dell computer

[marias]

my friend has a dell desktop computer with bt broadband connection. it is two years old and was going great guns. now it is SO slow - i mean slow it will take five minutes and more just to start and reach desk top - can anyone help her to solve the problem

[fo3nix]

This could be a million and one issues. Here's what it's likely to be:

1) A virus or spyware running in the background. Update Windows, and run whatever antivirus and antispyware they have installed after updating those too. AVG and Adaware are good free antivirus and antispyware programs, respectively.

2) They have a load of programs set to start when the computer starts. Remove them from start menu->Programs->Startup folder, so that you just start Windows, and not a ton of other things.

3) General Windows slowdown. Happens to all Windows installs after a while. Solution: backup your stuff and reinstall Windows.

4) Less likely, but run defrag on the drive.

[SpodoCommodo]

If it's running Windows XP and either of you are technically minded then you could try Microsoft Bootvis

http://www.gilsmethod.com/htspeedupboottimeswi thbootvis

step 1 on that page includes a download link if the program is not already present on the machine but it's very easy to find other download sources e.g.

http://www.softpedia.com/progDownload/BootVis- Download-3465.html