When you first get it your computer is lightning fast, but after 2 years mine is now slow like a lazy slug.  Task manager shows that the system is idle 99%, but if you select a menu, often it takes several seconds before it reacts.  I have used msconfig to stop a whole bunch of services (with small improvement).  I heard somewhere that Symantec/Norton virus protection can eat up resources and cause slowness but obviously it is necessary.  Short of the very radical step of reformatting the C: drive and starting again, what can I do to return my machine to it's former glory (speed/performance)?
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If your computer is running slowly, I suggest you click the link provided below to download, read, and follow instructions in this guide.  Unless there is a problem with your hardware (dying HDD, for example) then I GUARANTEE reading this guide will help.  Your system will be faster than it was when you first pulled it out of the box and set it up.\n\nhttp://www.tweakguides.com/TGTC.html
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u can speed ur pc by utilising less amount of ram in housekeeping functions , such as exitting any unneccessary startups, through msconfig command on the command prompt you can reach the startup list and u can uncheck any unneccessary process such as windows messenger etc. from automatically loading , then u can defragment your disk from startup>system tools>disk defragmentor.\nalso increasing ram is good option but it requires investment, then keep your registry cleaned by using any good registry cleaner , but only full versions will benifit you.
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Reformat your hard drive and do a fresh install. It'll be like a new computer when you're done.\nI do a fresh install about every two months, it keeps everything fresh and running fast.
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There are many possible causes that may be causing your computer to run slow.  You definitely haven't run out of hard disk space if you have 59.8 Gb free.  If you have been surfing the web, it is more than likely that your computer may be infected with malicious software that is "chewing up" your computer resources and making it run slow. Without further specific details about your computers slow behaviour it is difficult to give you specific fixes.\n\nHere is a list of questions that would help to identify exactly what is happening with your computer:\n\nQ1. Do you get errors appearing? Is yes what do the errors say?\n\nQ2. Is your computer slow to start-up? How long does it take?\n\nQ3. Do your programs crash or hang? How often?\n\nQ4. How much RAM do you have on your PC?\n\nQ5. Does you computer slow down only after running a specific program such as a game?\n\nQ6. Do you have a firewall, antivirus program, spyware remover or other similar removers running in the backgournd?\n\nQ7. What type of programs do you use regularly?\n\nQ8. Does you computer slow down gradually, or almost immediately?\n\nGenerally this is what you need to check if your computer is running slow:\n\n1. Scan and remove all forms of adware, viruses, spyware and other malicious software that may be running on your computer without your knowledge.\n\n2. Make sure you have the lastest Windows updates installed\n\n3. Find out what programs are starting up on your computer automatically and disable the ones you don't want to start-up when you power-up your PC\n\n4. Use the Task Manager to find out how many processes are running on your computer and identify the ones that don't need to be running and stop them.\n\n5. Do a hard disk health check and defragment it regularly.\n\n6. Perform other regular computer maintenance checks and housekeeping such as deleting temporary files.\n\nThere are 3 approaches to this type of computer problem:\n(a) Read through all the tips and hints at the resource web sites below and learn to apply the advice on your computer manually; or\n(b) Spend a small amount of money on some of the commercial tools that will fix most of your computer problems with a few simple clicks of a mouse; or\n(c) Get a geek friend to help you out.\n\nIt is probably a good idea to learn a bit about what makes computers slow down so check out the resource web sites below as you can also use some of the FREE TOOLS as a first step to fix the problems.
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please tell us what version of operation system do you use.\n\nI provide some ways in WindowsXP:\nI.\n1.Start\n2.Run\n3.type "msconfig"\n4.Startup\n5.you can disable all of them(you can recover them)\n\nII. Please use Windows Classic theme, it takes the lowest resource in operation system and makes your system faster.\n1.right click on the desktop\n2.Properties\n3.Themes\n4.choose "Windows Classic"\n\nIII. If you use antivirus software such as Norton Antivirus 2006, there is an option for antivirus software to scan comprehensive or common files, you might choose common files to make it faster.\n\nIV. Adjust the boot order in BIOS to make Hard Disk be the first will help one or two seconds.\n\nV. Defrage your Hard Disk with defragement software, there is a software in WindowsXP(you might use better defragement software such as Diskeeper)\n1.Start\n2.Programs\n3.Accessories\n4.System tools\n5.Defaragement\n\nVI. be sure there is no spy, virus or worm in your system, becuase usually it wastes myriad of system resource.\n\nVII. I worked with those ways with 128MB, Intel 1.5G(CPU), WindowsXP SP2 Professional and it worked fast, I upgraded it with 512MB for online game. I will recommand you to garner at least 512MB for WindowsXP Professional SP2
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No.\nGo to start->run, type msconfig and take the startup tab.\nUncheck everything except your antivirus.\n\n\nThis should do it. \n\nThe next time you restart, check the startup tab again. If some to the items you've unchecked are back as checked, you have spyware on your comp.\n\nUse ad-aware to clean these. Then try again.\nIf it still shows problems, you might have a virus that's slowing down your comp. Update your antivirus, boot into safe mode and run a scan.\n\n\n\nYou usually have only one antivirus on your comp, and it's usually running on your taskbar at all times. Just check out all the icons there to see which one it is. \nOr else you can go to add-remove progs and check the installed apps from there.
