This is a simple question that I'm sure you see all the time! I ask it
all the time, too, but I'm never satisfied with the answer. OK, here
it comes:

How come my computer sometimes runs so slowly? And I mean S-L-O-W.
Like minutes to load something. Or eventually timing out altogether.
Here's what I already know:

1. Turn off applications that are running in the background. DID THAT.
2. Get rid of spyware, adware, viruses. DID THAT, as far as Spybot,
NOrton Anti-Virus, and Ad-Aware are concerned.
3. Optimize the HD. DID THAT.

One of my main problems is working on CafePress, on which I have a
shop and spend a lot of time uploading images and making changes.
Right now it's so slow I can't practically work on it.

Here's my system info:
OS Name	Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version	5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer	Microsoft Corporation
System Name	THE-NEW-KATE
System Manufacturer	Dell Computer Corporation
System Model	Dimension 8300
System Type	X86-based PC
Processor	x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 9 GenuineIntel ~2992 Mhz
Processor	x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 9 GenuineIntel ~2992 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date	Dell Computer Corporation A02, 7/21/2003
SMBIOS Version	2.3
Windows Directory	C:\WINDOWS
System Directory	C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device	\Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale	United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer	Version = "5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158)"
User Name	THE-NEW-KATE\Kate
Time Zone	Pacific Standard Time
Total Physical Memory	512.00 MB
Available Physical Memory	262.65 MB
Total Virtual Memory	2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory	1.96 GB
Page File Space	1.22 GB
Page File	C:\pagefile.sys

I'm on one of two PCs in our house that are networked via wireless setup.

If there's more you need, let me know.

I'm looking for specific info, things I can check to make sure I'm
doing everything I can on the system I have, to make it run as fast as
it can. If, after all that, it's still slow, I'd like some suggestions
on what I can do to improve the speed.

I'm not sure what to offer as payment for The Answer That Will Change
My Life, but if one of you can help me, I'm willing to pay for it! I'm
thinking this may be common-knowledge type stuff so I'll start by
offering $10. Is that fair or insulting? I have no clue.

I'm not an idiot when it comes to computers, but I'm not exactly
advanced either, so please give your answers in basic, step-by-step
terms.

Thanks so much!
 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Request for Question Clarification by livioflores-ga on 28 Aug 2005 14:17 PDT 
Please post a HijackThis log here see for instructions at the following page:
"HijackThis Tutorial - How to use HijackThis to remove Browser
Hijackers & Spyware":
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?showtutorial=42
*********************************** 
 livioflores-ga --- Here is the HijackThis log file:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 3:26:21 PM, on 8/28/2005
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\CTsvcCDA.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\EPSON\EBAPI\SAgent2.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\MsPMSPSv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wscntfy.exe
C:\Program Files\Creative\SBAudigy2\Surround Mixer\CTSysVol.exe
C:\Program Files\Creative\SBAudigy2\DVDAudio\CTDVDDet.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTHELPER.EXE
C:\Program Files\EPSON\Ink Monitor\InkMonitor.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Works Shared\WkUFind.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe
C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\TeaTimer.exe
C:\Program Files\Linksys\WMP11 Config Utility\WMP11CFG.exe
C:\Program Files\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe

O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3}
- C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.ocx
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper -
{AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program
files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O2 - BHO: CNavExtBho Class - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} -
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus -
{42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - C:\Program Files\Norton
AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} -
c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CTSysVol] C:\Program
Files\Creative\SBAudigy2\Surround Mixer\CTSysVol.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CTDVDDet] C:\Program
Files\Creative\SBAudigy2\DVDAudio\CTDVDDet.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CTHelper] CTHELPER.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AsioReg] REGSVR32.EXE /S CTASIO.DLL
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UpdReg] C:\WINDOWS\UpdReg.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Ink Monitor] C:\Program Files\EPSON\Ink Monitor\InkMonitor.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccRegVfy] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec
Shared\ccRegVfy.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Microsoft Works Update Detection] C:\Program
Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Works Shared\WkUFind.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MSMSGS] "C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MsnMsgr] "C:\Program Files\MSN
Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SpybotSD TeaTimer] C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search
& Destroy\TeaTimer.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Google Search - res://C:\Program
Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsearch.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Translate English Word -
res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmwordtrans.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Backward Links - res://C:\Program
Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmbacklinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Cached Snapshot of Page -
res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmcache.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel -
res://C:\PROGRA~1\MI1933~1\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: Similar Pages - res://C:\Program
Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsimilar.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Translate Page into English -
res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmtrans.html
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} -
C:\PROGRA~1\MI1933~1\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683}
- C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger -
{FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program
Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O12 - Plugin for .spop: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Plugins\NPDocBox.dll
O16 - DPF: {17492023-C23A-453E-A040-C7C580BBF700} (Windows Genuine
Advantage Validation Tool) -
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=39204
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class)
- http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1123469431256
O16 - DPF: {B38870E4-7ECB-40DA-8C6A-595F0A5519FF}
(MsnMessengerSetupDownloadControl Class) -
http://messenger.msn.com/download/MsnMessengerSetupDownloader.cab
O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{2BEF2C17-9BEE-4CA9-B9C0-323C03BF7EBC}:
NameServer = 204.127.198.4
O17 - HKLM\System\CS1\Services\Tcpip\..\{2BEF2C17-9BEE-4CA9-B9C0-323C03BF7EBC}:
NameServer = 204.127.198.4
O17 - HKLM\System\CS2\Services\Tcpip\..\{2BEF2C17-9BEE-4CA9-B9C0-323C03BF7EBC}:
NameServer = 204.127.198.4
O17 - HKLM\System\CS3\Services\Tcpip\..\{2BEF2C17-9BEE-4CA9-B9C0-323C03BF7EBC}:
NameServer = 204.127.198.4
O23 - Service: Symantec Event Manager (ccEvtMgr) - Symantec
Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec
Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Password Validation Service (ccPwdSvc) -
Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec
Shared\ccPwdSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Creative Service for CDROM Access - Creative Technology
Ltd - C:\WINDOWS\System32\CTsvcCDA.exe
O23 - Service: EPSON Printer Status Agent2 (EPSONStatusAgent2) - SEIKO
EPSON CORPORATION - C:\Program Files\Common
Files\EPSON\EBAPI\SAgent2.exe
O23 - Service: Norton AntiVirus Auto Protect Service (navapsvc) -
Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
O23 - Service: ScriptBlocking Service (SBService) - Symantec
Corporation - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\SYMANT~1\SCRIPT~1\SBServ.exe

