slow computer

I have a computer that runs extremely slow. Every program takes a while to open and every task can sometime take a 10 to 20 seconds to complete. The computer is running on a Pentium III 800 mhz processor with 512mb of RAM and windows XP. Here's a specific example of the issues that I run into: running a virus scan program takes almost 10 hours to complete and the hard drive is only 20 gb.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

--Will

You should check what background programs you have running. The more junk happening in the backgroun the slower the machine will run. It could also be a slow hard drive or some configuration problem like DMA for the hard drive turned off.

Also run spybot search&destroy, ad-aware, and CW Shredder to clean out any spy/adware that can slow things down, and defragment the drive, multiple times if necessary.

I tried the suggestions in the two posts to my original message but that didn't work. Does anyone know of any way to test my hardware? I have an 800Mhz pentium III processor and 512MB of RAM in the computer and that appears to be recognized by the computer when I start it up but maybe they aren't working correctly? Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Thanks!

How much free space do you have on the drive? Empty Recycle Bin. Delete temp Internet files (and reduce that setting to 5mb). Dump your cookies.

Unless that works, my money says the best option is going to be a reformat.

Unfotunately, the cleanup suggested didn't help. I could do a reformat, but I think this issue that I am running into began shortly after I formatted this harddrive. Is there any way of testing my harddrive access speed, or a test that my RAM is working correctly, or that the processor is working correctly?

thanks!

I don't know what kind of software is available to do testing like that. Personally, I'd say take it to a shop if you don't have the option to try the individual parts in another computer. If you can lay your hands on some spare memory, or CPU, etc., you could try putting them into the system in question (one at a time) to see if it works better. That might help to narrow down the problem.

HDD Health
http://www.all4you.dk/FreewareWorld...page=11&cat=007
http://www.panterasoft.com/
HDD Health is a full-featured failure-prediction agent for machines using Windows 95, 98, NT, Me, 2000 and XP. Sitting in the system tray, it monitors hard disks and alerts you to impending failure. The program uses Self Monitoring and Reporting Technology (S.M.A.R.T.) built into all new hard disks, and can predict failures on your hard drives. A host of alerting features include email, local pop-up messages, net messages, and event logging, while using no system resources.

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HD Tune
http://www.hdtune.com/
HD Tune is a hard disk utility which has the following functions:
Benchmark: measures the raw performance
Transfer Rate
Access Time
CPU Usage
Burst Rate
Hard Disk information which includes firmware version, serial number, disk capacity, buffer size, transfer mode
Hard Disk Health
S.M.A.R.T. Information (Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology)
Temperature
Power On Time
Will also test USB drives, Disk-on-key and Compact flash cards (in a card reader)

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Memory tester
http://www.simmtester.com/PAGE/products/doc/docinfo.asp

Ctspd
http://woundedmoon.com/win32_freeware.html
Identify ram speed/manufacturer and other specs.

http://windows-help.net/cgi-bin/2003/6.28.cgi?62802
As part of the Online Crash Analysis Web site, Microsoft released a tool that allows you to test the memory of your computer. The Windows Memory Diagnostic tests the Random Access Memory (RAM) on your computer for errors. The diagnostic includes a comprehensive set of memory tests. If you are experiencing problems while running Windows, you can use the diagnostic to determine whether the problems are caused by failing hardware, such as RAM or the memory system of your motherboard. Windows Memory Diagnostic is designed to be easy and fast. On most configurations, you can download the diagnostic, read the documentation, run the test and complete the first test pass in less than 30 minutes.

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Free online Spyware detector
Click on > Scan without registering
http://www.pestscan.com/
Or ,
http://www.spywareinfo.com/xscan.php
Screen for Adware, Spyware, Scumware, Diallers, ’Jackers and other unsolicited commercial software .
Online security tests
http://scan.sygatetech.com/
http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20010916S0021
http://www.pcflank.com/
Online trojan scan
http://www.trojanscan.com/
http://www.pcflank.com/

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Online testing
http://www.pcpitstop.com/

Ask and you shall receive. Thanks from both of us, jmatt.

That's OK Aronya , lets hope they help .

First, I presume you dont have windows xp, if you do that could be a major problem because its not meant for a p3.

1 The bottom right hand corner of your start bar is the system tray. Get as little as possible things in there by going into each program and uncheckin "run on startup". This will optimize your startup
2. You need more mhz probably. You can find a cheap proccessor at valexpc.com. If you don't know how to install one you need to check up online or find a technician

Did the PC every run fast- HDD is an important factor too, newer ones run at ~7200 to 10k RPMs.

Also cooling IS valuable, for it to function faster try poping in a fan or two.

(^^;? (Such a stupid computer is very rare, even valuable example?)

So much so that, one comment, because it poped up.

I think that CPU loads the data from HDD, then he transfer it to the memory. Then main factors are CPU, HDD and memory.

The stupid CPU does exist, and fiddling with data slowly. Stubborn HDD is more common like a donkey. Also bad memory is so self-explanatory. They can work together very happily.

Take each one into busy business box, it cry out.