Why is my laptop running so slow and freezing up?

Question

windows xp amd 64 processor 512mb ram. i tried virus scans, registry cleaners, defrag, checkdisk, you name it and nothing helps. runs real slow when i try multitask or just freezes up and won't load. i usually can only one program at once. what can i do? what's wrong? it seemed fine just a few weeks ago.

Answer 1

if you have more than 1 virus scanning program that will slow down your computer i recommend avast and its always nice to have more memory

Answer 2

For running slow there are many causes:

Microsoft Registry Problems = Slow Computer!

Spyware/Adware

RAM

De-Fragmenting

Etc.

Below can help you speed up your pc:

Manage your startup:

Open your Start menu  ->  Click Run ->  In the command screen type "msconfig.exe" ->  In the "system configuration utility", click either "service" or "startup" tab ->  Uncheck all programs that your are no longer using.

De-Fragmenting

1. Right click of C Disk.

2. Click properties.

3. Click tools tab.

4. Click "Defragment now".

5. Click Defragment.

You can search which process full use you cpu, and end the process.

Under steps:

1. right click on the TaskBar.

2. click the Task Manager.

3. click the processes tab.

4. double click the CPU.

5. find if the "System Idle Process" is max.

6. if not right click and click end process.

Learn  "Why Is My Computer Running so Slow?" and "How to Speed it UP":

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Answer 3

If you can find a BIOS update for it try downloading that.  (I know how to get the dell ones - just go to the dell site, I'm not sure about other brands).  You can also try using msconfig to disable all startup programs and then add them back one by one to see what is causing the slowness.

Answer 4

if you have added any new programs or downloaded anything, that program could be interfering with the running of the rest of your computer.

...dont use registry cleaners..bad idea

Answer 5

Check http://www.pc-optimizer-pro.com

With pc optimizer pro you can safely clean, repair and optimize your computer.

It will help improve your system performance without expensive hardware upgrades.

Answer 6

i would recomend that you take it to the Geek Squad at best buy for a diagnosis. You probably have a particularly vicious virus that can't be identified by a amateur virus scan  

Answer 7

Number one, check to see how many icons you have running down in the right corner. If you have many go to: RUN/type: msconfig/click ok. Go to the Startup tab: in the list you will see checkmarks in boxes; you can turn these off/on by clicking on them. All that you see are running in RAM when your system starts & this can slow you down. You don't need all these running because most of them are in Programs so turning them off doesn't prevent you from using them. When you apply, your system is now running in Selective Startup, that's OK. When you close your system will want to restart. When it reboots, you will see a config window & a box in the lower left, click in this box to keep this window from coming up every boot. I would also suggest that you replace your RAM card with at least 2Gigs. I just upped mine another 2Gigs. 512 seems way to small for a 64 processor. The 2Gig I purchased for $60.00.

Answer 8

If your virus/spyware free, there are  a couple things you can do get your computer working faster. If you using your computer for normal stuff and not gaming. You don't always need more RAM you just need to perform a few maintenance task.

First, if you haven't cleaned your registry in a while. This is necessary. Your registry holds all the information regarding updates, installs, un-installs etc. Each one of those events produces a key. That key needs your PC's resources and free space. So, if you clean your registry, you make more resources available for speed. Do a registry scan if you got more than 20 errors you should clean it.

http://www.delete-computer-history.com/w...

2. Clear your Windows cache files, this is your temporary file. It can grow up to a large volume and stop your computer from using RAM properly. In a sense slow it down by preventing it from using free space.Here is how:

1. Quit Internet Explorer, Firefox, or any other web browser

2. Click Start, click "Control Panel", and then double-click "Internet Options".

3. On the General tab, click "Delete Files" under Temporary Internet Files.

4. In the Delete Files dialog box, click to select the "Delete all offline content" check box , and then click OK.

5. Click OK.

3. Manage your startups. Your excess CPU usage is due to too many programs running in the background. You can cut these to barebones by alter your msconfig. Here is how:

1. Open your Start menu.

2. Click Run

3. In the command screen type "msconfig.exe"

4. In the "system configuration utility",click either "service" or "startup" tab

5. Uncheck all programs that your are no longer using.

6. Click "OK"

Answer 9

Open task manager. If your Cpu is at 100% a great deal of the time, you have a trojan. If thats the case, you do not need an antivirus, you can remove the startup entry in the registry and it will not even know it exists.

Check your task manager then message me if thats the case.  

Answer 10

Using a registry cleaner can clean up your computer and then make your computer faster,Why?the reason is that there may be some registry errors and remnant,corrupt files and temp files in your computer to cause "computer slow".

Every time you install and uninstall software on your computer and surfing online you create junk in the computer registry.over time, the registry can grow to enormous proportions, especially if the various programs you've installed do not do a good job of deleting and/or updating it's Registry entries.You need to scan and clean your computer with registry cleaner to make it fast.Good Registry Cleaner will improve your computer and Internet performance dramatically!

There are some comparison and review of TOP 5 registry cleaners.

http://www.fix-system.com/

You can download and scan your computer for free.