---

Request for Question Clarification by livioflores-ga on 29 Aug 2005 13:38 PDT

Hi!!

Your HJT log seems to be clear so I suggest you to do the following
when your computer start running very slow:
Open the task manager (Ctrl + Alt + Del) and at the Processes tab
search for a process that is using most of your CPU, if you can
identify such process we will have a strong clue to what is happening
in your computer.

Regards,
livioflores-ga

---

Clarification of Question by k8hayes-ga on 01 Sep 2005 18:53 PDT

Everyone: Thanks for the great suggestions! There are many I haven't
ever tried. I'm about to go out of town for a week, so won't be able
to play around with this until 9/11 or so. So it goes. One question
for Sean: That constant network running thing sounds just like our
situation. Is there anything I can do to relieve my poor old
motherboard? Buy a younger, perkier one?

There are three possible causes you may have for the slowness:
1 - You are running Nortons Anti-virus. Sometimes Nortons gets
corrupted in a way which makes it look like it is running but it is
'thrashing' around in the background. Disconnect from the Internet,
uninstall it, search for and remove all files with the words Symantec
or Nortons in it. Then reboot your computer and see if that makes a
difference.

2 - You have a huge amount of swap file space allocated on your
machine. The rule for a swap file is 2 x the physical memory. You have
2GB of swap file but only 512Mb of physical memory. This means there
may be a lot of processes swapping themselves on and off your hard
drive thus slowing things down.
Cut down your swap file and also use spybot's advanced functionality
to remove some of the unnecessary processes (listed below) from your
startup list.
control Panel - System Properties - Advanced Tab - Performance button.
Use the first tab to tune back some un-needed visual gimmicary the
Windows gives you by default. it really does slow things down. Use the
second tab to set your page file / swap file to 1GB.

Unnecessary processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\MsPMSPSv.exe
C:\Program Files\Creative\SBAudigy2\Surround Mixer\CTSysVol.exe
C:\Program Files\Creative\SBAudigy2\DVDAudio\CTDVDDet.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\CTHELPER.EXE
C:\Program Files\EPSON\Ink Monitor\InkMonitor.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Works Shared\WkUFind.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\MsnMsgr.Exe
C:\Program Files\Linksys\WMP11 Config Utility\WMP11CFG.exe



Another cause for computer slowness is if a computer is searching for
a device which doesn't exist.

For example, if your computer thinks it has a floppy disk drive and
you don't then it will 'hang' for up to a minute or so trying to find
it. This sort of problem can also affect you if there are incorrect
network settings or you have shared drives (mapped network drives) to
another machine that is not on line.

Steps to check out if this is the problem.

Go to the control panel and check out your hardware (System - Hardware
Tab - Device Manager button).
Are there any unrecognised devices (they have a yellow question mark next to them).
Are there any devices listed which are not on your machine? (e.g.
floppy disk drive, extra CD-rom drive...)
A common problem cause is having a CD in the cd-rom drive that is slow
to spin up and be read. Is there a disk in there?
If you disable your network (Control Panel - Network Settings - Right
click - Disable) does it speed things up at all? This will show up
problematic network settings.
Does your computer work better in safe mode? Try it out to see if it
does. Also try safe mode with and without network settings. This may
point up a device driver or program which is slowing things down.

Lastly, download a hardware memory tester and check that your memory
isn't showing up as faulty and also check the performance of your
machine.

Should all this fail then a trip to your dealer is probably in order :-}

Just something I have noticed.
If you are running the wireless network on full speed with contanst
use, most motherboards are not built to handle such bandwidth - this
can cause massive slow down.
With windows based slow downs, its is almost always a software setup
problem. Format and start off on a clean slate, then only install the
programs you plan on using.
Programs that stay in your memory (TSR's) are going to slow you down,
that also includes programs that appear next to your taskbar clock.
I hope this helps, if not vent about your problems by breaking stuff.
Best regards, Sean.

"Go to the control panel and check out your hardware (System - Hardware
Tab - Device Manager button).
Are there any unrecognised devices (they have a yellow question mark next to them).
Are there any devices listed which are not on your machine? (e.g.
floppy disk drive, extra CD-rom drive...)"

And this is how lame I am: I couldn't figure out how to capture text
with Snag-It, so I captured my device manager output in two jpg files.
Can I email that to you so you can look it over?

THanks,
Clueless and IMpatient in Livermore

"Go to the control panel and check out your hardware (System - Hardware
Tab - Device Manager button).
Are there any unrecognised devices (they have a yellow question mark next to them).
Are there any devices listed which are not on your machine? (e.g.
floppy disk drive, extra CD-rom drive...)"
*******
I found one floppy drive definition that I disabled, otherwise it
looks like there are many duplicates, but I don't know if it's safe to
disable them.

And this is how lame I am: I couldn't figure out how to capture text
with Snag-It, so I captured my device manager output in two jpg files.
Can I email that to you so you can look it over?

THanks,
Clueless and IMpatient in Livermore