then "right-click" on Internet Explorer, and then from the drop-down list select "run as administrator" by normal "left-click" This elevates IE to have greater access to all features of the machine. If IE is not visible in the pinned list, then Select: All Programs - scroll through the list to Internet Explorer - right-click - select "run as administrator" Normally, you would not want IE to have elevated privilege when browsing the internet, because any malicious software (malware) you may encounter during your browsing session would also have that greater access to your machine's software and could cause more damage more easily. Since your purpose for causing IE to "run as administrator" is to facilitate the PCPitstop OverDrive full tests, and since we know that OverDrive is "safe", you are fine with this procedure. **** Just be sure to close out all instances of Internet Explorer, before deciding to do any general internet browsing…. for safety sake. Have a look at the amount of information available in the Overdrive Test Results right now. You will see very little is being reported about applications and processes that are currently running. That tells me you navigated to and initiated PCPitstop Overdrive "without" selecting Internet Explorer to "run as administrator". Now Close all instances of Internet Explorer. Next: Perform the instructions from above for Internet Explorer to "run as administrator". Next: Navigate to PCPitstop, select to run Overdrive again and allow it to complete a fresh full test. Then capture the URL to the new results page to post back here into these Forums in this thread. You will notice that a greater amount of technical information is reported, when you use Internet Explorer "run as administrator". In your particular case, having that additional information will probably be useful to you in understanding the problem you are currently experiencing with "slow computer". I think you will discover that you have too many processes running from your start menu, particularly in light of the fact that the machine appears to only have 1024mb of RAM memory. Windows 7 (even starter) should have at least 2048mb RAM memory. Yes even though your machine is running one of the new "Atom" quad-core CPU's An older "rule of thumb" is that it is best to have at least one full Gigabyte (1024mb) for each core of the CPU. That might not completely hold true with the "atom" series of CPUs, but your machine would certainly run better with (2) two GigS of RAM (2048) and even better with (4) four GIGS (4096mb) of RAM Memory. That is probably at least part of why you are having "slow computer". Another possible cause is that you recently (06/04/2012) installed AVAST! antivirus. AVAST! is an excellent utility, but trying to run it on your machine places too much burden on your limited amount of RAM. You also have another excellent utility "CrashPlan" which is an automated backup system to send your newly created documents, media, and files to storage "in the cloud." It takes a lot of system resources (including RAM) to run "CrashPlan" constantly in the background. There may be other softwares that are running that we will be able to see, once you post a fresh OverDrive Results when you run IE "run as administrator" when you go to run your next Overdrive. Here's one way to think about it. You have 1GB (1024 mb) RAM. The software you currently have running is already consuming 86% of your RAM resources, leaving only 14% for any other application or process you might wish to run for productivity or entertainment, or security and backup applications which may be running in the background. That's just not enough. Uninstalling AVAST! and replacing it with Microsoft Security Essentials, may help somewhat. Uninstalling or disabling "CrashPlan" may also help. But the bottom line is that you will probably find that you need more Physical RAM installed on that machine. Please run a fresh PCPitstop OverDrive (with IE selected with "run as administrator"), then post the URL to your fresh results. We can then take a better look. But I do think we will still be recommending more RAM

http://www.pcpitstop.com/betapit/sec.asp?conid=24948008 this is the admin.pitstop url.

I have the crash plan set to back up my data every night at 9pm would it be better for me to do it manually every night so i don't have it running in the background all the time.

also how do i get more ram, is it just a case of taking it to a computer shop and asking them to up grade it how much is that likely to cost?

does windows seciruty essentials still protect my computer against viruses, is it expenseve?

kind regards, col

It looks to me that CrashPlan is actually not consuming much system resources, at least not during the PCPitstop OverDrive testing.
Recommend that you leave it as is for now.
Do you create quite a bit of new file information every day?
For instance, important new files would probably be created daily if you were using the machine to run a business or online website.
But if you were simply browsing, viewing media, exchanging email and social media, you probably don't create many files at all.

If not creating many files as per above example, then you might benefit from adjusting the schedule to something other than every day, depending upon your preference. Maybe weekly?
That's up to you.
I've not installed nor used CrashPlan yet, so I can't be of much use to you with changing the schedule settings.
___________

What is the Model of your ASUS NetBook?
______________

You can discover how much and what exact type of RAM your machine can use, plus get an idea of the cost involved, by running the Memmory Scan at http://www.crucial.com
It too is a safe utility, and will provide you with some good information about RAM.
You do not have to purchase from Crucial in order to use their scanner and decision making process.

