Laptop problems

[chazza]

We were given a laptop and when we first got it, it ran very quickly. Now it has got so slow to start up / shut down / open browser windows and documents.

We have some software installed (tomtom, digital camera software etc) but even with these installed it used to run faster.

I've tried defragmenting it and this has made no difference, what else can I do to try and get it back to the speed it was? We clear out the temporary internet files daily

[Ethel]

Xp? Vista?

How many programs are in the startup folder?

Start - run. Type

msconfig

in the box and click the 'startup' tab

[terambulan]

Remove the tomtom....why is that on your pc? Tomtom is a massive program to install onto a pc.

[Ethel]

I have the TomTom software on my pc - it connects my TomTom to the internet and updates the maps, cameras and so on.

It is 46mb - not so huge.

[weecalf]

Sorry to but in on this thread .my lap top is taking ages to start and close down .So I was interested in what was posted .Fllowing your post thel .I did that and find that there isover 20 items on the startup menu .Trouble is I dont know to get rid off as it may close smething down which I need .eg.adobe,dell wirelesss cyber somethig .If I do discard these n start up can I still reach them when the laptop is on line.Hope all this makes sense

[terambulan]

To remove programs go to Start/Control Panel/Add & Remove and delete unwanted programs.

[Ethel]

That won't remove programs from the startup folder.

Obviously some things are essential on startup but others are unnecessary and slow things down. Office software is a good example - it can take an age to load up, is running in the background and when you log off, you haven't used it.

I recommend a free program:
http://www.windowsstartup.com/

Startup Inspector is the first one in the list. When you first download it, it doesn't do much. Click the 'consult' button and it will tell you what everything in your start up folder does.

In that program you can untick the unnecessary things - my mp3 software, tomtom, office software etc were all in my startup folder unnecessarily.

[weecalf]

Thanks does this work for Vista

[chazza]

It runs on XP, There's very little on the startup menu that is not there automatically, this is what is confusing me! I'll check the startup folder when I go home tonight

Tomtom software is on my PC for the reasons that Ethel says, updating the satnav

[Ethel]

The problem is, when you install some programs such as TomTom, they automatically put themselves in the start up folder, which is totally unnecessary

[Ethel]

This one works for Vista

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/OS-Enhance ments/Startup-Inspector.shtml

[chazza]

Ok in the startup I have:
igfxtray.exe
hkcmd.exe
Ltmoh.exe
AGRSMMSG.exe
avgtray.exe
McciTrayApp.exe
ctfmon.exe
How do I know which I can disable?

It's not too slow starting up and shutting down, it's just opening browser windows, documents etc that is slow!

[terambulan]

In Programs/Startup I only have Ms Office (not everyone's choice, I know). You seem to have a lot of programs (those with exe files). I suggest you pull them all out of Startup and put them on the desktop, you can klik on their when needed to open. (I have such programs in a 'new file' named "Icons"....but then, I like a tidy desktop).

This should solve your speed problem.

[Ethel]

Terambulan, I'd love to know where you're looking. If I had nothing in my startup folder my sound, mouse, monitor, keyboard, firewall and antivirus would not work.

Chazza
The first one controls your graphics driver;
The second relates to the hotkey command in your registry;
Ltmoh - that is 'modem on hold' - are you on dial up or broadband?
AGRSMMSG.exe MUST run at start up - it controls a lot of your drivers
AVGTray is your antivirus monitor that sits in the tray by the clock
McciTray is your broadband monitor
Ctfmon is the Windows utility that allows you to switch user and languages


None of those are problematic as far as I know although the ltmoh is a puzzle as you are on broadband.

[chazza]

Yeah on BT broadband.
So nothing I can do then? As I say it is not a starting up problem, it gets slower the longer the internet is in use

[Ethel]

Couple of suggestions.

Try a different browser such as Firefox - is it any quicker?

Have a look in your task manager at the processes. Is anything using up all the CPU? Click twice on mem usage and see what comes to the top.