my com...pu...ter...is...re...al...ly...sloooooowwww

[kristina]

A call for suggestions, please!

My work computer is a Dell, running Windows 7 Home Premium. In the last week or so, I've noticed that asking it do more than one thing at a time (print a document and move from website to another) gives it a major headache and it just does nothing for a while. Trying to quit out of QuickBooks takes 5 minutes (at least it seems like 5 minutes). I've noticed that it's worse in the afternoon than when I first start working.

My browser is Explorer; if that could be the problem, what would anyone suggest as an alternative?

Many thanks!

[Gob]

Do you clean and defrag regularly?

How many programs do you have in your start folder?

[Sean]

How much RAM does it have Kristina? It sounds like you might need an upgrade.

[kristina]

what is this "clean and defrag" of which you speak?

Please assume that you're talking to someone who knows how to turn the compter on and off, how to waste time on the interwebs, use MS Office and QB and not much else. I was much better at this when I worked on Macs, but I have had to move into the Windoze world for work, and i'm baffled.

512MB RAM, 446MB usable (I am able to find the control panel!)

[Crackpot]

clean and defrag might do it would have to have someone more familiar wit windows to give you a step by step. The only other thing I could ask is how long has it been since you restarted your computer?

[kristina]

I shut it down every afternoon when I go home, so I don't think that's the problem, CP.

[Gob]

Download and run these three programs, they are free. Run them in the order they are presented here.

Once installed just run them on the settings they came at.

http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

http://www.wisecleaner.com/wisediskcleanerfree.html

http://download.cnet.com/Auslogics-Disk ... 67503.html

If still slow, let me know.

(Your defragging may take a long time, overnight even. Best done when your computer would normally be idle.)

[kristina]

OK...so pioriform analyzed, and now wants to clean a bunch of files. And then I closed it by mistake, so am analyzing again. Can I assume that it's smarter than I am and will only be getting rid of stuff I don't need?

ETA: It won't let me copy the list, but some of the items it wants to delete are:
IE-- history, cookies, index.dat files
Windows Expl.-- recent docs, thumnbnail cache
System--empty recycle bin, temp files, windows log files
Applications--Office 2003
Internet--google toolbar IE

[Scooter]

All of those are ok presuming you have a more recent version of Office.

[Rick]

Yeah they're all good to go...

[Rick]

And when loading any anything like java or adobe always check the box that says don't install the toolbar...

[Rick]

Office dumped the office assistant, that is prolly what it's getting rid of, however they also got rid of alot of obscure stuff too...

[kristina]

Hmmm, it looks as though 2003 IS my version of office.

I can't figure out how to remove something from the list of files to be deleted.

[Gob]

There should be a settings tab, try looking for that or an "advanced" tab.

Sorry, I'm at work now and cannot be more specific.

[Scooter]

512MB RAM

That's at least part of your answer right there, and you probably have an antiquated processor to match.

Regardless of the what the minimum specs say, attempting to run a later version of Windows with less than 2GB of RAM is asking for it to run as slowly as molasses in January.

[Gob]

Yup, I have to agree with Scooter there, for a nominal sum you could get a computer which would bring you much more joy.

AU $179.00
Processor Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 2x2.66GHz
Memory 4GB DDR2
Hard Drive 80B SATA
Optical Drive DVDRW
Monitor not included
Audio Card on board
Video Card on board
USB Ports 8
Operating System Windows XP Professional SP3

Ex-Lease, seller refurbished
Minor Scratches and Marks as normally seen in used item

Computer ( desktop or sff model, selected randomly)

Desktop model

Power Cable
Keyboard
Mouse
Tax Invoice

[Sean]

It would also explain why it slows down as the day progresses... more and more programs are opened/closed and continue to use up RAM.

[dales]

The poor thing is just tired.

[Liberty1]

If this is a new occurance, make sure you have a good anti-virus/spam/spyware/intrusion program.

Kaspersky Labs is the best I've found.