Windows XP-Slow performance, but...

[SkH]

Hello all!

I really need help. I'm have Windows XP and it's installed 8 months ago. When it was installed, that's like a turbo-boosted rocket-fast, and now, after 5 months later, I noticed that the Windows is slowing down...

My PC's performance (hardware) is very-good - a very-good hi-tech machine, P4 max.

The Windows is the problem. I tried out many programs, the first time a registry mechanic has doed faster the Windows... but then a week later, the Windows is slow again. I scanned my system with Norton AntiVirus aswell, a tons of slowing-down viruses had, I removed all from my system. That looked like the Windows's speed improved with that, but then 2 week or a week later the Windows is again slow. I tried again that "tricks" but that will not affect the entire system. I suspect that the Registry is too big and have a million registered thing to it - I'm have a specialist registry program and it scanned my registry harshly-deep, and that takes 20 or more minutes! And I noticed that a registry place have like serial names... mm... I think that's the problem - too many registrered that have, and the Windows is slow because thats.

And, when I click to a object with my right click, to make the menu it's take a hard 5 or more secs to open the menu!!!! That's why???

And... finally, I'm using my PC with Windows XP a pretty much and all a day - installing new programs, using programs, etc. So I using my Windows XP "harness"...

So ny question is that: WHAT THE PROGRAM IS SPECIALIZED TO THAT PROBLEM, and WHAT'S MY WINDOWS XP's PROBLEM CONCRETE?

Thanks to all Windows (XP) specialist! I hope my problem is fixed, and my Windows is turbo-boosted rocket again, like when it installed! ;) :)

(Oh, and I don't want to install my Windows again - I have all the required programs, etc. so if I reinstall that takes me a tons of hours!)

THANKS ALL!!!

[-pops-]

Welcome to Windows Forum :)

Do you use any anti-malware other than an anti-virus?

For a starters, try scanning for spyware with http://www.superantispyware.com/

Come back when you've done that and tell us if there is an improvement and we'll take it from there.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Hello, and welcome to the Windows Forum!

Windows slowing down can have various causes, but first and foremost it is malware - viruses, trojans, spyware. You need various programs to protect you from these nuisances.

1. Anti-virus software; you seem to have that. Make sure the definitions are up-to-date.
   
2. Anti-spyware; possibly more than one. I have Ewido, Spybot Search & Destroy, and Windows Defender. Others here recommend SUPERAntiSpyware.
   
3. A firewall. Windows XP firewall is not enough; I recommend the free ZoneAlarm. (But not the latest version; the previous version 6.1.744.001 works well).
   

Before you install anything run the free online scan at Ewido.

Once your system is free of malware, clean it up from unneeded files; CCleaner can help you with that.

Also, get rid of things you don't need from your startup folder; you can use msconfig or the 3rd-party Startup Inspector.

Finally, it helps to defragment your HD regularly; the interval depends on the level of fragmentation.

P.S. my Windows XP is as fast as it was when it was new 4 years ago.

[SkH]

Hello to Yours!!! :)

Thanks the fast-reply!!! :0 :)

I'm do this things and I write the situation with the Windows! :)

- You have the Windows XP on your HD and work 4 years ago??? :0 :0 :0 :0 Wow!!!!!!! Then I feel I'm in good hands now!!!!! :)

[-pops-]

- You have the Windows XP on your HD and work 4 years ago???

I have a machine that was loaded with XP one day after the launch date. It is still my main machine and, like Pat's, is as fast now as it was then. I built, and keep maintained, all the machines for my son's graphics business - they, likewise, are still going strong and fast.

[SkH]

- You have the Windows XP on your HD and work 4 years ago???

I have a machine that was loaded with XP one day after the launch date. It is still my main machine and, like Pat's, is as fast now as it was then. I built, and keep maintained, all the machines for my son's graphics business - they, likewise, are still going strong and fast.

Thanks, but... I by concrete I doesn't writed this to you... it's to Pat Willener, they write they Windows XP is installed onto they HD 4 years ago...

Now...

I do everything y'all write to me. I tried Startup Inspector, I cleaned my starup, I ran the SUPERAntiSpyware program, and It's all cleaned my malware's (a tons of malware has deleted, thanks!!!), and finally I ran Norton AntiVirus's full-system scan. 0 virus, 0 malware, and the startup is fine.

Now, my Windows XP is improved, faster than later. The starting is a lot faster, but I'm now have the wait when I click to a object with my right click. That's why have? For this have a solution?

Thanks again! ;)

[SkH]

Now I ran CCleaner, and the things now fatser!!! Other program?

[-pops-]

- You have the Windows XP on your HD and work 4 years ago???

I have a machine that was loaded with XP one day after the launch date. It is still my main machine and, like Pat's, is as fast now as it was then. I built, and keep maintained, all the machines for my son's graphics business - they, likewise, are still going strong and fast.

Thanks, but... I by concrete I doesn't writed this to you... it's to Pat Willener, they write they Windows XP is installed onto they HD 4 years ago...

I was making the point that I have a mchines in which Windows XP has been installed for a longer time - October 26 2001 to be exact (= 5 years and 8 months).

Have you run Ewido as recommended above?

[SkH]

I was making the point that I have a mchines in which Windows XP has been installed for a longer time - October 26 2001 to be exact (= 5 years and 8 months).

Whoow!!! :0 :0 :0 :0 But how the heck this running and you how used it? And all works well, fast like in the install day???

Have you run Ewido as recommended above?

Yes, I ran the complete system scan.

But my new problem is that: when I clicked with the right click into a object (the folders are slower than other files), it takes 5-10 secs to appear the menu! Why it takes that long? In the install's day, the menu open is takes 0 sec! It appeared in no time!!!

Now what?

