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Paper Roses

(7,468 posts)
Tue Sep 23, 2014, 05:36 PM Sep 2014

Any thoughts? My computer has slowed to a crawl. I have done scans,

Malwarebytes, Spybot, AVG, CCleaner, Nothing particularly important. Deleted some junk.
Still slow.
Would the fact that I have a wireless connection for my laptop and my PC guy said there are neighbors who have wireless too, be the cause of this slowdown? Could someone be piggybacking on my service? Would this neighbor factor in any way be a problem?

I have no $$$ to replace this old PC, I prefer it to the laptop but this snail's pace is driving me crazy. I don't have tons of extra programs.
Think I should call my computer guru about this?

HP Pavilion a1530n
Firefox
Don't know what else to tell you but would love some advice.

BTW, I have the computer, printer, router and modem plugged into a power strip. I turn off the computer every PM but know that the other stuff goes 24 hours a day. I could save some electricity if I turned off the power strip every PM. Is this a no-no?

10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Any thoughts? My computer has slowed to a crawl. I have done scans, (Original Post) Paper Roses Sep 2014 OP
have you defragmented your hard drive lately ? steve2470 Sep 2014 #1
Thanks for the reminder. I forgot all about defragging. Paper Roses Sep 2014 #8
computers just slow down - I think of it as the building up of plaque in the system. NRaleighLiberal Sep 2014 #2
if you don't mind spending a few bucks, consider replacing your hard drive with an SSD steve2470 Sep 2014 #3
Even money says something is running in the background. What version Windows? hobbit709 Sep 2014 #4
Did you leave... DavidG_WI Sep 2014 #5
Do a boot time scan with your antivirus Mnpaul Sep 2014 #6
In addition to what others have said... steve2470 Sep 2014 #7
Make sure all of windows updates have run. Gore1FL Oct 2014 #9
Some ways to speed up the computer JeniferHuston Oct 2014 #10

Paper Roses

(7,468 posts)
8. Thanks for the reminder. I forgot all about defragging.
Wed Sep 24, 2014, 06:39 AM
Sep 2014

Last night I spent some time, the defrag took a long while.
From program list, accessories, system tools.
I did disk clean up then disk defrag.

This AM this machine seems to be running faster. We'll see how it goes. I am so computer illiterate that if it gets worse, I'll call my guru.
He has kept me out of a lot of trouble.
Thanks for everyone's advice.

NRaleighLiberal

(59,940 posts)
2. computers just slow down - I think of it as the building up of plaque in the system.
Tue Sep 23, 2014, 05:41 PM
Sep 2014

From what I've read, the best way to get some relief is to reinstall the operating system - essentially wipe the hard drive clean. It happens to smart phones too - they get agonizingly slow over time.

You can get a really good, fast Lenovo from Amazon at 400.00 - which is what I do every 2-3 years because I can't stand how they slow down, and I've not done the required step of reinstalling the OS.

good luck!

steve2470

(37,457 posts)
3. if you don't mind spending a few bucks, consider replacing your hard drive with an SSD
Tue Sep 23, 2014, 05:48 PM
Sep 2014

SSD = solid state drive. Your computer guy would know all about it. Solid state drives are MUCH faster than old-school mechanical hard drives.

hobbit709

(41,694 posts)
4. Even money says something is running in the background. What version Windows?
Tue Sep 23, 2014, 06:28 PM
Sep 2014

Is it the computer on everything or your internet connection? If it's internet, reboot your modem and router and then go to speedtest.org and run a speed test.

 

DavidG_WI

(245 posts)
5. Did you leave...
Tue Sep 23, 2014, 07:03 PM
Sep 2014

the resident scanners running?

What Firefox extension are you using? Tried creating a new profile?

tried def-ragging the system?

tried reinstalling?

Computers don't get slower over time, Windows does and websites get fatter.

No, you can turn it all off, the printer doesn't need to ever be on unless you need it.

Mnpaul

(3,655 posts)
6. Do a boot time scan with your antivirus
Tue Sep 23, 2014, 07:20 PM
Sep 2014

It may catch things that are hidden once Windows loads

To find out if someone is using your signal, go to the homepage of your router(google the required address). Once there, you should be able to find out who is using it. Bookmark the address for quick checking.

steve2470

(37,457 posts)
7. In addition to what others have said...
Tue Sep 23, 2014, 07:26 PM
Sep 2014

Run Windows Task Manager after your computer starts up completely.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/open-task-manager

Task Manager will tell you exactly what's running in the background.

Gore1FL

(21,034 posts)
9. Make sure all of windows updates have run.
Thu Oct 2, 2014, 05:45 PM
Oct 2014

If this is getting slower over time, it may be more and more stuff is running at sign on. There are ways to fix that, but it's a little difficult to explain well.

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