very slow computer

hi there. i need advice, i have downloaded the latest msn messenger program onto my computer, it made it so so slow, so i decided to uninstall it, once i did that, it got even slower! someone suggested i remove norton 2006, i did that, its still slow, when i search for 'msn' on the computer i get plenty of files, do i delete all of them too? im very afraid of deleting important items. what else can i do? what else should i be looking at? thanx

Hi papillon123,

Deleting is not the same as Uninstalling, and can leave a variety of remnants trying unsuccessfully to run, thereby consuming machine resources with no good result. Be extremely cautious about "deleting". Ask questions before you take action if you are not certain of what you are doing.

I glanced at your other post and notice a large number of applications and processes running from Boot.
"turning some of those off" may help free up machine resources.

However, with the limited amount of information that you have provided, it would not be possible to make effective recommendations.

Here's my suggestion:
Run a Full Test at http://www.pcpitstop.com (it's free and the activeX to run the test is safe)
When you get your results, post the TechExpress Link back here into this thread at "other computer problems" here at TomCoyote.

With that information, we will be in a better postition to provide you with informed recommendations.

Best Regards

thanx, will do that asap, just a question, what sort of file is this pls? msxml4-KB927978-enu

At first glance that appears to be the Monthly update of Microsoft's Malicious File Removal software. Where are you finding it in your machine. I'll double-check on the actual file and be right back to you. Yep, that would be the log entry of the installation routine for Malicious File Removal tool. Again, where in your machine are you seeing it. Microsoft is sometimes kinda "messy" and doesn't clean up after itself after it completes the automated updates. It's supposed to remove those items, but sometimes/often misses a few. Best Regards

hi. its in my D drive folder name; 094bf998ae1e9c1427e2 its 275KB its using up alot of space sorry im not really good at this, i really appreciate ur help

Don't worry, you're doing just fine. Windows creates weirdly named files like that to intimidate people, and help cloak the fact that they don't always know what they're doing. Just leave the file alone for now - it's safe, though will eventually become a waste of space. Don't delete it right now. It is there partly in case you need to uninstall compenents of the recent Microsoft updates. After a while of smooth running with the updates, it will be your option to keep it or not. We can take another look after you've run the pcpitstop Full Test and posted the TechExpress Link. That will help us have a better understanding of how your machine is currently functioning and give us some clues about steps you can take to make things better. Best Regards

hi again

here it is

http://www.pcpitstop.com/techexpress.asp?id=FN4BFW8S1ZWSZW7J

OK, you have a fine laptop system with a few problems.
Some can be solved easily and immediately.
Some will require a more serious repair that you may or may not decide to perform at this time.

Yikes!!! You said you Uninstalled Norton, And it appears that your DID.
The problem is that you are now Running without any AntiVirus protection at all. Not good.

Go here - immediately- download AVG AntiVirus 7.5 and install it.
Select the (free) version. It is a good product. I use it on several machines and recommend it widely.
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/2/lng/us/tpl/v5

Next:

Let's start with the easy stuff.

In your Pit Test…… Take a look at the "Windows" Results Page.
See all those applications and processes with Purple and Gray background?
None of those are "required" and all of them are contributing to your CPU load and consuming RAM resources.

You can "Disable" all of them without causing any harm to your machine.
Even when "Disabled" you can Run any of them "manually" by clicking on their program Icon or the "xyz-specific-program.exe" in C:\Program Files\xyz-specific-program (where xyz is some program like Sony or HP, or Realplayer or Vaio, etc).

to "disable" those unnecessary applications and processes, GoTo:
Start - Run - (type)MSCONFIG - Enter - Select - StartUp(tab)
disable the item by Removing the (x) checkmark/tick from in front of the corresponding item.
You can disable all of the items in the StartUp list except your (newly installed) AVG AntiVirus references.
If later you wish to have any of those items available and starting up when you turn on your machine you can go back into MSCONFIG and replace the checkmark/tick.

Next:

DEFRAG both C:\ and D:\
Run your Disk Defrag (3) three times in a row on C:\
Then Defrag D:\

Next:
Comment: Laptops Run at 1/2 speed when running on battery power. This is to conserve electricity and increase the time that you can run on battery power. However, your machine may still be running at 1/2 speed because of a setting in Power Management or Power Options.

GoTo:
Start - Control Panel - Power Options
On the Power Options Screen you will probably see that "Laptop" or "Max Battery" or "Minimal Power Management" is Selected as the "Power Scheme".
Change to "Home/Office Desk" or to "Always On".
This will allow your machine to run the CPU at 1200mHz when connected via A/C power, rather than your current 600mHz.

