Slow computer defeats inept user

[Vulcan]

When sitting idle right now typing this out on firefox, my CPU usage is 0 to 3%. When it's above that, I check out what's going on, maybe my anti-virus is running or something else legitimate is going on, but if not, I check until I find what is using my processor.

I like to keep an eye on what my computer is doing. I've found viruses and overheating video cards when I wouldn't have known anything was wrong, unless I checked programs that monitor my computer. I use NVidia system monitor, SpeedFan, CPUID CPU-Z, GPU-Z and sometimes a hard drive monitor, and task manager. There are other programs that are good too and allow you to set fan speeds and overclock video cards as well.

Yes don't use IE, use Firefox or Chrome. For the opening poster, another good anti-malware to check your computer is Malwarebytes.

[Aeneas]

Originally Posted by Frank MetaMusil

You need to download Spybot - http://www.safer-networking.org

Download the updates and immunize before you run the scan, you've got malware.

Have been running this since it was suggested. Been a couple hours anyway. About 15% through. May have to wait till morning at the speed it is going.

Photon: The CPU Usage column is a little hard to track. It pops all over the place and changes every second:

Task manager 38-40
Spybot 23
Dwm 4-6
explorer 0-4
iexplore 0-1
FSM32.exe 0-1
NBKeyscan 0-1
Spuvolume 0-1

for example.

[photon]

Task manager is taking 38-40%?? That's kind of bizarre, maybe there's no free memory.

What kind of computer is it? Do you know how much memory, what processor, what operating system, etc?

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by Frank MetaMusil

You need to download Spybot - http://www.safer-networking.org

Download the updates and immunize before you run the scan, you've got malware.

On what basis are you going to make that claim?

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by Aeneas

Have been running this since it was suggested. Been a couple hours anyway. About 15% through. May have to wait till morning at the speed it is going.

Photon: The CPU Usage column is a little hard to track. It pops all over the place and changes every second:

Task manager 38-40
Spybot 23
Dwm 4-6
explorer 0-4
iexplore 0-1
FSM32.exe 0-1
NBKeyscan 0-1
Spuvolume 0-1

for example.

Let it run as long as it needs to finish. Afterwards you will have to clean all of the objects it finds. It will likely need (and ask you) to run another scan on startup to fully clean things up for you.

[Frank MetaMusil]

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

On what basis are you going to make that claim?

Just from experience, that's all. If Spybot doesn't find anything I will gladly admit it was bad advice and I wasted his time.

[sclitheroe]

If task manager is consuming that much CPU, it could indicate that the CPU is running very slowly (in limp-home mode) because the cooling has failed. Task manager on an older machine will typically use from 0-10%, but not consistently more than that.

You should crack open the case and see if the CPU fan is still working - its quite possible the machine is throttling down to avoid melting down.

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by photon

Task manager is taking 38-40%?? That's kind of bizarre, maybe there's no free memory.

If there was no free memory, CPU utilization on individual process would be lower, as they would constantly be waiting for memory to be paged from disk, thus reducing the amount of time they can actually execute.

[sclitheroe]

Also - i noticed DWM.EXE....is this a Vista machine?

I wonder if maybe in the advanced power savings config, the maximum CPU speeds have been set to 5% - this has the effect of limiting the machine to 5% of maximum performance.

[photon]

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

If there was no free memory, CPU utilization on individual process would be lower, as they would constantly be waiting for memory to be paged from disk, thus reducing the amount of time they can actually execute.

It wouldn't show the process in high usage while the disk thrashed? I figured if it was blocking the CPU it would show high CPU usage, but yeah you are right.

[Rathji]

This is kinda general advice, based on the limited system configuration information you have given and your some what vague description of the problem. If you would like more exact advice, you can probably provide a bit more information about your computer.

I am guessing this is Vista machine (due to sidebar.exe), running on old hardware that seems to have a lot of things installed on it. These might help stem the bleeding, but I think sclitheroe is probably onto something when he is saying your CPU is somehow limiting its processing power through power management or heat issues. I wouldnt rule out networking, browser or plug in issues, unless the problem occurs when anything is running (and when a browser isnt)

If I was trying to make this computer usable without any investment (other than time) I would:

a) Install and run Malware Bytes. Quick Scan is probably enough, unless it catches something, then run a full scan.

b) Right click "My computer" and go to Properties Click the advanced tab and under Performance click settings, select "adjust for best performance" and then click Ok

****** Skip the rest of these steps unless you are sure *********
c) Go through Programs and Features in Control Panel and install anything you *know* you are not using anymore. Again, don't touch anything unless you are 100% sure it isn't needed.

d) Run msconfig from command and look at the startup tab. Some things in here are designed to make things start faster when they run, but just consume resources otherwise. If you do decide to disable some of these. the safest way is one at a time and then reboot and see if any errors pop up. Keep a record of what you disable, so you can re-enable again. Some I normally kill are Adobe speed launcher and itunes helper, but it depends on your use.

[Aeneas]

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

If task manager is consuming that much CPU, it could indicate that the CPU is running very slowly (in limp-home mode) because the cooling has failed. Task manager on an older machine will typically use from 0-10%, but not consistently more than that.

You should crack open the case and see if the CPU fan is still working - its quite possible the machine is throttling down to avoid melting down.

Oh there is a fan running. Non stop whenever the computer is on.

Yes it is Vista.

I'll have a look and see what it is.

[photon]

Secretly I'm hoping this is a Pentium III with 256MB of RAM

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by photon

Secretly I'm hoping this is a Pentium III with 256MB of RAM

I think 512 RAM is far more likely, so my wager will be on that

[Vulcan]

I'd guess it's either a Dell or HP etc. and since it has Vista, it should have one GB of ram and at least a Pentium 4 or AMD equivalent.

[photon]

I said what I was hoping for.

One of these badboys:

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by photon

It wouldn't show the process in high usage while the disk thrashed? I figured if it was blocking the CPU it would show high CPU usage, but yeah you are right.

No, because when the disk is thrashing during paging the CPU is completely RAM starved - it literally has almost no work to do for the thread causing paging, because the work it needs to do isn’t in RAM.

Modern CPU’s are so fast even conventional RAM is a bottleneck that will cause the CPU to end up waiting for data. This is why the on-chip cache memory is so important to CPU performance.

[Flames0910]

I clicked on this thread expecting a funny youtube vid.

Needless to say I was/am very disappointed.

[Aeneas]

Am very busy with children at this moment(temp single dad), but thought I'd quickly update the Spybot S and destroy result...

Burstmedia 4 entries browser
Casalemedia 6 browser
Doubleclick 1 browser
Fastclick 2 browser
Mediaplex 1 browser
Statcounter 1 browser
Webtrendslive 1 browser

I must say the last month or so I have been ready to destroy the mouse in furious rage. Now I read "doubleclick" and think maybe an apology to the mouse is in order.

[Pastiche]

What version of IE are you using? If it's version 6 then upgrade immediately.