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Buggy RAM?  Was it all of a sudden?  Try running spyware tests.  Could be hidden programs task manager doesn't see.  You say you "sometimes" have the problem.  Any triggers that might set it off consistently?\n\nHave you considered reinstalling windows?  Might help.  Good luck.\n\n--An addition to Jerry's suggestion.  If the fan is kaput, the whole system will slow down.  I had a fan that was stuck from time to time.  Once I figured it out, my sys was back to normal.  Thank goodness I figured it out before the CPU fried.
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Try copying it to your hard drive at the lowest settings.  When you are copying, press ctrl-alt-delete.  Go to processes, and be sure to end any processes that you deem unnessesary.  It would be a good  idea to temporarly shut down anti virus programs, esspecially norton, because they tend to make your processor work.  These mess ups happen ussually because your processor isnt capable of ripping a dvd (which is very cpu intensive), and due even moderately  cpu intensive tasks, especially if it is an older cpu.  Turn off background programs that you think you dont need (avoid the ones with microsoft lable or if you think they are important...esspecially make sure you dont turn off explorer)...then try it.
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Ok. You probably need to clean out your computer thoroughly. There are bunches of ways to do this, so let me give you a bunch of options. Keep in mind that you can get alot of this stuff for free, but if you want you can pay for some of the stuff too, I will signify that.\n\n1. You probably want to defragment the computer. There is an option for that somewhere in control panel.\n\n2.Yes, you probably want to scan disk too. To do scan disk & defragment, go into control panel, and there will be an option saying performance and maintenance (make sure your in category view, not classic view, you can tell in upper left hand corner). Then there will be a bunch of options, go through them and figure out what you want to do, a no brainer after you get into performance and maintenance.\n\n3. You might have virus's, spyware. I suggest downloading this, it's totally free. http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-SE-Personal-Edition/3000-8022_4-10399602.html?tag=lst-0-1\nand if you got to the page you will notice it got 5 out of 5 stars from the editor, and a average of 4.5 stars from users.\n\n4.You might want to try WinAso. this is only a trial program, it still works when it is free, but not as good. it's still a good program when it is free though. http://www.download.com/WinASO-Registry-Optimizer/3000-2094_4-10477738.html\n\nI haven't tried this one either, it's like WinAso, but it is totally free, it has good reviews, you might want to try this. http://www.download.com/Advanced-WindowsCare/3000-2086_4-10511244.html?tag=pop\n\n5. There is another program that frees up Ram on your drive, you might want to try this too http://www.download.com/FreeRAM-XP-Pro/3000-2086_4-10485945.html?tag=pop\n\n6. Other than that, that is basically all the stuff I use, my computer isn't well equipped hardware wise, but I clean it out so good it runs really well, I have WAYYY more programs than I should too. Haha. I hope that helps.
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do you have a lot of programs loading at start up because the can slow your computer way down. Just make it so they don't start up when you first logon.
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well if u have windows then \ngo to start \nthen to Run \nthen in the space type "msconfig"\na new window will appear with many tabs\nthen select the last tab which is "Startup"\nthen remove the tick mark from all the programs which u don't want \nto run when the comp is booted\npress apply\nand restart the computer\nand when the comp restarts it will show a long message just\ntick in the box and press "OK"\nthe problem solved\n+keep in mind that ur comp needs space to run so if ur hard drive is full then your comp will automatically become slow and some times some programs wont work
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Run disk cleanup in start/applications/system tools\nAnd then run disk defragmenter in the same location\nMake sure you do it in that order.\nDisk cleanup will delete unused files and the defragmenter will bring files together that are in different places on the hard drive.\ni would suggest doing this whilst doing nothing else (e.g dont run any other programs while performing these) otherwise they may not work very well. once completed restart your P.c and voila!\n\nIf your P.C is still running slow it could be some kind of "ware", spyware, malware, e.c.t.\n\nIf still no then perhaps you should consider buying some more RAM. P.cs these day's really need 512mb at least to run really smoothly through high graphic tasks, like games for instance.\n\nIf you are still having a problem email me on yahoo. good luck\n\nP.S  IF YOU ARE USING NORTON THEN THAT WILL BE THE NUMBER ONE PROBLEM. DON'T USE NORTON ANTI-VIRUS OR NORTON ANYTHING. IT WILL GRIND YOUR P.C TO A HALT. THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHER PACKAGES OUT THERE THAT DONT DO THIS AND WORK JUST AS WELL, SOME OF THEM FREE.\n\nIf your looking for a free anti-virus or spyware try AGV. search it on google or watever. Go on there site a select free downloads. I use it and it is the best one i have ever used, and its completely free!
