My computer is really really slow?

Question

My computer is a 2003 HP pavilion running Windows XP and recently IE, Firefox and Safari are crashing every few seconds. When it does crash I can't move my mouse and then when I can and I try to close it the window minimizes and the taskbar is malfunctioning so that IE or Firefox or Safari(I mainly use Firefox) all disappear into the system and there is no button to maximize because the taskbar at the bottom of the OS doesn't work properly and then I have to open up Windows Task Manager which takes many minutes to load and when it does it lags and when I try to move it somewhere else it leaves a lag trail and it closes itself very very slowly like a curtain. After it finishes the computer beeps several times and then when I open task manager again and try to close Firefox it says the task manager is not responding and then when it starts responding again the browser window just hangs there until I click END NOW several times my computer beeps after the unresponsive session closes itself and it doesn't even restore my previous session and btw I was on yahoo answers when this happened and my computer beeps whenever something lags now what's happening??

Answer 1

Really sounds likes a registry problem.  That is something that you cannot manually fix.  Now if you have created a restore point, I would restore the computer to a later date in which the computer was working.

It does not sound like you can use any browers.  Have you checked to see if your internet connection is ok?  Have you tried to run a virus check and a spyware remover?

Windows XP is an extremely stable platform.  When you boot your system up, are than any beep codes?  If there are, they are indicating that you have some issues with hardware or software.  If it does give some beeps, look up beep codes for your bios on another computer, and it will tell you where to search for your issues.

Try a Windows Repair:  http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepa...

In the end a complete reinstall of your XP disk or restore disk will clean up your problem.  It will also destroy all your data.  If you can backup your data do so.  

Answer 2

It looks like your windows has died in a natural death... the time has come for a fresh start. Format the HDD, install fresh copy of Windows, set up some good anti virus suite and reinstall all of your important hardware and the latest drivers. This should not take more than 3-5 hours, but afterwards you will enjoy smooth work without annoying hick-ups and crashes.

Cheers!

Answer 3

You probably have a virus, spyware, or malware on your computer.  Run your antivirus scanner.  If you don't have one, then you need to get one now!  Try AVG.

http://www.grisoft.com/

Answer 4

I'm going on the HP website to see what the beep codes mean. (I'd hate for it to crash when you're trying to figure out what's going on, so I'll do it for you.)

Hopefully this page will help you out. It's long, so I hope you can get through enough of it before it crashes again. Good luck!

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/docum...

Answer 5

try running the disk cleaner, defragment, and run anit virus.

You may have to clean the computer out completely including the hard drive and reformat.  If you are not sure what you are doing, take it to a repairman.  Sounds like a virus to me.