[JIM]

I have an AMD K6-2/500 with 128 meg ram. Lately it has been running like a real snail. Even opening up Microsoft Word locks up the mouse for about 10 seconds. If I look at the little clock on the bottom right of the screen, it is about an hour slow. I can fix the time, but then it falls behind by an hour in 1 day, but if I just reboot the system, it comes back on with the correct time. What the heck does that mean??
Thanks,
Jim

 

[slowtalker]

I would guess some process(es) is/are running that is using up a lot of cpu time. What operating system are you running?

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ACES# 05217
TC# 1682
1969 SS396
Slowtalker's Website
My Chevelle
The more you know, the more you know you don't know.

 

[OrrieG]

1. Virus scan, you may have got something that is spending a lot of time downloading info to the internet behind the scenes.

2. Start>run>msconfig>startup. Look for programs that are starting automatically and running. Uncheck the ones that you don't want to start (messenger, real player, etc) until you need them. You may find some spyware lurking there (gator, etc.). Be careful you don't turn off any of the OS files.

3. Look at your bottom tool bar, right side, if there is an icon, something is running, turn off the ones you don't need (right click>exit). Nothing there that will affect your OS if it turned off.

4. Start>programs>accessories>system tools> then do a scan disk. Turn off your screen saver. If it won't run (you'll get a message after it trys 10 times) then there is something running in the background.

5. Same keys as 4 but do a defrag. It will take a while but will clean up the disk.

6. I don't do mp3 or those kinds of downloads but if you do there might be something that is trying to load or send large files. I know realplayer trys to load my music CD's to an online file when I play them on the computer, maybe you have an application that is doing that on the sly.

Listen to Slowtalker, he has gotten my tail out of a sling a couple of times.

Good luck, Patrick

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OrrieG
64 Malibu HT Survivor

 

[JIM]

I am running Windows 98. The problem is worse, a lot worse if I have McAfee running in the background. But it never used to be this way, that is what I don't get?? The only little icon on the bottom right side of the screen is the volume control button. I have turned off everyhting else. It does help a bit with everything off, especially McAfee, but it is still painfully slow for some reason. I did scan disk and defrag about 2 weeks ago to see if that would help, but it made no difference. I wish this was as simple as a valve adjustment or degreeing a cam.
Jim

 

[JIM]

I just checked the "start>run>msconfig>startup" thing. Nice, I always wanted to know how to get to that screen!! Thanks. Anyway, the following items were listed there and all of them had a checkmark next to them. Which can I safely turn off?
ScanRegistry
TaskMonitor
SystemTray
LoadPowerProfile
ATIKey
ATICWD32
LoadQM
MoneyStartup
RealTray
LoadPowerProfile (again?? like the one above)
AOL 8.0 TrayIcon
Thanks,
Jim

 

[OrrieG]

ScanRegistry NO
TaskMonitor NO
SystemTray NO
LoadPowerProfile NO
ATIKey NO
ATICWD32 NO
LoadQM ??? probably NO
MoneyStartup YES
RealTray ??? DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS?
LoadPowerProfile (again?? like the one above) SINCE ITS A DUP I'D TRY TURNING IT OFF
AOL 8.0 TrayIcon (NO UNLESS AOL IS YOUR ISP THEN YOU PROBABLY NEED TO KEEP IT WORST CASE IS TO TRY AND CHECK IT IF AOL NEEDS IT TO WORK)

Sorry for the caps wanted to make sure you saw them. The NO's are system startup files. If Load QM and Real Tray are loaded program files they can be clicked. Is Money file tied to banking software? Worst case is you will have to go back in and reclick. You will need to reboot for changes to take affect.

It looks like everything is starting and running relatively clean. I'm still guessing a bug somewhere.



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OrrieG
64 Malibu HT Survivor

 

[BobMcC]

First, your clock ordinarily runs from it’s own built in clock oscillator. If you have network control over your computer, then it uses network time as it’s system time. Just for the heck of it, come up in “Safe” mode and let it run for an hour or two. Check the clock time then. Maybe you have another program running that controls your time. Incidentally, your clock is powered by a battery when your computer is turned off, not when your power is on. If you lose time while the computer is running, it’s not the battery. As far as slowness goes, there could be a bunch of reasons. Look at your antivirus software to see if it is scanning every program that you open. I have mine scan Excel and it takes ten to fifteen seconds longer than if I didn’t. How extensive is your collection of screensavers, fonts, and desktop pictures? The more you have, the slower your computer is. Did you made any changes at all just before you noticed the slowdown?

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Bob McCormick
69 Malibu project

 

[supersport396_2000]

Does your hard-drive run all the time when opening programs? Try deleting all your temp internet files and your cookies.

Go to c:/windows/temp and delete all that junk,then c:/windows/temporary internet file delete all that.Sometimes just going to start/settings/control panel and clicking on internet options then under temporary internet files click delete files.Sometimes that works but it leaves some files in there.By going directly to the folder c:/windows/temporary internet files and c:/windows/temp you can delete all of them.

First thing i'd do just for comparison is to see how much space you have left on your hard-drive. Right click on the c: drive and click properties then check it again after you delete all the files mentioned above.

 

[JIM]

Guys,
Thanks greatly for the many and quick responses. After all this is a Chevelle site and not a PC troubleshooting site

OK, here is what I have:
This PC is not tied to a network.
McAfee was checking every single file, so maybe that was why it was slower with it enabled. But it is still slow without it too.
I typically delete all of the cookies and temp files about every week.
HD is an 8 Gig and I still have 6 Gig free.
I don't have any screensavers or wallpaper that did not come with Windows originally.
Hard drive does not appear to be running constantly. I can't hear it and the light is only blinking when I save or access new files.
I am going to "un-check" everything from that config start-up selection except for LoadQM, because I have no idea what the heck that does. Money is my Microsoft Money software and I can start that from the normal desktop icon. I will have to reboot for the changes to take place, so if you never hear from me again..... then I must have "un-checked" one too many boxes. I will see how the clock runs overnight.
Thanks again,
Jim

 

[1Fast7D]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Epistuff:

LoadPowerProfile (again?? like the one above)
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
You should never have two. Viruses sometimes masquerade into a legit program to stay hidden.
Im banking you have a bug.

