S L O W Computer - any suggestions

[cheropride]

Hey, I have been having an on going problem, that no matter what I do can't seem to correct.  My internet connect is so damn slow: I have the fastest possible DSL you can have, and my computer is like a snail.  I also get knocked off alot.  I have had other system issues, but I total reinstalled my windows.  This computer was purchased in August of 06, and all Gateway states is send back for service.  Yea, and be w/o a computer for 2-3 months, not...

I have Windows XP SP 2, CPU 2.66 GHz, 896 MB Ram, Free Space on HD 212GB.

I have tried alot of things, even removed my Explorer 9.0 version, was told that might be the problem.  Basically canceled all the stuff that was comming on my start-up menu.  Still have the same problem.  AOL seems to work better the Explorer.  I get into Explorer and usually gets in but gets stuck, and get that lovely "unresponsive".  Even stopped my McFee Security Software from running, nothing.

Also, cleared my IE Cache, Reset my IP address, Rebuild AOL Adapter.....

Well, I know this is an ATV sight, but I also figured might be some computer savy people out there.  Would appreciate any suggestions, before I do my next step.  Take it outside and run it over with my 4-wheeler.....

[Jeepin']

If you have McAfee, try switching to AVG.  They have a free edition that works great and takes up alot less space.  When we had Norton, our computer was slower than a snail and would always get a virus.  We switched to AVG and weve noticed a BIG difference in speed and havent gotten a virus since we had it which has been about 2 years.  Go to their website below and search "free".

www.grisoft.com

Try Defragmenting your hardrives (Start>>All Programs>>Accessories>>System Tools>>Disk Defragmenter)

Or Disk Cleanup (Start>>All Programs>>Accessories>>System Tools>>Disk Cleanup)

Also, go through your files and delete the ones that are not important and just wasting space.  If you have alot of games or programs, that can also cause the slowness. 

Hope that helps.

[bigscrub79]

Some computers come standard with Norton AV. When the trial runs out it puts a "virus" on the computer until you buy it then it removes it. Go to add/remove programs and delete Norton. Mine did the same thing for a little bit and once I did that it seemed to help.

[tekhanto]

try running Spy-bot  is a free program  also Ad-aware also free program
this will help with any hidden stuff

[cheropride]

I have ran the spy-bot, what ltr450 & bigscrub says, is what I was thinking, that it possibly has something to do with my antivirus software.  Last night I had to re-install AOL, because it was just getting out of control.  I will see if that helps, and in the meantime, I am going to look into that other virus software and remove Mcfee (even though I did purchase a annual membership) but it doesn't really matter if it causing my system to go nuts....

Thanks for the input, let me know if you or anyone else thinks of anything.  If I get it stop, I will let you all know... thanks again....

[budman]

Rather than waste time and resourses trying to find spyware or other crap downloaded that gums up the works, save anything really important, re-format, and re-install. My work pc is constantly bombarded with crap, and I usually only have work-related files that I download, but I still have spyware protection and anti virus, but a good  re-format & re-install will eliminate underlying programs that seem to find their way into my system.

[cheropride]

Rather than waste time and resourses trying to find spyware or other crap downloaded that gums up the works, save anything really important, re-format, and re-install. My work pc is constantly bombarded with crap, and I usually only have work-related files that I download, but I still have spyware protection and anti virus, but a good  re-format & re-install will eliminate underlying programs that seem to find their way into my system.

Hey Budman, thanks, but I have already done that.  I did all of that the beginning of January.  The reason why I think it might be the McFee, is because besides AOL, DSL Programs and Internet Explorer, it (McFee) is the only other program that I re-installed.

[Jeepin']

Rather than waste time and resourses trying to find spyware or other crap downloaded that gums up the works, save anything really important, re-format, and re-install. My work pc is constantly bombarded with crap, and I usually only have work-related files that I download, but I still have spyware protection and anti virus, but a good  re-format & re-install will eliminate underlying programs that seem to find their way into my system.

Hey Budman, thanks, but I have already done that.  I did all of that the beginning of January.  The reason why I think it might be the McFee, is because besides AOL, DSL Programs and Internet Explorer, it (McFee) is the only other program that I re-installed.

Im confused... if you have AOL then why do you use Internet Explorer? 

[Thrumud]

The same thing was happening to me, and I noticed the neighbor a house down from mine always on her labtop at night on the patio. The wench was tapping onto my wireless.  One night I unpluged the modem and I heard the f word.  next day I did the same thing and heard the s word.  lol Crazy b!tch. 

[Chillinthemost]

Mine was slow too, try looking all over the thing, if you see any stickers on it that say Honda or Suzuki peel them off immediatly and put a Yamaha sticker on it. Should do the trick. As a last resort you could wire up a nitrous oxide setup that is triggered by your mouse button. Point, click, hold on

[Thrumud]

Mine was slow too, try looking all over the thing, if you see any stickers on it that say Honda or Suzuki peel them off immediatly and put a Yamaha sticker on it. Should do the trick. As a last resort you could wire up a nitrous oxide setup that is triggered by your mouse button. Point, click, hold on

LOLOLOLOLOL 

[Ida_Mann]

There are tons of factors that could be the issue, and typically it is very hard to figure out exactly what's wrong without sitting in front of the puter and watching it do it's slow thing.

