XP Insane slowdowns - Any ideas?

[Hodgkinson]

>Ps This is my very first post sent via AWEB on the Amiga

Good for you! (Advising on how to fix a XP PC from an Amiga…That’s just legendary)

When I do a disk clean (Often after a defrag) I use chkdsk from command prompt, that way I can turn all the checking features and get at least some sort of report of the systems condition.

Deleting past restore points? I've never thought of that one...Don't they drop off manually after a certain time?

Re your (And other) posts, I've had a look at ad-aware on the web, but im cautious about installing more scanning software. AntiVirus is a must, due to the amount of photos/personal work on there and the malicious nature of viruses/RootKits, but im worried that installing other scanners may end up in the system slowing down more (Over a long time scale) as a result and provide little additional protection since the system is not internet-connected.

Invariably files/USB Sticks are scanned with AVG on the "Internet PC", then by AntiVir (Manually updated) on my “Work PC” before being accessed. I try to avoid using the network, especially when the internet is fired up (Heh, h*a_c_k_e_r*s, try to get around that one :-D )

Apart from viruses, what other malware is likely to cause an appreciable threat/slowdowns on a non-internet PC? Any suggestions on a *safe* registry cleaner?

Thoughts (And comments) appreciated,
Hodgkinson.

[Speelgoedmannetje]

Hodgkinson wrote:

Apart from viruses, what other malware is likely to cause an appreciable threat/slowdowns on a non-internet PC?

Virusscanners...

[Hodgkinson]

 :crazy:  :lol:

Yup (Mine's currently got at least two apps in the "Ignore" list)

[Speelgoedmannetje]

It's funny but really, often virusscanners are to blame for excessive slowdowns. Well, I've often experienced by helping people who've bought a pc with pre-installed virusscanners from Norton or McAfee. A lot of pre-installed software is trash anyway, btw.

[Hodgkinson]

> Norton or McAfee

Hello...Muhahaha...(Norton in particular).
The free stuff usually works without too many problems. Fork out for Norton and it does just about as much damage to your system as the viruses :crazy:

[Hodgkinson]

Ah, (Re a Packard-Bell PC) then there's the demos that come pre-installed, and the in-built registration reminders that flash up over whatever it is you're working on.

Build a PC yourself anyday I say...Then at least you've got all the driver disks for any re-installs (Heh, as mentioned).

[Speelgoedmannetje]

Hodgkinson wrote:
> Norton or McAfee

Hello...Muhahaha...(Norton in particular).
The free stuff usually works without too many problems. Fork out for Norton and it does just about as much damage to your system as the viruses :crazy:

Indeed, and that's the thing I was saying. But I haven't tried your virusscanner yet. It might be the cause of the problem.

[Speelgoedmannetje]

Hodgkinson wrote:
Ah, (Re a Packard-Bell PC) then there's the demos that come pre-installed, and the in-built registration reminders that flash up over whatever it is you're working on.

Build a PC yourself anyday I say...Then at least you've got all the driver disks for any re-installs (Heh, as mentioned).

My Dell laptop was fine, though, with a minimum of crap pre-installed.

[metalman]

Speelgoedmannetje wrote:
It's funny but really, often virusscanners are to blame for excessive slowdowns. Well, I've often experienced by helping people who've bought a pc with pre-installed virusscanners from Norton or McAfee. A lot of pre-installed software is trash anyway, btw.

@Hodgkinson
Its probably your virus scanner.

I got rid of AVG because of excessive slowdown.

Switched to Threatfire Antivirus

[Holmes]

Sorry I previously said that I use Spybot for finding spyware and checking the registry, but Spybot does'nt check the registry. I use CCLEANER for checking the registry and also it
deletes web history and windows tracks.

[Speelgoedmannetje]

metalman wrote:

Speelgoedmannetje wrote:
It's funny but really, often virusscanners are to blame for excessive slowdowns. Well, I've often experienced by helping people who've bought a pc with pre-installed virusscanners from Norton or McAfee. A lot of pre-installed software is trash anyway, btw.

Its probably your virus scanner.

I got rid of AVG because of excessive slowdown.

Switched to Threatfire Antivirus

That's what I said, I've noticed by other people who ask me to clean their computer, that it's the case.

[Hodgkinson]

Hmmm. Might have a look at ThreatFire (Depends on how it updates - Does it have a "Manual" update feature?)

So even AVG isn't that good with system resources, then?

[twizzle]

if you want a good antispyware, i also use spyware doctor
go to google, type in the search "google pack" in the options all you need to click is the program spyware doctor.

after you have download and installed it, remove the google downloader in add remove programs.
i find this better than spybot for finding things.
i still have spybot installed,but it just sits there protecting incommings.
i also have windows defender,and mcafee

[metalman]

Hodgkinson wrote:
So even AVG isn't that good with system resources, then?

Hogged system resources for 10-15 minutes after booting, running scans, and during and after downloads.

[metalman]

@Speelgoedmannetje
I was agreeing with your observation,
I've noticed the same thing.  :-)

[motorollin]

Get a Mac and say goodbye to slowdowns, OS reinstalls, virus scanners and spyware. If you really insist on running Windows, then use Boot Camp to dual boot. Better yet, run it in Parallels. That way you can have a hardfile for a clean base system burned to a DVD, and if you need to "reinstall" Windows then all you need to do is copy the hardfile from the DVD.

Of course, once you start working in OS X, you'll never go back to Windows ;-)

                             

--
moto