slow computer

[disappointed]

Has anybody noticed that their computer is all of a sudden a lot slower. Mine has always been pretty fast but all of a sudden it slowed down and a message from Microsoft keeps coming on about the speed of my computer and they are trying to sell a product to speed it up. I would not mind if it was a one-of charge but they automatically renew it after twelve months using the card details you supply. I keep closing the advert down as soon as it appears but it is very persistant.

[squarebear]

It isn't from Microsoft. You have spyware slowing your PC down.

Download Adaware from http://www.limesoft.com That should fix it.

[squarebear]

It looks like that's not the correct site. Put adaware into google. That should shift it.

[Ethel]

Or download it here:

http://www.filehippo.com/download_ad-aware/

[CT]

Also, try clearing up some of your temporary files etc.
Start->All Programs->Accessories->System Tools->Disk Cleanup

[zabo]

don't be disappointed but time to get a new computer.

[squarebear]

Hardly.

Try the spyware removal tools first.

[CSIambleside]

You also might need some more memory.

[vehelpfulguy]

>Mine has always been pretty fast but all of a sudden it slowed down

After making a statment like that above I am surprised that people like zabo and CSIambleside give such misleading and unhelpful information.

If a computer WAS working fine and then all of a sudden isn't then it hardly sound like they need a new computer, or that they need more memory.

squarebear is right, try to clear out any malware or spyware programs and then your machine will probably go back to normal.

[CSIambleside]

I'm just going on advice given to me by the Computer manager where I work, when I felt my computer was slowing down.

Get rid of Norton Antivirus and get more memory.

[ACtheTROLL]

download and use both of these

http://lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/

then
http://www.ccleaner.com/download
(bathsheba - about one a month ... or less)

uninstall anything you haven't used in the last 6 months
finally - defrag

amazing how people see "started slowing down" and immediately reach for the ram ... or a catalog
and the norton uninstaller never fails.
all the above are on a timer ... and only start causing problems after 12 months or so

when I installed X .... slowed down = uninstall X
trying to encode video = fit more ram
want to upgrade my windows 95 to vista = new machine.
started slowing down ... popup windows .... low discspace
fix the bl**dy problem - don't just throw more wood on the fire
I tell my youngest students this ... it's not rocket science

there I fell better now ;-)

[ChuckFickens]

well said

[squarebear]

Unfortunately, there's a lot of bad advice on these pages.

Many a time I've seen someone recommend a system restore for trivial problems such as "the internet has gone full screen" or "my taskbar has been moved to the right hand side of the screen".

[ChuckFickens]

sometimes I think the system restore was one of the worse things they put in windows, stops people actually solving the problem.

the cycle goes we will install loads of stuff, somethings not right, we will do a system restore, we will install all the same stuff again... OH what a shock the problem has come back...

Yes of course it will.... you've just reinstalled whatever caused you the problem in the first place...DUH!!!

[squarebear]

Hehe! true.

[Mac70]

SR is also useless for the fact when infected, SR will also be infected.

p.s Adaware is crap now.