[-pops-]

OK, now you have cleaned out all the obvious malware, it would be best for you to do a HJT scan. Follow the instructions given on http://forums.windowsforum.org/index.php?showtopic=6901 and post the results on that section of the forum. One of our experts will examine it for you.

[SkH]

OK, now you have cleaned out all the obvious malware, it would be best for you to do a HJT scan. Follow the instructions given on http://forums.windowsforum.org/index.php?showtopic=6901 and post the results on that section of the forum. One of our experts will examine it for you.

Okay I do that thing...

But please you reply to my previous question: how you used your Windows XP to that will stand 4 year 8 months??? Did you used that programs? Post your all programs and all things you do with it! Thanks!

[-pops-]

The security programs I run are

AVG anti-virus

Ad-Aware (not so much now as I feel it has been superseded)

Spybot Search and Destroy

SpywareBlaster (works in the background)

SpywareGuard (works in the background)

Together with Sygate firewall.

More recently I have used:

SuperAntiSpyware

Ewido

A squared

Occasionally I will carry out an online scan and twice I have had a HJT scan analysed here - with good results.

[CurlyWhirly]

I am in a similar position to -pops-, I originally installed XP in 2001 and I have never suffered any slowdowns or had to reinstall the operating system.

If I have any problems, a backup usually puts it right.

I do, however, run similar programs to keep my PC 'spring cleaned' so to speak.

[SkH]

Thanks! :)

Now I have to run Ewido's full system scan (I'm only do the quick).

Then I post my impressions.

That HiJack thing: I'm not sure what that will do...

[andsome]

Thanks! :)

Now I have to run Ewido's full system scan (I'm only do the quick).

Then I post my impressions.

That HiJack thing: I'm not sure what that will do...

If you post a Hijack This scan as requested, one of our experts may find malware that has NOT yet been uninstalled with the anti malware programs, and they can help you to finally clean up your computer. If you have done as requested, and installed a firewall, you mut also disable the Windows firewall, otherwise you may get conflicts.

[SkH]

I'm ran Ewido's full scan, everything is cleaned. :)

My new problem is that: when I clicked with the right click into a object (the folders are slower than other files), it takes 5-10 secs to appear the menu! Why it takes that long? In the install's day, the menu open is takes 0 sec! It appeared in no time!!!

[SkH]

Sorry, but I not need this HiJackThis thing. I runned it, but it just writed down into a text file my startup that was I cleaned and I need all the programs that was in the startup.

Now I have 2 problems:

It's okay that I cleaned my PC from all the viruses and spyware's and malware's, but...

1st:

The STARTING-UP the Windows is slow... it takes aprox. 3 minutes to run all the programs that was on the startup, and I have not too much!!!

2nd:

When I clicked with the right click into a object (the folders are slower than other files), it takes 5-10 secs to appear the menu! Why it takes that long? In the install's day, the menu open is takes 0 sec! It appeared in no time!!!

I fragmented my HDD's, and it says now that not need to fragment everything.

So... my Windows is not as fast as it installed onto it... :( It's slower...

(And that slowing down that I have 600.000+ files on my HDD's?)

THAANKS ALL!! I really need help! I feel me bad that have man's that they have their Windows a 4 years ago!!!!! I want to never install it again!!! :( :( :(

Please help!!!!

[-pops-]

I think you misunderstand the HiJackThis. You do NOT delete the files it brings up. You post the results of the scan to the correct section of this forum and allow one of the resident malware experts to examine it for you.

(BTW 600,000 files is a huge number to have acquired in the short time you have had Windows installed)

[SkH]

I think you misunderstand the HiJackThis. You do NOT delete the files it brings up. You post the results of the scan to the correct section of this forum and allow one of the resident malware experts to examine it for you.

(BTW 600,000 files is a huge number to have acquired in the short time you have had Windows installed)

Okay, so I need to run once again and do the thing with the HiJackThis to my Windows is have fast as it had in the installation's day?

I installed my Windows again-and-again and again- ... that's why I have 600.000+more files...

Anybody's here?

[andsome]

Did you simply install on top of the old operating system, or did you FORMAT and install? I think we are at last getting to the bottom of your problem. If you just keep reinstalling on top of the old operating system, you are compounding the problems.

[SkH]

Did you simply install on top of the old operating system, or did you FORMAT and install? I think we are at last getting to the bottom of your problem. If you just keep reinstalling on top of the old operating system, you are compounding the problems.

Er... I installed with fast formatting everytime.

[-pops-]

Ah!!!

As andsome states, by installing on top of your previous installations i.e. fast formatting you are not removing the items that could possibly be causing the problems you are having now.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

As for your startup time problem, you can use Startup Inspector to remove some of the unnecessary programs that are run at startup. I have eliminated about 50% of all.

[SkH]

Ah!!!

As andsome states, by installing on top of your previous installations i.e. fast formatting you are not removing the items that could possibly be causing the problems you are having now.

Whaaaat???!!! :0 :0 :0 :0 :0 :O

So I now to fix my these problems, I have to re-install my Windows XP once with a Full-Formatting?

I need just format that drive full that the Windows goes to?

But I wanted to install my Windows again - to install many programs plus just like GoBack, etc. and my Windows Backup is ruined - they delete all my backups when I shut down my machine - and It's ON!!! :0

So, I now have to reinstall my Windows XP with a full scan... yes?

And please post your thing/ideas to make me the perfect Windows XP, and tips&trick like that... full formatting thing! So, secrets!

What i install, etc.!

THANKS!!! I really not want to reinstall my Windows XP again from once its have all my favourite things on it! :(

As for your startup time problem, you can use Startup Inspector to remove some of the unnecessary programs that are run at startup. I have eliminated about 50% of all.

Thanks, I fixed with it. I only now can have a few! :)

[SkH]

Anybody's here??