PC slowdown please help

Keanosafc

my pc has slowed down loads in the past week.

Its running with xp and 1gb of ram, and has never been slow in the past for what I need.

I have tried to elimiate spyware/virus by running ad-aware, spybot, c cleaner, defrag. but other than finding a few files (from ad aware/spyware) it hasn't changed anything.

Any ideas on what I could do?

albertross_2

what is slow, which av scanner do you have?

Keanosafc

I'm using mcafee, (i've disabled the spamkiller which slowed it down previously),

the whole system has slowed down, from the internet, to general tasks.

I've had spyware in the past (on a different machine) which had similar symptoms, ie, slowdown, however cannot recall how I managed to remove it.

albertross_2

anything hogging the cpu in task manager, processes?

Keanosafc

I've closed everything else down, (apart from firefox), and System Idle Process is ranging between 90-99 cpu usage. is that normal?

albertross_2

yes, SI=idle, so what is slow now? your pc with a 0-100mph engine is toddling along at <10mph

Keanosafc

it just seems to be running slower, if i open any programmes, (outlook express, firefox browser, even my docs) it just seems to drag a bit before opening them, it never used to be like this.

albertross_2

mcafee can be a bit sluggish.

if you think you may have an infection, try some other scanners, avg antispyware free, bitdefender free

Keanosafc

thanks, will do.