Task Manager Processes

[Deleted account 210609001]

My laptop has been running slowly for no obvious reason - taking ages to respond to keyboard and pointer, sometimes just freezing for ten seconds, someyimes for ages. Starting up takes much longer than it used to as well.

Out of interest, I've had a look at Windows Task Manager and it tells me that my laptop is running 56 processes at the moment. Is that normal? Is it indicative of a problem?

Any ideas on how i might speed it back up? I have defragged it, but that didn't seem to make any difference.

 

[Slowdown]

I'm just checking you've got an anti-virus program that's up to date loaded and running.

Also, how much free memory do you have left? If you've run out your PC will run like treacle.

 

[shugie]

Some anti-virus programmes take so much processor power that they can slow the machine down, but some viruses (virii?) can do the same.

What operating system do you have?

 

[purds]

The two best ways to speed up an ageing machine I have found are

1) Checking what programmes are automatically loaded at startup via the msconfig utility and disableing this for those that you can. Many 'default' programme install routines set them to load automatically.

2) Installing more memory if possible.

Good luck

 

[Popeye]

Robin - had exactly the same problem with mine.

Turned out to be full of spyware which Malwarebytes and CCleaner hadn't picked up.

Someone suggested I download and try SUPERAntispyware, ran it and solved the problems.

Now booting up and running nice and fast.

 

[Deleted account Cooperman]

Install CCleaner (file hippo)

Update to latest version.

Run the cleaner and delete all discovered files.

Scan the registry for problems and delete all problems discovered

Then go into tools and select start up. This shows all the programmes that are trying to run when you log on (most programmes try to do this when installed). Delete all those you don't need.

Should notice a big improvement.

I also use AVast as security. Seems to work. It protected me when looking at the porn site thread

 

[Disaster Area]

Just following on...

People have mentioned looking at those programmes that are operating on start up. Do people have any suggestions as to what is necessary and what isn't?

How do people rate SpyBot? I have that in tandem with Avast.
Thanks,
DA

 

[SJRoome]

Hi

You will either have to look each one up on the internet to see what is does, or you could post the startup list from a utility such as Ccleaner here and one of us will give you an opinion.

Spybot and Avast are fine. Make sure they are up to date. I would do a full scan with both and with Malwarebytes.


Steve

 

[Fanum]

Don't mess around Robin...dig out all the install discs, back up your data and reload windoze....format the drive as part of the process.

Unless you have many many programs installed, it usually turns out o be the fastest way of doing it, once you add up all the time you will spend trying to clean stuff down and running various scans

Once you've done it, make a partition on it (actually, you need to do this as part of the process) and as soon as you have re-installed windows, your core progs (AV, firewall, office etc) make an image of the 'c' drive on the partition using Acronis (free if you know where to look ) and the next time you need to do it, it will take you 20 mins tops.

 

[Disaster Area]

Thanks

Hi,
Thanks for the help. I suspect I have far more things running at start up than I really need - including somethings I can't ever remember using!

I'll have a play tonight and then ask for more help in undoing whatever chaos I create!

DA

 

[Disaster Area]

Hello again

Hi,
I tried to remove some items from the long list that operate at start up, but I couldn't remove most. The remove option was greyed out and wouldn't do anything.

Any suggestions?
Also, any idea what NVIDIA is? It's mentioned as a problem in the self check bit, but I have no idea what it is/does.

Thanks,
DA

 

[Stonker]

go to help2go.com. Do everything in their tutorial and then post the required logs in their spyware help forums. I've always found them guys a great help

 

[shugie]

Hi,
I tried to remove some items from the long list that operate at start up, but I couldn't remove most. The remove option was greyed out and wouldn't do anything.

Any suggestions?
Also, any idea what NVIDIA is? It's mentioned as a problem in the self check bit, but I have no idea what it is/does.

Thanks,
DA

Nvidia is display driver software and utilities, probably best left alone.

Can I suggest you login as administrator, run "msconfig" then list the non-Microsoft services (under services tab, tick box at bottom to hide Microsoft services), then also list stuff under the "startup" tab that you don't recognise.

 

[Fanum]

Nvidia is display driver software and utilities, probably best left alone.

Can I suggest you login as administrator, run "msconfig" then list the non-Microsoft services (under services tab, tick box at bottom to hide Microsoft services), then also list stuff under the "startup" tab that you don't recognise.

I would suggest that if he doesn't know what 'Nvidia' refers to, it's probably best he takes it to PC world or a local 12 yr old and gets it done by them

Quite seriously Disaster Area.....don't mess with it, you'll break it

 

[shugie]

I would suggest that if he doesn't know what 'Nvidia' refers to, it's probably best he takes it to PC world or a local 12 yr old and gets it done by them

Quite seriously Disaster Area.....don't mess with it, you'll break it

Sensible advice. I'd do it for him, for free, if he pays for me to go there and sort it. But do they have PC World in New Zealand, it's still the 1960s there apparently, so they must be on valves mostly.

 

[Disaster Area]

Nvidia is display driver software and utilities, probably best left alone.

Can I suggest you login as administrator, run "msconfig" then list the non-Microsoft services (under services tab, tick box at bottom to hide Microsoft services), then also list stuff under the "startup" tab that you don't recognise.

Bit late for that...

I think I may be in the smelly stuff...

 

[Disaster Area]

It seems to be back to normal

Hi,
I looked at the NVIDIA website and followed the instructions to the control panel. I changed the screen scaling and everything seems to be back to normal.

I'm walking away, whistling innocently, pretending that nothing happened.

Thanks for the help - I do appreciate the fact that people will help (with a bit of urine extraction) on this website. Hopefully I will be able to return the favours.

DA

 

[Disaster Area]

Sensible advice. I'd do it for him, for free, if he pays for me to go there and sort it. But do they have PC World in New Zealand, it's still the 1960s there apparently, so they must be on valves mostly.

Should you ever find yourself down this way, let me know and I'll gladly buy you a beer. I find your estimate of the 1960's to be a little on the optomistic side of things.

 

[Fanum]

Hi,
I looked at the NVIDIA website and followed the instructions to the control panel. I changed the screen scaling and everything seems to be back to normal.

I'm walking away, whistling innocently, pretending that nothing happened.

Thanks for the help - I do appreciate the fact that people will help (with a bit of urine extraction) on this website. Hopefully I will be able to return the favours.

DA

Well done