Home XP laptop running slow

[jxh013300]

My laptop is Sony Vaio GRX520 ( P4, 1.6GHz, 256MB, 30GB) and there is no problem for the past two years. Start from last week it shows the running problem when it was booted, especially opening up Internet explorer is taking forever.

This laptop is updated with SP2. I had tried to install SpyBot and ZoneAlarn ( Ad-Aware is installed before) to fix this problem because I guess this might be caused by spyware, but they didn't help.

In this laptop I didn't install much applications, except Microsoft Office Suit. It connects to internet via wireless.

I wish someone here could help me. Thanks a lot.

[Ioman]

hmm. Couple things I would do. Check to make sure no programs are running in the background checking for updates. Do a system defrag, run Spybot, and if you absolutely have to, upgrade the system memory to 512MB. 256MB is the bare minimum for Windows XP nowadays. My guess is that something is running in the background.

[jxh013300]

Thanks for your reply. Since I am not a brilliant as you are, would you pls show me the way how to check those programs running at background, from Ctrl+Alt+Delete?

I have another laptop (1 year old) Toshiba, it is 256MB too, but it just works fine; thus I guess you are right there are something wrong with my sony vaio.

[Ioman]

Go to the start menu>run> then type in "Msconfig" and click on the start-up tab to see what is set to run at startup. If you want, type in here everything that shows up and we can tell you what looks shady. Or do ctrl+alt+delete to get your task manager to show up and delete all processes under your login name and see if that speeds things up. Dont worry, if you stopped something you shouldnt have, reboot the system and they will be there again.

[ECA]

IO,
really sounds like he has used it on the net, or loaded something mean.
Spybot tools, in advanced mode shows most of the startup... And can Kill them there.

Also get him to run Hijackthis, and we can see whats loading..

[jxh013300]

But how to run Hijackthis? I know little about this. ECA, you mentioned advanced mode about Spybot, what do you mean? Would you pls tell me the details?

Today I will do what Ioman said and would post the result.

I appreciate both of your help.

[llbbl]

uninstall SP2...

http://techrepublic.com.com/5100-6264-5222856-2.html



http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=884130&product=windowsxpsp2
This article contains a list of programs that are known to experience loss of functionality when they run on a Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2)-based computer. If you are using a program that appears on this list, contact the software vendor for more information. Microsoft is updating this list with new information as we receive it. Therefore, check this article frequently.

For client-based and server-based programs that communicate over the Internet or over a network, the new Windows Firewall feature that is included with Windows XP SP2 may be blocking unsolicited connections to your computer. Examples of these types of programs are:

that might help

[jxh013300]

The following are the items showing at the startup (from msconfig)

Ati2mdxx
atiptaxx
HKserv
qttask
server
JogServ2
SynTPLpr
SynTPEnh
ImgStart
ImgIcon
station
PPCRunOnce
SHSTAT
UpdaterUI
realsched
Logi_MwX
zlclient
AD2KClient
MsnMsgr
TeaTimer
Adobe Gamma Loader.exe
Microsoft Broadband Networking
Microsoft Office
PowerPanel
PowerReg Scheduler V3

[stelajulo]

I have the same problem with my Sony (pcg-grz610)
P4 2,4 512mb memory.
in the begining it was fine, but now it will take almost 3 minutes to bootup !!!
I run adaware + antivirus is up to date. all update are done.

in the window task manager, under process there is a bunch of thing that'susing a bunch of memory like:
Fahcore_78.exe (23,448K)
svchost.exe in the system (26628K)
tmproxy.exe in the system (32780K)

what are those?

[ECA]

SVCHOST is funny. It is used by Windows and BY bots...
Spybot finds them and kills most.
TMproxy, is what it says... A proxy program. dont know if you are running on purpose or NOT.
Depending on there location, you may be able to rename them(ADD ".odd" at the end) and see what dont work.
If you want it back search for *.odd and take it back off.
DONT play with SVCHOST.