Quite a difference.

There are some other "small" changes we can make after you have completed these changes summarized here:
1. Install AVG AntiVirus
2. Disable various optional applications and processes via MSCONFIG
3. Change your Power Management Scheme

But I won't be able to "see" which others to address, until after you've completed the above, and then Run another Pit Test to have another look at the fresh Results.

You should also Uninstall this "very old" JAVA Runtime Environment file:
J2SE Runtime Environment 5.0 Update 1
(It has known vulnerabilities.)
Actually, while you are at it…….. Uninstall the version 09 also, and go get the newest version 10, here:
http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp
about half way down the page:
va Runtime Environment (JRE) 5.0 Update 10
(use the Offline installation procedure. Download, then close the IE window, then install)

After you finish the above, we can discuss the "larger" issue, which is that your C:\ Drive is practically FULL.
This will continue giving you BIG PROBLEMS, because there is very little room for Windows to "spread out" to do its job. And Windows likes to do that.

Run and Post a fresh TechExpress from a New Pit Test after you complete the above.

Post back with your progress.

Best Regards

hi there, i followed ur instructions and i hope i didnt do anything wrong…is there any improvement?

http://www.pcpitstop.com/techexpress.asp?id=FN4BFW8S1ZWSK07J

thanx

From the appearance of your PCPitstop Full Test, there is excellent improvement, particularly with the reduction of CPU Load - Due mostly to your action of "disabling" various unnecessary processes from your Start Menu.

AND, you are protected by the excellent AVG AntiVirus, without unwanted burden on your CPU/RAM.

However, your machine appears to still be running at 1/2 CPU speed, due to Power Management settings.
Did you make the suggested change in Power Management?

When you ran the PCPitstop Full Test was your machine being powered by Battery, or by A/C power adapter cord plugged into an A/C outlet?

hi there, i followed ur instructions and i hope i didnt do anything wrong…is there any improvement?

That would be a questions for you to answer.
Are you noticing any improvement?
There are additional steps that can be taken.

Best Regards

hi dough, thanx for ur reply, yes there is a slight improvement, but not as much as i'd hope for, i wish i could get it running as fast as i had it a few weeks ago…if theres anything else i can do…i'd be grateful if u told me what steps i can take… while the test was going running, it was on battery, i did the changes u explained earlier…its on home office/desk… actually im wrong to say slight improvement, its more than that, it better than that, just not what it used to be

Remove your Battery. Plug in your A/C adapter Cord. Run a fresh Pit Test. (you refer to "i wish i could get it running as fast as i had it a few weeks ago") Many things could be affecting this. You may have installed additional application software. You may have been running on A/C only (as I recommend above) Your C:\ Drive may not have been so "full" at that time. You may have adjusted "visual affects" vs "best performance" You may have made changes to your machine's registry. Please describe the various changes that you may have made during the time period you describe.

basically i had installed msn live messenger, then went to uninstall it, when i did that i lost all the applications such as games. so i went back and got this back through windows components, thats about it, since then i have a my d drive full, i think thats about it. do u think i deleted something essential?

OK. It would be hard for me to respond to the question: Doug, what have you changed on your computer in the last 2 weeks. So I can hardly expect you create a detailed list of changes you've made either. The BIG issue now for your machine, is the amount of Hard Drive space that has already been consumed in your C:\ Drive and the extremely limited amount of (free space) you have on C:\ A few Questions: Do you save Documents, Files, Media onto your C:\ Drive that could be saved to D:\ Drive? Are there Application Software Programs installed on C:\ Drive , that could be uninstalled and reinstalled on your D:\ Drive? Is your (Account Name) My Documents Folder on C:\ or D:\ ? __________ I'm doing some reading about your Power Management right now and will get back to you. Have you made the Power Management changes that I recommended? Will you Run a fresh Pit Test with A/C power only….. As a general rule - - take out your battery while on A/C unless you are charging the battery for later mobile use away from A/C power.

Hi papillon123,

Various hardware companies (brands of computers (sony, dell, hp, etc.)) provide differing Power Management Schemes.

I believe that I gave you "mistaken advice" about how to set your Sony machine for best power management when connected to A/C power source.

The "highest performing" setting should be: "Minimal Power Management"
Start - Control Panel - Power Options -
in the pull-down Menu for Power schemes - Select - Minimal Power Management (when on A/C)

Use Minimal Power Management when you are connected via A/C adapter and you want best performance.
When you are using Battery Power, switch to "Portable/Laptop" to conserve power and extend battery time.