Brand new computer running slow...

PhilL_3

Hopefully some of you can give me some advice,

Just set up my new Dell Desktop and it seems to be running really slow and most annoyingly something seems to be accessing the hard disk like once a second and continously.

Is it likely to be all the !!!!!! that comes pre-installed like McAfee that is likely to be causing the problem?

I've ran the PC through PC Pitstop and no problems there but the slow startup, constant disk access and slow browser speed are driving me mad!

Just found this, hopefully it might help... will let you all know http://www.yorkspace.com/pc-de-crapifier

albertross_2

use filemon from sysinternals to identify what is writing to the HD. Presumably you have >256MB of ram?

Have you patched it at https://www.windowsupdate.com yet?

PhilL_3

Yeah i've deleted all the programs dell ships it with including McAfee but it's still the same. I've run Filemon and it seems to be McShield but I've deleted McAfee... argh!!! It's a persistent !!!!!! to get rid of

deanos

You uninstalled the programs not just delete them

A_Nice_Englishman

You say you've deleted McAfee, which suggests you are running without a firewall or antivirus. This is NOT generally considered a good idea! You may even have picked up spyware or a virus which is slowing your computer down.

As a previous poster said, have you got at least 512MB of RAM? If not get some more from somewhere like http://www.crucial.com/uk/

PhilL_3

got a gig of RAM so that shouldn't be the problem. I have only just tried to delete McAfee, is the anti virus etc built into XP pretty much useless then? I have only set the computer up yesterday and can't believe how slow it was

pchelpman

PhilL wrote:

is the anti virus etc built into XP pretty much useless then?

What antivirus? Or are you talking about the Windows Firewall? If so then, yes, that firewall is pretty much useless.

Hit ctrl+alt+del together and bring up the Task Manager. Click twice on the CPU tab at the top. That will call the processes using the most CPU to the top of that list.

Which process(es) is/are taking up the most resources?

[BTW ... never go online without a good reliable firewall and antivirus at minimum]

PhilL_3

Yeah the Windows Firewall, sorry. I've also downloaded Windows Defender as well. I don't know how effective that is as a security measure

I'll check the task manager tonight as I'm on my work computer here. Like I said before filemon seemed to show Mcshield as writing to the HD even though I've tried to delete McAfee. I've heard it's hard to get rid of but I want to maintain a good level of protection on my new PC. Any ideas?

I've downloaded AdAware SE and Spyware Doctor as well.

pchelpman

As deanos mentioned (above) you can't just "delete" programs. As a proper start to removing a program you must go through either/both ...


1 . the program's "uninstall" routine

or ...

2. use the Add/Remove Programs facility in the control panel.

How did you removeMcAfee?

If not by using these methods try them when you get home.

PCH

T4i

pchelpman wrote:

hit ctrl+alt+del together and bring up the Task Manager. Click twice on the CPU tab at the top. That will call the processes using the most CPU to the top of that list.

Sorry, I'm just picky. Only one click is needed for tabs.

It really winds me up when people double click items in the start menu's and tabs. Poor clicks!

PhilL_3

I deleted McAfee using Add/Remove Programs but there are still files related to it in the program files but i'm reluctant to just remove them without some advice first... and McShield is still writing to the hard disk according to filemon