Win2000 slow...very slow...HELP!

[Hurricane]

Can you help me? I have Win2K on my work computer. It is hooked up to a network. But, even pulling up info on the local hard drive is like downloading info from a 56K modem. As matter of fact any type of action with the exception of moving the mouse and keyboard is like downloading from a 56K modem. Drives me nutz! I have defragged it on a regular basis: that makes no difference whatsoever. It's a P!!! 1G with a Western Digital 7200 40G with 256mb ram. The P!!! 450 with 256mb right next store is much faster. They both have the same programs load at boot up. They have SP2 installed and use Office 2000. Anybody with some good, credible ideas. What more info can I provide to help?

[wide angle]

verify your VIRTUAL MEMORY. Make sure that the value is more than 700mb if you have 256RAM.

[lil Jimmie]

Check to ensure that the processor scheduling is set for programs and not background services.
With 256Mb’s of ram your virtual memory/ page file should be set around 384Mb’s.

[GaryRouth]

Also, you might look in Device Manager to see if your IDE controllers look OK. (no exclamation marks) - Make sure that you aren't running in "DOS compatibility mode" on any of the controllers.

Regarding Virtual Memory settings, it's OK also to "Let Windows manage my virtual memory settings" - Win2k usually does an OK job as long as your disks aren't filling up. (might want to check your free disk space, too - though with a 40gb drive you should have all kinds of room).

Might want to check the air blowing from the power supply's exhaust fan to see if it's unusually warm. If this is a notebook, it will slow down in response to heat to prevent the chip from overheating. If this is a desktop, enter Bios Setup and check the temps in "PC Health" or "Hardware Monitor"...or whatever your bios calls it. Most PIIIs don't have a problem with heat, but if your fans are clogged with dust they might not be spinning well.

Have you looked in on your Event Logs to check for anything unusual?

Do your programs mostly run locally, or pulled from a network server?

And I suppose you could run the System File Checker just in case the system files are out of whack (from Command Prompt: sfc/scannow . . . and have your Win2000 installation disk handy - or point to the install directory [usually i386] on your hard drive) . . . & you could boot from your Win2k disk and try a "repair" installation if you've tried everything else with no luck.

Has the pc been slow the whole time, or just recently - possibly after a hardware/software change?
________
My break is over, I got to go back to some cranky mainframes. . . but I'll look in later on. Really cranky mainframes, today it's the Alphas...
. . . Gary

[Hurricane]

I appreciate all the replies. Especially yours, Gary. That was pretty comprehensive and it must have taken you a while to write all that.
I believe that WIN2K is managing the Virtual Memory settings. All the controllers look O.K to me in the Device Manager: nothing running on DOS Compatability mode. I have recently blown out the PC with an air hose to get all those dust boogers out. Just alot of dust boogers-no effect either way on perceptive performance. 99% of all programs are ran locally and not from the network. I have not checked the Events Log, but, I will. There have not been any hardware changes. Norton runs all the time: frequent scans, no virus. I used to use this computer on and off a while ago, now its the one I use most frequently and so I have noticed that its performance, for a 1 gig compared to a 450, is so slow. My 1 gig at home screams compared to the 1 gig at work. Granted, the home is not networked, nevertheless, like I said, 99% of the progies are run from the local HD of wich only 6 gig or so is used out of 40 gig. The system file checker is a good turn on. I'll try that. I just remember that computer being much quicker than that. It's very similar to getting info off a 56K modemfrom the net. I will try what has been suggested. At this point, I'm real close to turning it in to the IT dudes, I just can't afford to be without that computer for two weeks. Thank you for the info. I'll give it a shot.

[krishnaa888]

systems performance could be an impact of both hardware and software problems. but, mostly the problem is software related.if there are too many background applications running , it may eat up your memory and heat up your processor.
-try disk cleanup(pro-acc-system tools- disk cleanup)
-defragmenter(same way)
-boot clean up(run-msconfig-selective startup-uncheck everything except load startup items....under services, uncheck 'hide all ms services'-disable all....under startup-uncheck unwanted applications)
this should improve your computer's performance.

[pointd]

Press CTRL, SHIFT, ESC together. This brings up the Windows Task Manager. The performance tab shows you your CPU usage. If this is constantly high then use the Processes tab to find out which process is taking up your CPU time. It may be a process you can terminate or related to an app you can reinstall.