Reaaaaaaalllllllllllly slow computer

[David S. Roberson]

How do I find out what programs are currently running on my computer (XP)?

It is going terribly slowly. I think something must be running in the background.

 

[Head Surfer]

Cntl-Alt-Delete will bring up the task manager to show you currently running programs.

Examine your start up group programs to see which are started when windows are started. Also examine the programs that are started when you type in "msconfig" in the "run" window.

Change the "msconfig" page from "load all programs at startup" to "load selected programs at startup" then on the "startup" tab uncheck those that you don't want to run at startup. If you need something running you can always go back and check it later.

A good free program to help you manage what programs are in the start up program is Winpatrol from
http://www.winpatrol.com/

 

[David S. Roberson]

Unbelievably fast and helpful response! What a forum!!!

 

[Smokey Bear]

Betcha you've got some spyware/adware running in the background, or it's been 50 years since you've defragged your hard drive.

BTW, some screensavers use a huge amount of memory, just running in the background.

 

[Annemieke Roell]

Run this


http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html

 

[icisic7]

Try clearing your temp files. (I learned that at a seminar.) Also, save all your photo files onto CDs or DVDs and get them off your 'puter. Hope that helps!

 

[David S. Roberson]

Thanks, everyone. I ran the Bitdefender scan and found several viruses McAfee must have let slip through!

 

[Mountain Man]

www.superantispyware.com/

Free and works well.

 

[icisic7]

Just curious - does anyone know why I have to have Internet Explorer 4 or higher to run Bitedefender? I hate IE, and use Firefox instead.

 

[DB]

..... because they wrote it that way???