Computer unusually slow!!

[Cajonas]

Hi everyone!

This problem i've been having has made it quite a misery working on my computer.

The thing is it takes a long time to start and when it does it works preety slow.

While i'm on the net or just working with files it's not noticeable

It get's slow when- for example: i'm Burning a CD or searching for a file with Windows Search

--> in games- my computer meets the requirements more than good* but the game runs extremely slow.

--> I noticed in the Task Manager on the performance tab that the PF Usage is high (varies from 250-300MB EVEN WHEN THE COMPUTER IS IN STANDBY!!) and the amount of free Physical memory is low (206,000 of 522,988)

It's not that I only have to wait for a long time for a program to start but sometimes even my mouse pointer is moving in frames!!

*-pentium4 3GHz

-512DDRAM

-ATI Radeon 9600 256MB

Please if anyone has any idea what's causing my computer to be this slow-help!

[Scarecrow Man]

Perhaps your page file is too low.

http://www.theeldergeek.com/physically_set...e_file_size.htm

A good size for a windows page file is 1.5 * RAM, therefore with 512MB of RAM, a 768MB page file is ideal.

[-pops-]

Do you have "Go Back" installed? This program seems to be the ultimate resource hog and on some installations thinks it's more important than the programs it is trying to record such that it takes over with its record keeping at the expense of everything else and the whole machine slows down.

[Cajonas]

I've checked the PF usage settings and they are set just as you said so it must be something else...

I've put an attachment with the picture of my task manager while the computer is in standby- i hope it can help you to help me :).

And thank you for the effort

P.S. I don't have "Go Back" installed

[mark2]

I think your used page file size is comparable to my system and your processes are the same.

Have you had any HD or CDrom read probs recently?

see http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=817472 and check you are set to use dma on your ide channels

SYMPTOMS

After you suspending and resume your computer several times, hard disk performance may be reduced. If you use Device Manager to view the properties of the IDE channel towhich the drive is connected, the Advanced Settings tab may show that the current transfer mode for the drive is "PIO Mode."

WORKAROUND

To re-enable the typical, or faster, transfer mode for an affected device:

1. Double-click Administrative Tools, and then click Computer Management.

2. Click System Tools, and then click Device Manager.

3. Expand the IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers node.

4. Double-click the controller for which you want to restore the typical DMA transfer mode.

5. Click the Driver tab.

6. Click Uninstall.

7. When the process completes, restart your computer. When Windows restarts, the hard disk controller is re-enumerated and the transfer mode is reset to the default value for each device that is connected to the controller.

let us know the results

[Cajonas]

Mark 2 thanks for the good idea.

I checked the controlers and all of them are set on Ultra DMA...

And I haven't had any problems with my HD or CDROM...

Also I've read the instructions on the microsoft support page you provided for me but not much seemed to be connected to my problem

--> you see, I think that what caused the problem is that a few monts ago I used a program called "Advanced uninstaler PRO" which is USUALLY a very useful one. (speeds up the system) -->

-->This wasn't the first time I used the Registry Cleaner option which should remove ONLY unnecessary or broken registry entries, those which refer to files that don't exist etc

But it seems that that time something went wrong because that was about the time when the computer started slowing down.

The problem is I don't have a registry backup... :(

Should i reinstall Windows..?

[-pops-]

When things go wrong like you are experiencing I always re-install my operating system. The difference between my situation and yours is, I think, that I always keep an up-to-date full system backup. This backup consists of the full system backup and incremental backups going back for some weeks or months so that I am almost always able to revert to my system as it was before whatever disaster occured.

A re-install from the backup takes about 30 - 45 minutes even on quite large setups and after that time the system is back exactly as it was at the time the backup was made.

Assuming you don't have a backup, what I would do is save whatever information you wish to retain and then do as you suggest and re-install your operating system. You can conveniently save your personal files and settings using the Files & Settings Transfer Wizard (part of ME and XP).

When you are up and running again, give urgent consideration to making a full system backup - and keep it up to date. There is lots of information on the forum (quite a bit from myself) about backing up so a quick search should find it easily.

[Cajonas]

Are you saying that by reinstalling Windows i'll lose all my personal files?

Because i've reinstalled windows several times (not on this computer but on my old one) and as far as i remember all the files were left where they were before reinstalling..

And don't I get a "Repair" option when I start the Windows setup if I already have it installed?

-->anyway it shouldn't be a problem saving my files... But id like to be certain that reinstalling is the best and ultimate way of repairing this prob...

p.s. Now I am completely aware of the risk I was taking by not making a backup. I try to keep my computer as clean and secure as possible but i guess backing up the registry slipped my mind being that I didn't expect to be doing anything that might bring it into risk...

[-pops-]

Your and my understanding of a re-install might differ slightly. Be that as it may, you would be very unwise not to have a backup copy of at least your personal stuff on the machine under any circumstances but, if you are doing anything with the Windows installation itself, it is my opinion that a backup is essential.

Regarding the "Repair" option, yes, you should get that but what I have just written still applies. These things have no absolute guarantee that they will be successful, as I have experienced, and if you have ANYTHING of importance on the machine you would be very ill-advised not to have at least one copy of it (that applies at any time, not just when adjustments to the operating system are being carried out).

Re-installing from a backup is my method of choice in overcoming most Windows problems but, I always ensure that I backup regularly (I am known here almost to the point of irritation about this) so that any losses I may have are minimal. I'd rather do this than spend hours/days of my time sorting out problems that may not, in the end, be successful but then, I use my computers as functional tools rather than an end in themselves.

[Cajonas]

Not irritating but you've said it enough times to make me feel like a jackass and an idiot that I AM, for not making this backup...

I'm planning to make my backup of important files and documents at least by putting them on a CD or DVD before I approach the Windows reinstallation method.

Of course I am uncertain this would fix the problem as anyone else would be..but at this point I (or even you) don't have a better idea considering the circumstances. Which I know are irritating to you since you consider backing up an important issue on which i couldn't agree with you more but I try to forgive myself for making this mistake. B)

And please notice: It's not that I don't have any experience with computers and I definetely don't think I'm a newbie, it's just that this kind of problem is something new for me. I actually have my whole 40GB hard disk from my old computer copied on 15 DVDs but I haven't had this one for long and I don't have anything much important on it, yet, so I didin't feel the need to back it up.

Thanks for all the advice, pops. I appreciate it. :)

---> If anyone has any other idea-please be kind enough to share it with me (and pops ;) )