Hello. Hopefully someone can give me a clue...I have a Dell Dimension 4550 2.5GHz, 1Mb RAM, 60Gb hard drive running XP SP2 and (amongst other things) McAfee (scan, firewall, spam...) and AOL for Internet access. Over the past month my pc has started running progresively slower and slower, boot up time is now >5mins, another 4/5 mins for AOL to connect, and my fad for running iTunes in the background for music now interrupts what I'm doing in the foreground, i.e. for example mouse movement is jerky, and keyboard actions are delayed.
I've tried all of the obvious maintenance actions...clean up, defrag, clearing temp folders, caches, cookies....to no effect.
When things are slooooooow the PC is clearly active as the hard drive is chuntering away and it's little green led is flashing. But what's it doing?
Any words of wisdom anyone please?

Curlyben

Sounds like time for some serious maintenance.

Here's some simple steps for you to take.
1/ Remove temp files and other rubbish form your system, either with inbuilt Disc Clean up or CCleaner.
(Disc clean up; open my computer > right click your C: drive > properties > Disc clean up button on general tab. Let it run and select everything)
2/ Defrag; open my computer > right click your C: drive > properties > Tools tab > Defragament now button.
3/ Error checking; open my computer > right click your C: drive > properties > Tools tab > Tope button > check now. Check BOTH boxes, OK the error message and reboot.
4/ Page file; Right click 'my computer' > properties > advanced tab > Performance settings button > advanced tab > Virtual memory (near the bottom). To make things easier for you select System managed size > click set > then OK's all the way out again. (I suggest 'system managed' as there is no consensus on min and max sizes to set)
5/ To make sure everything is running fine also run both anti virus and anti spyware apps (make sure that they are updated first ) (AVG is good and free AV)
(A couple of good removal tools are Spybot and Adaware)

ALso an on line virus and spyware scanner is Trend Housecall

Hope all this lot helps

[SIZE=1] OK I know its a C&P from previous answers, but it'll work fine here as well[/SIZE]

LTheobald

Stupid reputation spread... I'm with Ben here. You seem to have done everything except for run some spyware tools. Download the two Ben mentioned and give them a whirl. Might also help to run them in Safe Mode (hold F8 on reboot, you'll be presented with a safe mode option).

DPL

Thanks for the prompt responses. Well impressed.

I've run anti-virus, clean up, defrag and emptied caches and temp folders till I'm blue in the face and for no improvement.

Should have mentioned in my original note....the pc is running AOL spyware, not that it's ever said it's found anything mind.

Perhaps the other thing I should mention is that if I leave the machine on for long enough - like all day - and sneak up on it later, it seems to have sorted itself out. I'm now using it after having booted up 10 hours ago and at the moment it's fine. Every key response is as it was when new, virtually instantaneous. If I shut it down and re-boot, nightmare! It's as if for the first hour after booting the processor or RAM or wahtever is "busy", or full, or sleepy or hungover from the night before. Is this the correct pc speak? I don't think so, but you know what I mean, I hope.

Any more ideas?

Curlyben

Please try doing everything I have posted as you may be very surprised at the results.
These are the steps are always use to improve system useability and they work a treat.

Also check to see what programs are set to start when the system does.
Go;
Start > Run > Type "MSCONFIG" > start up tab and uncheck the bits you DON'T need to run from start up.
You should only have about 6 or so including your Anti Virus, mouse drivers, graphics and a few others.
Turn off things like Messenger, CD Rom burner, Quicktime, Real player, etc.

DPL

I'm part way through your notes, thanks.

Error checking is currently running and has been for thirty minutes. At this rate it'll be another hour...

This bit of your earlier post: 4/ Page file; Right click 'my computer' > properties > advanced tab > Performance settings button > advanced tab > Virtual memory (near the bottom). To make things easier for you select System managed size > click set > then OK's all the way out again. (I suggest 'system managed' as there is no consensus on min and max sizes to set)...I can't do. At 'Properties' I have a 'general' tab and a 'shortcut' tab...whilst both have 'advanced' buttons, neither leads me to 'performance settings'

Curlyben

Sounds like you have clicked on a shortcut for "my computer"
You can also get to system properties via control panel, its in the performace and maintenance menu.
The box that comes up should say System Properties at the top.

DPL

culryben - I've done all you suggested including scan, defrag, chkdsk, system managed size etc...no improvement. It took the pc 11 minutes 23 seconds from hitting the on button for it to boot up and then to open AOL. Here's the sorts of things that are going on...when first booting a black screen appears with the Windows XP logo and a box with 3 blue chaplets moving across. That goes on for over two minutes as the chaplets start fast, slow down and stop and stumble and start...at the screen where you select a user for windows it's a devil of a job to highlight the user as the pointer movement is erratic and moves with a spurt or not at all so putting it on a particular icon is a nightmare...and all the time the hard drive is making working hard noises that carry on even after you're booted and logged on. Opening any programs at this time results on slow performance, jerky pointer movement and (if on) distorted audio. Time for a lie down in an dark room.

Further suggestions much appreciated...David

Curlyben

Did you have a look in MSCONFIG ?
If after al this it's still running slow then your only other option is to backup all your important data and do a format and rebuild.
This definately solve your problem.

DPL

Well I looked in there but to me it's all gobbledeegook. I wouldn't know what I should have as opposed to what I shouldn't have. How do you tell?

There should be about 6? There's 36!!

plguni,gstart,AOL9.0TrayIcon,AOL Broadband check, AOL Tray Icon, BTTray, Digital Line Detect, Exif Launcher, Hot SyncManager, RAMASST, HotSync Manager (again), realsched, REGSAVE, RealPlay, lxbbbmgr, gsicon, dslagent, ccRegVfy,AOLDial,DirectCD,fts,mcmnhdlr,mcvsshld,oa sclnt,mcagent,mcupdate,MpfTray,MskAgent,MSKDetct,r undll32,WatchDog,AOLHostManager,iTunesHelper,gttas k,msmsgs

Triffic...