Another slow computer..

[z_silversurfer_z]

Hi I just need a little help with me slow computer. I'm running a 1.9 AMD Pro wth 512 ram and an eighty gig hard drive. Lately it has been really slow to start any application, especially anything with video in it. Anyways it's really annoying so if you guys have any tips for me I would appreciate it. Also I also heard of this thing called a windows diagnostics test.Should I try that??

[RJS2]

Have you checked for spyware or viruses?

[Negeva]

what RJS2 says, and maybe run diskcleanup and a defrag if u never have.

[Panama Red]

First, run Disk Cleanup and dump all the unnecessary files like Temp, Internet Temp, and the Recylce Bin. Then run Adware and Spybot. Download them both from here. Make sure you run the updates on each before you run them. Next, take a trip over to Trendmicro and run an online virus scan. Next, if you are running Windows XP, go to Run and type: msconfig. Click on the Start Up tab and take a look at all the programs that start and run in the background. You can uncheck the ones you don't need. Use this site as a guide to determine if you need the program running or not. Finally, defrag your hard drive. If you are running something other than XP, post back cuz I may have some additonal/other ideas for ya.

[HeddaLora]

Here's a little mini maintenance checklist of actions that should be done regularly. This should speed things up a bit.

-- Delete all temp files (c:\windows\temp\*.tmp, or on XP C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temp)

-- Delete temporary internet files (c:\windows\temporary internet files\*.*, or on XP C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files)

-- If you use I.E., click on Tools, Internet Options, Delete Files, select "delete all off-line content", click OK

-- Click on Start, Programs, Accessories, Systems Tools, Disk Cleanup

-- Download AdAware, check for updates, run it and remove whatever it finds

-- Periodically empty the browser cache and the java plug-in cache

-- Download Diskeeper and defrag

-- Download, update and turn on SpywareBlaster and SpywareGuard (or your spyware removal tool of choice).