Windows 7 Laptop So Slow!

wrkactjob

Hello!

I upgraded my Dell laptop (4gb ram) to Windows 7, it worked fine for a while, there isnt much stored on it, but very recently everything has slowed down, It takes 60 seconds + just to open IE. When I put the cursor on the favourites bar for instance it takes 10 seconds for it to open and drop down, writing also displays a lag.

I have cleaned out the junk and cookies and run virus scan etc...but still it all seems so slow!

Any ideas why?

Thanks!

Beast

Have you run some anti-malware tools to check it out? My HP laptop, also with 4GB RAM also runs Windows 7 and is like a bullet compared to XP and Vista on the same machine.

wrkactjob

Thanks yes I am currently scanning with Trend Micro Housecall to see if it finds anything nasty.

Failing that I guess you can just reinstall W7 over itself?

[Deleted User]

You can reinstall Windows 7 over itself, but that is unlikely to fix this kind of problem. When you installed it, did you do a clean install or an upgrade from Vista?

What other background programs do you have running - do you have other security software too?

wrkactjob

tentonine wrote: »

You can reinstall Windows 7 over itself, but that is unlikely to fix this kind of problem. When you installed it, did you do a clean install or an upgrade from Vista?

What other background programs do you have running - do you have other security software too?

Thanks!

I did an upgrade from Vista.

my security is all the Windows options, firewall etc and full AVG suit, so two firewalls.

[Deleted User]

It is possible that you have a lingering problem from the upgrade - clean installs are preferable.

Did you update any drivers after the upgrade to Windows 7 or did you just let Windows take care of that?

Two firewalls are definitely not necessary!

Do you have a single core or dual core CPU?

Try temporarily disabling AVG and see if the problem might lie there.

wrkactjob

Umm IntelCore2Duo CPU T7500@ 2.2ghz 4gb.

If I disable AVG I'm guessing I will have no virus protection? there will just be protection from the default Windows products...is that OK?

I don't remember updating any drivers....

I got the full W7 Home premium but only took the upgrade option....there are no files on the laptop is it worth doing a full install then?...this baby should be flying!

[Deleted User]

Indeed, it should be very fast. Temporarily disabling or removing your security software is fine for a short time. You must always keep a firewall running, but the lack of a virus scanner will not matter for a few minutes (but be extra careful about which websites you visit and which e-mails you open).

A clean install (i.e. format the drive during setup) at this point would probably be best. Then load all the latest drivers from the Dell support site. Well, that assumes that Dell supply Windows 7 drivers for your computer. If they don't, you may have to find them from websites of the manufacturers of each component - let me know if you need help with that.

wrkactjob

Eeks! things have gone from bad to worse!

Tried a fresh install of W7 and things seemed to be going OK until the lappy turned itself off.

Tried again and now just get this message

Info Windows failed to load because the HAL is missing or corrupt.

I'm just going around in circles now, I have the original disks and am booting from the cd/dvd but get the same message...

officeguru

wrkactjob wrote: »

Eeks! things have gone from bad to worse!

Tried a fresh install of W7 and things seemed to be going OK until the lappy turned itself off.

Tried again and now just get this message

Info Windows failed to load because the HAL is missing or corrupt.

I'm just going around in circles now, I have the original disks and am booting from the cd/dvd but get the same message...

Hi, I googled your error and there are quite a few options available to fix/repair the problem..... if you do the same, you will be able choose the option best for you

Hopes this helps
cheers

[Deleted User]

Which model Dell is this?