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Undee's70SS

 

[phel69]

I would leave systray, one instance of load power profile,scan reg and task mon running. The rest could be shut off as they just use ram to stay in a ready mode.
To see how much ram you have available, right click My Computer,left click properties, then look in the performance tab. You should have 70% or more of ram available. If you are in the 60s or worse in the 50s, you willhave freezes, crashes etc...

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1969 SS 396 Camaro/Th 400/355s.(454 now)
Not a Chevelle but the BBC guys are here!

 

[ChicagoChevelle68]

90% or more on the performance should be the goal on all machines. All exellent advice has been suggested on your problem.

On the matter of the lost time, yes the battery could be the culprit when the machine is powered off. Start it in safe mode and work as you would normally, does it run better? If not, then if you have tried to eliminate the bug thru anti-virus software, I would take the drastic solution of a Harddisk reformat.

I have had difficulties with McAffe and Nortons anti-virus software. They seem to want to control and invade all aspects of a computer.

Try this to free up resources. Go to start/search/file-folders. Type in *.tmp and highlight and delete all, no need. Then type in *.chk same thing for it.

Sometimes memory fails. Does it state 128mb's of RAM when you check? All you need to run the machine is Systray and Explorer. Eliminate all one at a time and see which one hangs up your system.

Let us know the outcome, we'll find something else to try.

Joe

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Joe G.
ChicagoChevelle68
Any car past 1972 is just simply transportation, really!

 

[JIM]

Joe,
Yes it says 128 meg of ram during bootup and also on the "performance" screen when I check properties of "my computer".
Anyway.....after turning off all of the things that were previously checked for start-up and disabling McAfee, the clock kept perfect time overnight. I also show 96% system resources. The system seems fast again. So it looks like I was bogging down memory. The biggest drains seem to be having MonsyStartup,AOL Trayicon and RealTray selected for start-up. I turned them on on at a time and rebooted each time and those three were the ones that made the system run slower and dragged the resources down to about 75%. If I turn them all back off, it goes back to 96%. But I want virus protection, so I left all of them off and turned McAfee back on. I now have 85% resources. That seems to be a big load on the system also. I installed McAfee about 2 months ago, Upgraded to the new version of Microsoft Money a month ago and then I upgraded to AOL 8.0 a few weeks ago, Looks like all of that together really slowed down this PC. I will leave McAfee on overnight and see it the clock keeps time. Perhaps another 128meg of ram would help. Especially if 90% is the goal for system resources. It's on sale at BestBuy now.
Thaks to all for the help and suggestions. There appears to be hope

 

[BobMcC]

Epi -
Actually the "performance" system resources percentage number has nothing to do with the amount of RAM you have installed in your computer (assuming you're not starving your computer). It's a specific area in memory that is commonly used by most, if not all, programs and a little bit by your video card. It is not that much memory (I don't remember the exact amount, but for some reason 64k comes to mind). Adding RAM will not affect that number, but it never hurts to have lots of memory.

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Bob McCormick
69 Malibu project



[This message has been edited by BobMcC (edited 12-02-2002).]

 

[JIM]

Bob,
I wasn't aware of that. I just assumeed that the resources number was directly correlated to the ammount of RAM I had. I guess it can't hurt to slap in some more though.
Thanks,
Jim

 

[OrrieG]

Ram is cheap now, with rebates you can get 256 for under $20 and I've got 128 chips for under $10 (Best Buy prices). My autocad machines are ram hogs and it helps a lot. We run min 256 and have 512 in some.

Sounds like you are narrowing it down. Last night I downloaded ad aware software and found 162 skyware related files on the computer! Its free and loads pretty fast, scan takes about 20 minutes and you get a detailed log. Took another hour or so to delete the files. That might be something you want to look at because Nortons and McAfee don't pick them up.

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OrrieG
64 Malibu HT Survivor

 

[JIM]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by OrrieG:

Last night I downloaded ad aware software and found 162 skyware related files on the computer! Its free and loads pretty fast, scan takes about 20 minutes and you get a detailed log. Took another hour or so to delete the files. That might be something you want to look at because Nortons and McAfee don't pick them up.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

What the heck is skyware? I am not as PC literate as I am pistons and cam literate

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Jim
My 70 Chevelle
427 + (.125")
4-speed
Best ET 12.53@110.3
BSE Power

 

[BobMcC]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Epistuff:
What the heck is skyware? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>I'm sure he meant "Spyware", not "Skyware". Anyway, spyware is a marketing program installed on your computer without your permission that tracks your internet usage and reports back to the marketing company your likes (and dislikes) supposedly for the purpose of offering you good deals. It Pi$$es off a lot of people.

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Bob McCormick
69 Malibu project

[This message has been edited by BobMcC (edited 12-02-2002).]

 

[JIM]

I just downloaded AdAwarwe 5.83. Ran it and it founds 52 "suspicious" files. I deleted them. So far so good. Still making progress!!

Jim

 

[OrrieG]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by BobMcC:

Originally posted by Epistuff:
What the heck is skyware? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>I'm sure he meant "Spyware", not "Skyware".

Thanks for clearing that up for me, fat fingers strike again. I've heard that some sPyware can also grab email addresses, build a log of the sites you visit, etc. to send to the mother site.

Patrick

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OrrieG
64 Malibu HT Survivor