Another slow computer.

I at first thought that it might be due to malware, so I posted the symptoms the Malware Removal forum http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=289769

Machine specifications are: XP Pro running on HP Compaq DC7100, 160Gb, 106Gb free, 4Gb RAM.

It starts very slowly and once it gets going any program I want to use is also slow to start.

From switch-on to complete desktop loading takes about 4 minutes.

IE8 takes at least 30s to load, sometimes longer.

Chrome can take at at least a minute, sometimes longer and sometimes displays a box asking if I want to "kill" the pages (why plural?) or to wait.

I also notice that there are sometimes many instances of chrome.exe in Task Manager - there are 6 at the moment (with 2 tabs active in Chrome).

I have run the system file check during which there seemed to be quite a bit of disk drive activity, but can't say that I notice any improvement.

Suggestions please.

 

We are starting to see a few XP users seeing problems. I have a theory - no more than that - that these users are permitting installed software to update, and as updates may include features that are now incompatible with XP there will be adverse effects, of which slowing down would certainly be one. I would think that the only way an XP system can continue as it was would be to effectively freeze it as it was in April and change nothing.

The answer of course is to accept that XP is no longer safe to use and plan to migrate as soon as possible.

 

Thank both, Earthling and JoeRay12.

To upgrade would be very nice, but that would require not only a new operating system, but a new computer on which to run it. Being on a pension, I just can't afford it at the moment.

If I had even an inkling which of my software might function better if I reverted to an earlier version, I would do it if at all possible.

But there are older programs which I have, programs which haven't been updated, which are also running more slowly, and worked well until a couple of weeks ago.

Would updates to other programs have affected these?

 

There are lots of charities here in UK that try to recycle unwanted used computers to those who need them. Not all of these used machines are XP, many are Vista and Win 7 systems perfectly usable for years to come. Try a bit of searching in your locality and I would be surprised if you are unable to get your hands on a suitable system for very little outlay.

 

I'll keep my eyes open, thank you.

I can do that with CCleaner or jv16Power Tools.

I tried some of Black Viper's recommendations on previous computers but found they had unwanted effects (don't remember what they were) so I abandoned them.

I will take another look. Having gained a little bit more knowledge since then, perhaps I can select a few of his modifications without incurring any inconvenience.

I defragment my drive frequently using MyDefrag. Every few days with the daily setting, every few weeks with the monthly.

I just ran Autoruns and see that there are numerous files which were not found. I will investigate what they are/were for and delete any useless/leftover ones.