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Computer questions....

EhlerDaveEhlerDave Member Posts: 5,158 ✭✭
edited July 2015 in General Discussion
Can anyone help a fella out?

I am looking at a win 7 system, the silly thing seems to be working real hard but is so slow it is just crazy. I shut off every program I could see, then just to open Firefox takes about 20-25 seconds. Trying to use the browser is beyond difficult.

I ran Malwarebytes and CCleaner just to get started, updated things like MSE and Adobe, ran CCleaner again.

Just after rebooting I pulled up the Task Manager. These are some of the things I found that I have no clue what they are for.

Under System I have these readings.

Handles 15550
Threads 587
Processes 54
Commit 2606/3580

Then under Physical Memory I have these.

Total 1790
Cached 154
Free 0

I looked at some other stuff but did not write it down, so of course I forgot. But the PC does have 2gb of ram, forgot the rest.

One last thing, when running the CCleaner, can I delete the DNS Cache? Just what is that? What items other than the pre checked boxes can I safely clear on the CCleaner?

Thanks for even reading this.

David.
Just smile and say nothing, let them guess how much you know.

Comments

  • babunbabun Member Posts: 11,038 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    In your list on the task manager, do you see any things using like 97%, 99% process in the cpu column? End those things.
  • EhlerDaveEhlerDave Member Posts: 5,158 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I had 4 or 5 items running, all of them had less than 2%, even those were fluctuating.
    Just smile and say nothing, let them guess how much you know.
  • EhlerDaveEhlerDave Member Posts: 5,158 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Guess I should have added this, oops.

    The CPU keeps jumping up to 100% yet the task manager does not show what is doing this.
    Just smile and say nothing, let them guess how much you know.
  • casper1947casper1947 Member Posts: 1,147 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    A couple of things you might consider:
    1 Is Indexing off on you HD.
    2 Does the HD LED indicate a LOT of activity. If it does check SMART DRIVE, the HD may be working hard and about to fail.
    3 when was the last defrag?
  • buschmasterbuschmaster Member Posts: 14,229 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    go to Run, type in msconfig, hit enter.

    go to the Startup tab.

    uncheck everything (or click "disable all")

    restart.

    your computer will now run as fast as it is supposed to.

    run msconfig again, check 2 or 3 boxes, restart. repeat until you figure out exactly what it was that slowed down your computer.

    then you can re-check all the boxes that didn't slow down your computer.
  • EhlerDaveEhlerDave Member Posts: 5,158 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by casper1947
    A couple of things you might consider:
    1 Is Indexing off on you HD.
    2 Does the HD LED indicate a LOT of activity. If it does check SMART DRIVE, the HD may be working hard and about to fail.
    3 when was the last defrag?


    Defrag was running when I left.

    The HD light goes solid when the CPU jumps to 100% It does not stay pegged for long, 10 secs or so and it will drop back down.

    I have no idea what a SMART DRIVE is....
    Just smile and say nothing, let them guess how much you know.
  • EhlerDaveEhlerDave Member Posts: 5,158 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by buschmaster
    go to Run, type in msconfig, hit enter.

    go to the Startup tab.

    uncheck everything (or click "disable all")

    restart.

    your computer will now run as fast as it is supposed to.

    run msconfig again, check 2 or 3 boxes, restart. repeat until you figure out exactly what it was that slowed down your computer.

    then you can re-check all the boxes that didn't slow down your computer.


    I will do this tomorrow AM, these are the kind of things I can do , just dont know about. [:)]
    Just smile and say nothing, let them guess how much you know.
  • buschmasterbuschmaster Member Posts: 14,229 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    S.M.A.R.T. is a feature that all modern hard drives have. it monitors hard drive health and performance.

    the hard drive does it by itself, and stores the data on the hard drive somewhere.

    a programmer can make a program to access that data. one such program is HD Tune, which can also run a benchmark test and check for errors. it's freeware.

    available at hdtune.com, or here's the direct link

    http://www.hdtune.com/files/hdtune_255.exe

    I don't think the problem is your hard drive failing. it's a remote possibility but not likely. you can use HDTune to check.
  • LagoLago Member Posts: 464 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Do a internet search for 'firefox running slow'. You will get several responses from support.mozilla.org that may help you with your problem.

