Gaming Fast Computer now Slow

[airpirate545]

I have a Dell Inspiron B130 and I got my laptop roughly 2 years ago. I remember when I first got it there were no slowdowns at all but now lately in the past years I have seen it become extremely slower. I can't even watch a youtube video without my laptop becoming unbarelbly slow and eventually causing the video to show slowly. Is there anything I can do to help this and can someone explain to me why this happens.

 

[MystikEkoez]

Format it and do a fresh installation of Windows.

 

[da_head]

too much pr0n

but seriously, go here: http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic58138.html

also, download a program called winxp manager (or winvista). it doesn't do spectacular things, but for an average user, it can greatly improve ur computer speed.

 

[ENDscape]

too much pr0n

The more files you have the longer it takes to process.

 

[mysterio123]

over-logging?

 

[p1ngpong]

Thing is any number of things could be causing a slowdown. Things like:

Viruses, a slowly dying hdd, a hdd in need of a defrag, overheating, too many junk programs running in the background, a messed up registry.....

The list is endless really, could be anything!

I suggest do a defrag, make sure your computer isnt getting too hot, run a decent anti virus on it, maybe download a program that checks the registry and fixes errors (I use registry mechanic), window washer is also good for getting rid of junk temp files. And check your not running tons of crap in the background, task manager always helps to identify resource hogging programs, hope that helps!

 

[da_head]

too much pr0n

The more files you have the longer it takes to process.

? wats ur point?

 

[Good ol' Phi]

Here's what you can do:
scan for viruses,scan for spyware,get a registry fixer,defragment your drives
i suggest spybot search and destroy(the best anti spyware porgram) or windows defender
use ccleaner to fix you registry and get rid of temp files or registry mechanic
antivirus - avast,kaspersky,nod
nothng special your pc just needs some maintenance

if that doesn't work for you-format you hd and reinstall windows just like MystikEkoez said

now if even that doesn't work - its time to buy a new pc

 

[p1ngpong]

You can also add more ram, that never hurts!

 

[Psyfira]

If you've got a virus scanner check it's not running scans on a schedule in the background without telling you. Newer virus programs tend to do it by default (AVG springs to mind), it's a good idea in theory but causes all kinds of performance issues on older PCs.

 

[p1ngpong]

Yeah thats a point, my pc is above mid range, not bad at all, an AVG scheduled check kills it man, windows defender is just as bad!

 

[Trolly]

I think if you've had it for that long, it's best to just backup your important files and do a fresh install. You'll have to re-install and configure everything, but it'll save hours of looking around for the cause of the slowdown, and you may never even find it!
Definitely best to just re-format your Hard Drive and re-install Windows.

 

[shakirmoledina]

it's very difficult even if u know the solution to solve it... like in my case i get runtime errors msn problems, background display problems etc because of corrupt windows i think but even if i solve these problems... windows will not be 100% efficient so try a format if it can be done or else get
Auslogics BoostSpeed - GENERAL (Disk cleaner, registry cleaner , defrag of registry and HD etc)
Spybot Search and Destroy - ANTISPYWARE
Kaspersky (though i don't use it since i have some connection problems with it so i am going for bitdefender which equal to it as i have seen)

Also u may want to go for lite programs like google chrome, utorrent etc

 

[p1ngpong]

I think if you've had it for that long, it's best to just backup your important files and do a fresh install. You'll have to re-install and configure everything, but it'll save hours of looking around for the cause of the slowdown, and you may never even find it!
Definitely best to just re-format your Hard Drive and re-install Windows.

Thing is man the more knowledgeable people would just do a format, but for average people its not that simple a thing to do!

The more knowledgeable people wouldnt have posted this topic, thats what you need to think about!

 

[Good ol' Phi]

my pc has a QuadCore Intel E5430 3ghz and 3gig ram windows defender works good
also works fine on my second pc with 2gig ram and Core2Duo E6750 2,6Ghz

and i just checked windows defender process MSAScui.exe takes only 2,7mb to 3,4mb of ram and like 0-1% processor power
so not very demanding

Defender is very good but Spybot is better (tho it hasn't got any real time protection)

 

[da_head]

my pc has a QuadCore Intel E5430 3ghz and 3gig ram windows defender works good
also works fine on my second pc with 2gig ram and Core2Duo E6750 2,6Ghz

and i just checked windows defender process MSAScui.exe takes only 2,7mb to 3,4mb of ram and like 0-1% processor power
so not very demanding

Defender is very good but Spybot is better (tho it hasn't got any real time protection)

defender is crap. and u shouldn't have bought a quadcore comp, it's too early. firstly, it's not tru quad core (its two core 2 duo stuck together), secondly there isn't any (or barely) software that even utilizes quad core. o well to late for that.

though the new extreme chip mite be "true" quad core, i'm not sure.

 

[Licardo7]

I remember when I got my vista (one or two years ago) and it run very fast. But then It became very slow so searched for some anti-viruses and found these

Avast! (found a ton of malware, viruses, trojens and other crap)
CCleaner
some DvD ripper
and some program that fixed errors in your computer.

After I applyed all of them and my computer turned from crapy to avrage. Still sorta slow on opening some windows and it will just not load club live but it's ok for now. Point being, get some good programs and tey will help but don't expect your comp working like if you just bought it but it will help. Also, don't store too much stuff in your hard drive.

 

[Trolly]

Thing is man the more knowledgeable people would just do a format, but for average people its not that simple a thing to do!

The more knowledgeable people wouldnt have posted this topic, thats what you need to think about!

Yeah but downloading all these programs and cleaning his computer is bound to bust his brain if he can't format his hard drive and do a fresh install. I'd say formatting and installing is easier overall.

 

[p1ngpong]

Thing is man the more knowledgeable people would just do a format, but for average people its not that simple a thing to do!

The more knowledgeable people wouldnt have posted this topic, thats what you need to think about!

Yeah but downloading all these programs and cleaning his computer is bound to bust his brain if he can't format his hard drive and do a fresh install. I'd say formatting and installing is easier overall.

Yeah guess your right, if you are going to format make sure you have all the drivers for your machine ready to install before you wipe everything.

It saves on taking it to a shop and getting charged I guess.

 

[airpirate545]

I have formatted twice before but my comp still turned out slow. I will try to uninstall all the crap haven't touched in a while and then do a defrag. I use Zone Alarm Security Suite for anti virus but I noticed a lot of people don't suggest that is it inferior to other things? Also, when I scan my comp it uses too much RAM are there other antiviruses that use less RAM? Also, when my comp gets slow, the bottom tends to overheat. Could it be because I only have 500 something megabytes of RAM? Thanks for all ure help dudes.