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Defrag if it needs defragmenting then do a disk clean up every week or so. Won't really make your computer go super fast but as fast as it can go. Also get a good antivirus program such as Norton, McAfee or a free one is AVG. You could add more RAM and a better proccesor. If you dont want to spend that much money then go to some websites to try CPU overclocking. Although that may be for experienced computer users and may screw up your computer if done incorrectly. Also spyware slows down your computer. Download Spyware Doctor, Lavasoft, S&D. Another solution buy a faster computer. :)
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I need some more details of your problem. What and when did it exactly lose its optimum performance?\n\nThe rundown of common problems are:\n\nViruses, spam, spyware, malware, etc etc...\n\nLow Free hard disk space. Windows uses the hard disk to store swap files which is an extension of your ram.\n\nSome or many background applications running. This includes your antivirus and anti spyware programs. With a special importance on antiviruses as they will severely lower your disk accessing capacity.\n\nTry to lower the visual settings if you are using windows xp. The visuals eat up both processing and ram capacity.\n\nTrim down your programs, too many unused programs further fragments the drive.\n\nHuge files like whole movies and zip files in excess of 500mb can slow your disk access as well.\n\n\nAnd the best answer is: Upgrade, upgrade, upgrade...\n\nConcentrate on Processing and ram... video and all other pluses should only come second.
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It's very possible that you have a virus, or spyware, or even more probable, a trojan.  Clean it out, and it should be faster.  Also try defragmenting the hard drive as well.
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Here are my recommendations.\n\nA major cause of slow PC's is fragmentation of the hard drive.\nYou need to defragment the HD at least once a week if not more depending on how much you use your computer, and what you do with it.  \n\nOne way is to use the defragment utility built into Windows XP.  It is slow but does the job rather well.  Go to:\nStart > Programs > Accessories > System Tools   and then click on System Defrag to run the tool.  It will take several hours so let it run overnight or simply walk away from your PC for a few hours.\n\nA great program for defragging automatically is Diskeeper. It costs $30 but is well worth it. Go to www.download.com and search for Diskeeper. Read the Publishers Description and the tech and user reviews. It can be scheduled to run automatically as the program deems necessary, and if you are using your PC and the program launches itself, it will take a backseat to whatever you are doing and give you the priority for CPU usage. I think you'll agree it's a good program to have. It precludes your needing to remember to defrag at regular intervals.\n\nAlso, another major cause of a slow PC is programs that are running in the background. Here's another really good Microsoft tool.  Go to Start > Run >   type in msconfig in the box and click OK.\nThis will bring up a window with several tabs at the top.  Click on the “Startup” tab.  It will list the programs that are running on your PC and eating up resources.  Look them over carefully and turn off any that don’t absolutely have to be running.  Simply click on the “check mark” in the little box beside the program name.  Clicking on it will remove the check mark.  Once you have edited the Startup list, click on Apply and then on OK.  Once you have exited the window, reboot your PC for the settings to take effect.\n\nAnother good thing to have is a little program called FreeRAM Pro. It is free and is available from www.download.com This program puts a little RAM meter on the System Tray and shows how much RAM you have remaining that you are not using at any given time.  I think you may be surprised at how little RAM you have to run other programs. Also, once it is installed you can right click on the little meter, then click on RESTORE and it will open the RAM display window. You can tweak the settings so it will display your CPU usage also.  Then just click “Minimize” and then “To System Tray” to return to the Task Bar.\n\n What happens when you run out of or run real low on RAM is that the OS recognizes the low or no RAM situation and starts using a section of your hard drive as memory. This is called virtual memory, or a swap file. The PC is constantly writing and reading from your HD. Comparitively, it is a very slow process. Check your motherboard manual and determine how much RAM each slot can hold. It will also tell you what type of RAM you need. You can also go to http://www.crucial.com and run their analysis utility to determine what kind and how much RAM is installed in your PC. Depend on your MoBo manual to determine the RAM limits of each slot though.\n\nHope this helps
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if it brand new it probably has alot of uneeded stuff running in the back ground.\nif you know how to cleanout your startup in msconfig you may want to start there.\ntry defraging...that might help