Once you know what kind of RAM your computer needs, you can go shopping, locally or online.

I do sometimes purchase from Crucial, but more often from NewEgg, TigerDirect, and even Amazon.

Fortunately your machine now appears to have just 1 stick of 1024mb RAM (we don't yet know the type and you will learn by running the Crucial scan).
But you would be able to purchase one additional stick of 1024mb in order to double your current RAM… and that might be enough, depending about our usage and how briskly you wish your machine to perform.
4GB would be "better" but you would have to purchase 2 identical sticks of RAM, remove the current one stick and install 2x2048mb RAM in order to reach 4GB on that machine.
If it were me, I'd go for the 4GB if I had the ability in my budget.
That is a cost-benefit decision for you to make, but you probably "need" at least 2x1024 RAM

You can have a local shop install it, if you prefer.
Or RAM is fairly easy to install yourself, even on a NetBook.
Your owner/user manual should provide instructions of "how-to.

Microsoft Securtity Essentials is free to use for private individual use, though you should check with Microsoft if you are using it for business purposes.
MSSE is still "free" for small business use unless you exceed a large number of machines in your office running MSSE.

If you opt for Microsoft Security Essentials, go ahead and download the installation packet from Microsoft.
And then Uninstall AVAST! completely before installing MSSE.

Ok i have followed your instructions and done a little digging and it turns out that the ram on this netbook can't be upgraded as there is no slot for it and the 1 gig it already has is soldered onto the motherboard. Is there any other way i can speed it up for instances stopping certain processes which are not crucial to have running all the time. col

What is the ASUS Model number of the machine?

its an asus X101CH from what I can tell the 101C is upgradable but not the CH Col

http://liliputing.com/2012/03/asus-eee-pc-…k-teardown.html

Wow… Apparently longevity wasn't #1 priority with this machine was designed.

As TomK has pointed out… That certainly is a "WOW"!

colinvansmith,

Sorry you are not having the kind of experience with your new laptop which you expected.

This machine perhaps does give you a larger Hard Drive for storage but otherwise is not a "performance" oriented machine.
With it's "atom" CPU and fanless/No Fan design, it seems to be intended for "economy" and energy saving use.

This laptop appears to have been created for "basic" usage, and you will not likely be able to squeeze much of anything that resembles lightning speed high performance, from this machine.

With that said, there may be a couple of things you can do to get the most performance possible from the machine:

1. In Windows Explorer (Computer) - right-click on Computer - Select Properties - then Select "Advanced System Settings - then under the "Advanced"(tab) Performance press the "Settings" button - next Select "Adjust for best performance" - Apply - OK
** Doing this will reduce the visual effects available in Windows 7 (icons and desktop will not be as pretty) but may give you an improvement when running applications or viewing media (movies, and online browsing)

2. Right-click on any blank space of your Desktop - Select - Personalize - then Select Screen Saver - then Select - "Change Power Settings".
the machine is probably set for either "Power Saver" or "Balanced". Use the down-arrow to "Show Additional Plans" - Select "High Performance"
** "High Performance may give you a feel of more brisk performance, but will probably reduce the time period of your battery operation, and you will have to recharge your battery more often when not using A/C power. (You may get better performance when running A/C than with battery)

3. You may get better performance if you use Microsoft Security Essentials instead of AVAST!

4. Otherwise there are not many items running in StartUP that are consuming much. CrashPlan is not consuming as much as I had suspected, so if you use it, keep it. However, you do appear to have BitTorrent installed, and BitTorrent can hog performance resources. (We don't recommend P2P software at all, because of risk of malware)

5. There may be an L2 Cache available in BiOS that may not be turned on, and which might provide minimally better CPU function, But your BIOS/CMOS may or may not provide that option.

So otherwise, you have a basic machine that is not designed for competative high performance.

Hope some of the above is useful to you.

Best Regards

IGB of RAM that cannot be upgraded! I wonder what the design "usage" goal was when fitting a notebook with a 320GB HDD / 1GB fixed RAMM / W7 ? Shame on you ASUS!