[mab]

hello al,

got a computer problem I can't seem to solve; it's windows XP, SP3, AVG antivirus 2014, sunbelt firewall.

about a week -10days ago my anicent laptop started being very slow when on the internet; it's not the external connection - that still seems to be normal (and is via another machine) and even through my problem machine it's showing ~3.1Mb/s which is as fast as it's ever been here.

when using a (any) web browser the computer is very slow; looking in task manager the cpu usage shows 100%, usually either the browser or AVG; I disabled the AVG components and that makes it faster, but still slow and the browser still shows near 100% cpu usage - so I don't think it's AVG - though I've removed it and re-installed it anyway.

any ideas?

[Brijjy]

Uninstall any programs that you don't use, they can take up lots of space and slow stuff down.
Your machine might also need defragging too. I'm sure you can download free software to do this. I'll have a look at what I use...

[Brijjy]

By the way, I'm definitely not an expert in computers!

[doganjo]

Free downloads - CC Cleaner, Defraggle.

I usually defrag once a week, and have CC cleaner on a schedule at a time when I'm not using the machine.

That may help-, but I'm sure there are other more techie folk on here than me and Brijjy

[moony]

Ours went painfully slow to the point it was near unusable when the motherboard was on its way out. Which item is using 100%? System idle process should show the highest CPU, in the late 80-90% region the majority of the time, normally 96%+. If anything is consistently showing higher that is item your problem. Also check applications on the task manager to make sure nothing is running that shouldn't be. Plus do a full virus scan & defragment. That might make a difference.

[mab]

well there are programs i don't use anymore, though why they would suddenly slow it down I don't know... I'll have a look...

disk defrag done recently - i think - i'll check just in case...

if i'm using a web browser (avg diabled) then that web browser shows near  100%, but it's the same for firefox, IE and chrome, so I'm doubting it's all of them causing the prob.

have done a full computer scan with avg (nada), and run spybot (nothing coming up)

cheers

[mab]

OK, it's a bit longer than I though since the last defrag - in progress...

[Q]

With XP What does it show if you look at the task manager?

Press ctrl & alt & del keys at the same time then click 'task manager' button then click the 'performance' tab.
Does it show you the CPU usage really high?

If it does, click the 'processes' tab then click the heading on the CPU column which will sort it into highest usage first.

What appears at the top of that list the most?

[mab]

hi Q,

when it's going slow the processes using most of the CPU are the web browser or AVG; if I disable the AVG components then it the web browser itself - system idle process is usually at the bottom of the list (i.e. 100% cpu usage).

[tizaala]

Make sure you delete your browsing history regularly also, and empty you waste bin, If you have loads of photos dump them onto an external drive , they take lots of space up.

[Q]

Sorry - should have read your original post better.

Did it make any difference when you defragged?

If you click the windows 'start' button then click 'run' and type in   msconfig (click ok button) this brings up the system configuration screen.
Be careful - dont be tempted to 'play' in here.
Click on the 'services' tab and just tick the box that says 'hide all microsoft services' at the bottom.
This shows you whats running on your machine & anything that you may not expect to be running.
You should recognise the entries.
Just check what that list looks like without your browser and also with your browser running.

The browser may be triggering something to automatically update.
 

[mab]

hi (sorry - have to keep popping out today)

no defrag hasn't cleared the problem (worth a try though).

I've cleared all the histories/caches I can find, just in case.

there are things under msconfig services that I can't identify, but nothing that comes up (with Firefox for e.g.) I did notice that is shows 'windows firewall/internet sharing connection' even though windows firewall is disabled (as I'm running the Sunbelt firewall).