My computer has slowed down a load in the past day. Why?

[alienware-51]

My computer in the last day has sloed down a load. My mom went to go check her mail and the computer was so slow it couldn't get to the main screen. I know that i already have one of the worst computers in the world, but why is it all of a sudden so slow, well slower than normal?

[MadMan2k]

You tried rebooting?
Sometimes installing new programs (especially unreputable ones downloaded from the internet) can also install Spyware/adware, which tends to slow your computer down a bit.

[Dazbo666]

Tried defragging your hard drive??

[Xtreeme]

SPYWARE is why. Run adaware the free version and clean her up. Then try regsupreme and clean up the reg (it auto backsup and makes it safe). After those two run defrage and yer garunteed a snappy pc again. Well however snappy it was before-heh.

[darrelld]

Originally posted by Xtreeme
SPYWARE is why. Run adaware the free version and clean her up. Then try regsupreme and clean up the reg (it auto backsup and makes it safe). After those two run defrage and yer garunteed a snappy pc again. Well however snappy it was before-heh.

Wow, thats a bold diagnosis without any information to base it on. This is a possibility, but when all the information you have is "My computer is slow" there are many, many possibilities.

Alienware,
Give us your system specs and let us know what happened before it got slow. ie was anything new installed (hardware or software)? Is this a drsktop or laptop? Any info could be helpful.

[John Prophet]

if it is sort of slow "all of a sudden" I would guess a virus...like a trojan.....go to www.antivirus.com do the free scan (patience, it takes a while)

also, as stated, could be totally due to spyware....I just worked on a dudes comp..the comp was built right, cuz I built it,lol..or at least I formatted and reloaded xp....at the time I didnt know about spyware too much.....and this dude goes to lots of, uhh, "adult" sites....anyway, he called saying his comp was running terrible etc etc....so I got there and ran a virus check but he was clean on that.....so I installed adaware 6 and he had like 150 or 300 (I cant remember) instances of spyware......so I deleted everything that adaware found and the comp was instantly fixed.

www.lavasoftusa.com

after you install it...MAKE SURE..you do the update for it to get the latest defintions...when I did that guys comp his firewall was blocking me from updating the adaware....so I just ran it unupdated.....it found like a couple hundred or whatever....THEN I realized about the firewall blocking it from updating...so I bypassed the firewall and got the latest update for adaware...reran it..then it found like 50 more.....so without the update I would have missed like 50 spywares and it would only have been "sort fixed"

His comp was hanging, wouldnt open My Computer, taking like 4 minutes to boot..I mean all kindsssssssssssssssss of issues.....100% caused by spyware.

JP

If the virus scan and adaware dont fix it..you can always re-install windows "over the top"..in other words by choosing an option NOT to format and with XP choosing just to "repair" the current windows install.



Also...tell what Operating System you have....it makes it easier to help

[shawshank62]

Also try cleaning the system registry with a program like system mechanic or the one included in Nortons sytem works. Sometimes if you have a lot of broken crap in there, it can slow down. atleast from my experiences.

whats up darrel? do you ever go on AIM anymore?

[darrelld]

Hey Brian,
been pretty busy lately with school. I'll be on.

[Gilthanaz]

I know that there are some programs that simply slow down and cause screwy problems with my computer, even when no spyware or viruses are present such as kazaa. If you dont really use kazaa, you could probably benefit from getting rid of it.