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Extremely Slow Program Start Ups

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by bonalpo

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Thank you for you help. Very recently, in the last week or so, I have begun to experience very slow response from my windows xp operating system. I keep desktop icons on all applications that I use on a relatively regular basis. Lately when I click on an icon to open a program there is a long delay before the program opens up. Example: MSWord. When I click on the desktop icon, I get an hour glass for about 5 seconds, then the hour glass fades, after about 3 seconds, I get the MSWord Logo window, it stays up for about 3 to 5 seconds, and it closes and after about 2 or 3 seconss more, Word finally opens up. This is not always the case, sometimes it may be a bit faster, and most of the time it is a bit longer.
The same applies when I click on my e mail icon in the task bar, or when I click on a chat program, Yahoo, MSNMessenger, or AIM. They all hesitate for an unusually long time before they open up. Some times when I click on a program, I get the hour glass, then when the hourglass goes away, the program does not open, and I have to double click it again. The same scenario applies whether I click on the desktop icon, or if I go to Start, All Programs, and choose the program I want to open from the all programs list. I am running a pentium 4 R proccessor with a speed of 2.4gigs. I have 1.5 gigs of ram, of which most of the time is running at 80% or better free ram.

If you have any suggestions and or solutions, I would very much appreciate hering from you in this very important matter.

Thank you for your kind and help attention.

Allen
337-824-0353

3 replies

by pchlp

Try this

Here is information on a problem with Windows XP running slow and how to fix it. I have included a Windows 2000 update problem, but leave it with you have Windows XP. Basically, if you suddenly are having troubles with your computer running slow or slow in loading programs check to see if you have done MS update Q811493 hotfix. Your computer may have done it automatically. Go to the Control Panel and Add/Remove Programs the hotfix should be near the bottom of the list. Uninstall the the hotfix and you computer should be working better after you restart the computer. If you continue have speed problems try the other two fixes which I have included. I have found if you have an older computer with an older video card that doing all three changes makes the computer run better. If you have any questions please let me

by it4bg

Judging by the fact that it has just started and that you may be downloading quite a bit of apps and such from the network, instead of going after hardware FIRST, I would suspect a virus. I've had experience with the Klez virus among others and that's exactly what it does. It runs all over the place and causes extreme delays. You didn't mention you had checked for viruses or had a virus program installed. If so, make sure it's updated with the latest virus data files and run it. If you haveno virus software installed, get one now! There's Sophos (I use), McAfee, Norton, etc. Hope this helps.

by digitrog

Another thing that you may want to try - get a copy of Lavasoft Ad-Aware v6 - install and run it - you'll need to select all your hard drive[s] then do a scan.
You may be surprised at what it finds cookies , diallers and various 'spyware' that willkludge the resources ... Then restart the machine - If you can go onto the internet - start Ad-Aware and check for upadates of the reference file - this auto installs then do a new scan ... hope this helps ...

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