Increase the size of your Virtual Memory.
Click Start
Right Click on My Computer
Choose Properties
Click on the Advanced Tab
In the Performance Group Box, Click Settings
Click on the Advanced Tab
Down @ the bottom, you'll see Virtual memory. Click Change.
Look at the bottom, where it says "Recommended", and make sure that your Virtual memory is at least that number. The way I run my laptop is I run a Custom Size, in the middle of the screen. The Initial size is 1/2 the size of the recommended, and I set the recommended as the Maximum size. Once you've changed the values, Click Set. Then you'll have to restart your computer.
If that doesn't help, then I'm temporarily out of ideas.
I think I would try what kpresidente suggested next. Take your time with it, and look, and think before clicking around, and then disable them, I would do one at a time, but Kpesi says all that are possible to run it without a given hardware item. (I don't know your experience level, so that is why I am telling you to go lightly) unless you are really comfortable with it.
What does it say or do if you boot in safe mode?
Does that computer have temp on the bios ? To tell you what temperature it is running at?
I don't think this matters in this case, but make sure all the fans are running and all the dust is air blown out of the case etc off the mother board and fans, cpu and other.
I want to make sure I got this straight because I get one impression that the computer is running abnormally slow, then I get an impression that you are talking about it being slow on the Internet. It is running slowly regardless of the net right?
One more question, are sure that computer doesn't have one of those Hog Symantec or McAffee virus scanners on it, those I have seen really slow them down. I mean one of those scanners that seem to scan everything, and then most of us don't know what it is talking about anyway, at least I don't, I deleted those, they slowed this computer down way too much.
Have you already checked in add/remove programs to see if something "odd" might have been loaded to the computer since you last experienced it, that might be causing a problem?
Other than what the other's have said and what I suggested, I don't know anymore without being there and going through all that you have done step by step and then on to the next.
Last edited by Spring~Fields; 12-28-2009 at 11:16 PM.
Really not too comfortable with the BIOS. I'm not quite sure how to go about it. When I started it up, I went into the system menu F12 (I think) where you could change the time and date and turn on and off things. Is that the BIOS?
I started it up in safe mode with networking and System was down to 200 KB but it even slower - if that's possible - getting online. RedsZone was bad, couldn't get into Yahoo or Facebook.What does it say or do if you boot in safe mode?
[quoteDoes that computer have temp on the bios ? To tell you what temperature it is running at?
I don't think this matters in this case, but make sure all the fans are running and all the dust is air blown out of the case etc off the mother board and fans, cpu and other. [/quote]
As I said, not sure about the BIOS but I haven't taken the back off the computer yet. It's in an enclosed area, like a mini closet in the desk and I'd hate to fool around with it like that if I didn't have to.
It just seems slow on the internet regardless of what browser I use. I could get into Word and Excel and print something out immediately. Windows Media Player and Real Player didn't have any problems.I want to make sure I got this straight because I get one impression that the computer is running abnormally slow, then I get an impression that you are talking about it being slow on the Internet. It is running slowly regardless of the net right?
One more question, are sure that computer doesn't have one of those Hog Symantec or McAffee virus scanners on it, those I have seen really slow them down. I mean one of those scanners that seem to scan everything, and then most of us don't know what it is talking about anyway, at least I don't, I deleted those, they slowed this computer down way too much.
Have you already checked in add/remove programs to see if something "odd" might have been loaded to the computer since you last experienced it, that might be causing a problem?
Other than what the other's have said and what I suggested, I don't know anymore without being there and going through all that you have done step by step and then on to the next.
No Symantic or McAfee virus scanners.
I deleted a few programs that took up some room but their deletion haven't made a difference.
Well if the computer and it's programs such Word, Excel, Media player and Real player are functioning and responding at the speed you expect. Then it sounds like the computer is running fine and that your issue is with the speed on the Internet.
If I interpret you correctly then I would call the ISP, the one that provides the Internet connection and ask their tech support. They might have a problem on their end, and might be able to get that straightened out for you.
Or give you a better guidance, most of them can connect to your computer and just take it over and make corrections if they can. Ask them to check the speed for you that they have. Have them check the modem too if it is one that they supplied. Someone can correct me, but I think they can PING that to see if reads and responds like it is suppose to be.
The following is probably not a problem, but you can check.
Have you made sure that the browser's are set to default settings, and that in TOOLS, Internet options, on the general tab, click on settings, in there is place to set disc space usage, and you can view objects, delete any you don't want or need, you can also make sure the cookies are cleaned out under view files. Under advanced you can reset default settings, you can also set the browser on IE to empty files when closing the browser, in the advanced tab.
Are you getting when going to some sites, that the computer sounds like it is racing, getting louder, and then the pages are slow to load, meaning certain pages? Is that where you are getting the 100% CPU usage input ? If that is the case I would still call tech support for the ISP and also see about getting an additional memory for it. I don't think those cost to much anymore, and they just plug into the mother board very easily then the computer detecs it, you really don't have to do much at all.
On memory just ask where they bought it what it's capacity it can be upgraded to, and what memory they have for it, then you just open the case, find the area on the mother board that has the memory, then you should see a slot for additional memory next to that one, and just plug it in. turn it on, then check to see, you can look in system info to see if it recognizes it, it will. That is one of the easiest things to do inside the computer. Or the manual or manufacturer's website.
Oh, have they been to the manufacturer's website to see if there is any updates or fixes for that model by the manufacturer? Often a manufacturer will have fixes, patches, bios updates, and other for certain of their models, and people often forget to check with the manufacturer's site.
Last edited by Spring~Fields; 12-29-2009 at 03:07 AM.
I think, at the end of the day, that's what its going to be. A few things;
The System process in Task Manager refers collectively to all of the fundamental operating system kernel threads that are necessary for running your computer. As you've noticed, it can be really small or really big depending on what the OS is doing.
Download the Sysinternals' Process Explorer tool http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s.../bb896653.aspx . I've found it to be very handy for finding out exactly what a Windows process is doing. Windows is very good at hiding what is really going on but this tool pops the hood on the OS.
IIRC (I can't run PE here at work), you can double-click on a process and it has a Threads tab. Do that on System and see what is running inside of System.
She used to wake me up with coffee ever morning
I wish we could have helped Chip solve that puzzling computer. That bugs me, get a chance to help, and all the input I had drew blanks.
She's called the ISP before and they haven't seen anything wrong with it when she brought it in. I might give them a call tomorrow and see if they can spot a problem. Otherwise, I'm going to get some more RAM. Never installed anything like that before but there's a first time for everything. Thanks to everyone who has helped!
O.K. this is weird. Tonight I listened to a basketball game online using Quick Time. I couldn't listen during the first half and technical support told me to manually open up Quick Time and put a URL in after I clicked on Open URL on Quick Time. When the game came on, Firefox started running like a champ. No delays, no refreshing. When I closed the Quick Time application I was listening to the game on, it was back to running slow again. Even Internet Explorer seems to run a little faster with that Quick Time application running.
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