I dunno about the newer versions, but AOL has usually been the culprit when I hear a "slow computer" story,,,,seems as though AOL is your internet provider, so we can't exactly delete it.

a few questions;

who is providing your internet connection?

do you have a modem that is plugged into the wall, and then another box that your computer is plugged into? or is your computer plugged directly into the modem?

is your connection wireless? 

Id@

[cheropride]

Hey Ida, henceforth the answer to the previous question "if I have aol why do I use Internet Explorer", and that is due to the fact before I started having all the issues, Internet Exp is just much faster pulling up web-pages, such as this one.  I usually just use aol for my email.  My Internet Explorer will barely even load the 1st page.  Which is really weird, I can usually connect now w/Aol, but just slow as hell.  And connection getting worse by the day....

Besides a bunch of other crap, like removing Mcfee, setting my restore date back to the orginal date, ---did nothing, now I just found where w/bellsouth I can download updated drivers and software for the dsl modem. I just got done doing that, and so far so good, but I will need to monitor I am sure.  Prior to download, tested my dsl speed only like 1.8 suppose to be 6.0, so figured would check some sites, then go back and check speed again.

Pretty proud of the fact that I have not just threw the damn thing out the window, Gateway, alright, Gateway to a slow hell....

& Thrumud, that was just wrong..... w/your neighbor..... funny what people will do, well almost...

Oh yea, answer to the question, modem hooked directly to computer and not wireless. 

If I ever do finally fix, I will let you all know.  Hell I am getting a crash course in computer support, the fun way....  I used to this about 8 years ago, before my son was born, but I also did it for Unix, now Windows, which is a whole nother beast......

[cheropride]

Well, atleast now Internet Explorer working.  So updating the dsl modem drivers and software, must of helped somewhat...

[gtnwood]

What ida said, after loading a.o.l. my computer got progressively slower turn's out it was due to all the bull.... program's a.o.l. load's with they're bull.... every time I opened a.o.l.. Once I deleted every a.o.l. associated file I could find,  my computer seemed like new zipping along loadin page's.

[Ida_Mann]

there are some settings on your modem that could be affecting the speed, but these are rare not to be set at a default which will work well.

other than that,,,,AOL is what I can guess right now.

Id@

ps: try this for a speed test.

http://www.dslreports.com/stest?flash=1

[cheropride]

Hey Ida- thanks for the web-site, really cool.  It actually help me to determine not a line quality issue.  Still having problems of on, funny starts out fine, then slows down and gets stuck.  I really need AOL for my email, so I would hate to have to stop using.  But it is worth rulling out, so I will more than likely remove and try again.

I also got a $250 voucher from BellSouth for the "Geek Squad", think about taking that route to. If the charge me anything, I will put it back on Gateway, for computer is still under warranty. 

Oh and just my two-cents, never buy an extended warranty from Office Depot - it stinks..... Not worth it. 

[IXIswamperIXI]

cheropride,
   
           My best friend had the same exact problem with AOL being faster than Internet Explorer, brand new $2000 laptop, DSL and slower than dial up.  He had a wireless router and IT was the problem.  To make a long story short I just replaced it because they are not too expensive.  I am not sure if you have a wireless setup but I would try to hook it up without the router.  Straight from the Modem to the PC.  You may have tried all this already but I thought I would chime in.  Good Luck

            IXIswamperIXI

[cheropride]

Okay today I had a melt down  

Came in, started the same @!#@#  so I just shut it down, unplugged everything....  Took it back Office Depot, was pist, what a bunch of idiots.  Make a long story short, called Office Deport Warranty (yea that's right it's under warranty)- spoke to a nice guy, finally, he listen to my whole story, and he believes it is a bad CPU, which I tend to agree. 

So took my old computer, you know the one that new one was suppose to replace, and installed DSL on this one. So far great.  I did have to uninstall the drivers for the ethernet, and finally no problem.  Also using the keyboard from new computer on this computer and NO problem.  I think I am to the point of just telling office depot & Gateway to kiss my !@#!@!#....  I still paying for that new computer, and I am just to the point of telling you know what, make me, for I have had it.

Well, going to use this computer for few days, and if no problem, then for sure was the other stupid computer.  Same everything, just different desk top....

Just thought you all may of wanted to know the latest and greatest.  It is sure is nice to click a page and it actually comes up....

[Ida_Mann]

can't say I've EVER heard of a "bad CPU", bad memory yes, butnever a bad cpu.

sounds to me like they still don't know what's wrong and just want to take a look at it in person to try to fix it.

at least they are doing something.

I'd ask for an extension on the warranty once you get it back to cover the amount of time you were without a new computer you are paying for.

Id@

[johnyfz450]

STOP WATCHING PORN :'(j/k)

[Ida_Mann]

STOP WATCHING PORN :'(j/k)

why even have a computer then?

Id@

[budman]

Over the years, I've had about everything go bad sooner or later...bad cpu, motherboard failure, many i/o cards, modems, and the occasional "skunk" beer, once in a while you even get a bad bud, man....

[cheropride]

can't say I've EVER heard of a "bad CPU", bad memory yes, butnever a bad cpu.

sounds to me like they still don't know what's wrong and just want to take a look at it in person to try to fix it.

at least they are doing something.

I'd ask for an extension on the warranty once you get it back to cover the amount of time you were without a new computer you are paying for.

Id@

Yea, atleast they are trying to do something, so they say....

I have two years on the warranty, so well see, the damn piece of !@#!!# is still sitting on floor in my dinning room. 

But hey guys, esp Id@ thanks for all the info - appreciated... missed u guys lol....