    Lago
  • EhlerDaveEhlerDave Member Posts: 5,158 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Lago
    Do a internet search for 'firefox running slow'. You will get several responses from support.mozilla.org that may help you with your problem.

    Lago


    I took Firefox out complete un-install and same thing, just seems to be overloaded.
    Just smile and say nothing, let them guess how much you know.
  • EhlerDaveEhlerDave Member Posts: 5,158 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Okay went to Moms to check on defragging her PC and have yet another question. On the SYSTEM RESERVED area it shows to be 7% fragmented, it has never been fragmented before and it wont let me fix that. Any ideas as to why?
    Just smile and say nothing, let them guess how much you know.
  • Tech141Tech141 Member Posts: 3,787 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by EhlerDave
    Can anyone help a fella out?

    I am looking at a win 7 system,

    But the PC does have 2gb of ram,


    Look up in the RED above. Windows 7 requires 2GB of RAM just to operate the OS. That doesn't account for any other applications or internet activity. You really should max out the RAM on your system. You will be amazed at how much faster it will run, and how many things you can have operational at the same time. I'd be willing to bet a nickle that most of your issues would go away if you increase your RAM.

    Also - look at your startup configuration in Control Panel. See what processes are started automatically when you turn on the machine. Turn off the applications you don't need going all the time.

    One other thing you can do is look at your installed programs in "Control Panel", then "Programs". That will bring up a list of the programs installed on your system. See if anything has been installed on dates that you KNOW you didn't download/install anything. It's possible something could have snuck in, or have been embedded on something you DID download. There's a lot of sneaky crap out there.
  • buschmasterbuschmaster Member Posts: 14,229 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    you can't access "system reserved" files. for example the paging file or the "System Volume Information" of a drive.

    whatever it is, 7% fragmented isn't anything to worry about. does not need defragmenting.

    defraggler is another good freeware worth having. that also checks S.M.A.R.T. info.

    http://www.piriform.com/defraggler/
  • casper1947casper1947 Member Posts: 1,147 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I was wondering if you have solved the problem yet?
    I like to note fixes.
  • EhlerDaveEhlerDave Member Posts: 5,158 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by casper1947
    I was wondering if you have solved the problem yet?
    I like to note fixes.


    I was looking at the recent updates. It shows a service pack installed last month, just about the time it slowed way down. I am thinking the 2gb of ram was just working then the SP pushed it to a point it cant run everything, I am going to increase the ram and see if that works.
    Just smile and say nothing, let them guess how much you know.
  • buschmasterbuschmaster Member Posts: 14,229 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    nah a service pack won't do that.

    it's always good to have more RAM. if you have a 32 bit Windows, the max RAM you can install is 4 Gb (assuming your motherboard supports that much) and due to 32-bit memory addressing limitations, Windows will only recognize 3.5 Gb

    still better to install 2 pairs of matched RAM (2X1Gb + 2X1Gb)because then they use the DDR feature. if you think you will save money by using 2X1 Gb and 1X512 Mb (total of 3.5 Gb) the one 512 Mb will cause the matched pair of 2X1Gb to not use the DDR feature and it's slower.

    if you have 64 bit, throw in as much as you want. (use matched pairs)

    it will make it faster... after you fix whatever is bogging it down.
  • EhlerDaveEhlerDave Member Posts: 5,158 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by buschmaster
    nah a service pack won't do that.

    it's always good to have more RAM. if you have a 32 bit Windows, the max RAM you can install is 4 Gb (assuming your motherboard supports that much) and due to 32-bit memory addressing limitations, Windows will only recognize 3.5 Gb

    still better to install 2 pairs of matched RAM (2X1Gb + 2X1Gb)because then they use the DDR feature. if you think you will save money by using 2X1 Gb and 1X512 Mb (total of 3.5 Gb) the one 512 Mb will cause the matched pair of 2X1Gb to not use the DDR feature and it's slower.

    if you have 64 bit, throw in as much as you want. (use matched pairs)

    it will make it faster... after you fix whatever is bogging it down.


    Thanks for the info. I have not made it over to her house yet to look but I was thinking the PC just had one slot for the ram. Like I said above being a slim line model things are a bit different in this one. [:)] If it has 2 slots or 1 is why I am waiting to order the part. I will look to see if it is 32 or 64 bit. For a few $$$ more extra ram is cheap.
    Just smile and say nothing, let them guess how much you know.
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