Computer Running Slow

Vintage Fee

New Member
For the last few weeks my laptop has been running very slowly. When I try and open any shortcut it can take between 5 and 10 seconds to open up. Firefox regularly freezes - it switches to 'not responding' every few minutes and I have to sit and wait for it to start working again. This only takes a few seconds, but as you can imagine it's very annoying having to do this so regularly!

I know absolutely nothing about computers so had my boyfriend take a look. He ran a cache cleaner (which I do at least once a week anyway), a registry optimizer and a defrag - though it told him the computer didn't need one at the moment and was up to date. My virus software (AVG) is up to date too - when it first started running slowly I ran a few scans just to double check I hadn't accidentally acquired some sort of virus.

He's gone through and deleted programmes I don't use. I also had a lot of things activated to start up with the laptop, so he cancelled some of those to see if it'd increase the performance. We can't figure out what else it could be, so he suggested I post my problem on here in the hope that somewhere out there can help us out!

Cheers in advance!
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Compaq Pressario CQ60
    CPU
    GenuineIntel(R) CPU T1600 @ 1.66GHz 1.66 GHz
    Memory
    3.00 GB

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
In addition to my above post, if none of the attempts are successful, here is a list of the most common reasons for a slow computer
10 Reasons Why Your Computer Runs Slow -

Maintain the computer properly
To maintain your computer

10 Tips on How to Properly Maintain Your Computer

Steps that I did not notice on the guide include:

Running a scan disc before doing a defrag

Using Microsoft Security Essentials and Malwarebytes.

Making System Restore points, at least once a week

Makaing a system Image once a month (varies by user)

Not relying on your A/V common sense, should prevail. You know of many sites can cause a problem.

Do not use any reg cleaning or optimizing software.

Download and use Ccleaner about once every two months. Untick any registry entries.
http://www.piriform.com/

If you follow these instructions, you will be trouble free for a long time to come.

Be sure to back up your hard drive about once a month (varies by user) and to keeep system restore points up to date.

Optimize Windows 7
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
There are many Ways to Speeding up Vista alot of them are mentioned in this Tutorial

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/81176-speed-up-performance-vista.html

Tip   Tip
Also if you find any MS Services that you do not use For Example (VPN or Connection to Company Networks) Then you may Disable them


warning   Warning
Disabling the Wrong Services may make you computer Inoperable. Vista Forums or Microsoft is not Responisble for any Damage made to your computer. Please proceed at your own Risk


information   Information
Depending on your Hardware the Speed that is Avaliable to your Computer is Different to Mine



"Windows Vista", the Start Orb, and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.


Hope This Helps,
Josh
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Built
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 2400 @ 3.10GHz
    Motherboard
    Foxconn H67MP-S/-V/H67MP
    Memory
    8.0GB DDR3 @ 665MHz (2GBx4)
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD HD Radeon 6870
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    SMB1930NW (1440x900@60Hz)
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Hard Drives
    977GB Seagate ST31000524AS ATA Device (SATA) + 250GB WD iSCSI attached Drive
    Case
    Novatech Night
    Keyboard
    Standard PS/2 Keyboard
    Mouse
    Dell HID-compliant mouse
Brilliant, thanks a lot guys. Will give those suggestions a try in the next few hours and see if it helps me out!!
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Compaq Pressario CQ60
    CPU
    GenuineIntel(R) CPU T1600 @ 1.66GHz 1.66 GHz
    Memory
    3.00 GB
With the two tutorials and the other suggestions that we gave , you will find your solution.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
you can run a memory checker as well that will check the integrity of the system RAM to ensure its working correctly

some BIOS's come with this feature built in, this can be accessed by pressing usually an 'F' key or Esc during initial booting of the machine, and digging around in the bios menus to find it.

check you pc has also recognised all the ram installed as i recently had a very slow runnin laptop and turned out one of the physical memory modules had failed, effectively leaving me with half the memory!

more info the computer would help, make/model etc

hope you sort it!
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Fujitsu Siemens
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Due T7250 2.0GHz
    Motherboard
    Amilo xi2528
    Memory
    2Gb DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GeForce 8600M GS
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" TFT
you can run a memory checker as well that will check the integrity of the system RAM to ensure its working correctly
some BIOS's come with this feature built in, this can be accessed by pressing usually an 'F' key or Esc during initial booting of the machine, and digging around in the bios menus to find it.

check you pc has also recognised all the ram installed as i recently had a very slow runnin laptop and turned out one of the physical memory modules had failed, effectively leaving me with half the memory!

more info the computer would help, make/model etc

hope you sort it!

:confused: Huh
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Built
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 2400 @ 3.10GHz
    Motherboard
    Foxconn H67MP-S/-V/H67MP
    Memory
    8.0GB DDR3 @ 665MHz (2GBx4)
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD HD Radeon 6870
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    SMB1930NW (1440x900@60Hz)
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Hard Drives
    977GB Seagate ST31000524AS ATA Device (SATA) + 250GB WD iSCSI attached Drive
    Case
    Novatech Night
    Keyboard
    Standard PS/2 Keyboard
    Mouse
    Dell HID-compliant mouse
certain BIOS programs on certain motherboards have a RAM checker in them, you can run that to test the memory
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Fujitsu Siemens
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Due T7250 2.0GHz
    Motherboard
    Amilo xi2528
    Memory
    2Gb DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GeForce 8600M GS
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" TFT
I have never known a Motherboard to have a RAM Checker in them - I have heard of RAM Remapping but that is not on a Laptop Mobo

To Check your memory Please see the Attached Folder

Note   Note
RAM Checker will not Speed up your computer but will Check it for any Faulty RAM Sticks


Many Thanks,
Josh
 

Attachments

  • Check Memory.zip
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My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Built
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 2400 @ 3.10GHz
    Motherboard
    Foxconn H67MP-S/-V/H67MP
    Memory
    8.0GB DDR3 @ 665MHz (2GBx4)
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD HD Radeon 6870
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    SMB1930NW (1440x900@60Hz)
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Hard Drives
    977GB Seagate ST31000524AS ATA Device (SATA) + 250GB WD iSCSI attached Drive
    Case
    Novatech Night
    Keyboard
    Standard PS/2 Keyboard
    Mouse
    Dell HID-compliant mouse
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