My 6 month old laptop is starting to run slow

[micky045]

Is there anything I can do other than:

- Run regular Anti-Virus & Spyware checks.

- Run regular disk clean up's.

I have 4gb RAM & 250gb HD, but it's just taken the mick. It feels like there is stuff in there (probs old temp files etc) that I just can't get rid of.

Does anyone have any suggestions of what I could use to give it a GOOD clear out.

Thanks

Michael

[Kotuku]

That's not a big HD, are you sure you are not running low on disk space? Run CCCleaner to clean out everything. Make sure the recycle bin is not set to a very large number. Right click the recycle bin and select properties and set it to, say 200 Mb. I assume you know where your Temp files are stored? Drill down through C:\USERS\xxx\AppData\Local and make sure you have hidden files to show, or you will not find that. Empty your Broser Caches (although CCCleaner will do that)

Failing that, every 9-12 months a complete reformatt and re-install does wonders! Just takes 24 hours out of your life <smile>

[cluberti]

I'd also make sure that defragmentation is a part of your disk cleanup regularly, maybe once a week or even more frequently especially if the disk is becoming full. I don't concur on the reinstallation "fixing" anything, unless you're constantly uninstalling and reinstalling programs (in that case, it would make a difference - otherwise, no).

[jrf2027]

Most of the problems I see with computers running slow comes from the number of processes running in the background moreso than the number of excess files on the hard drive. Definitely run CCleaner to clean out the files, but you should also check out what services are set to run automatically, and what programs automatically start along with Windows.

With no active windows, and immediately after starting up the computer, how many processes are running in Task Manager? On my laptop running Vista Business 64-bit, I'm at 35; on my desktop running Home Premium 64-bit, it hovers around 40. (They both have 24 running processes in 32-bit XP Professional for comparison, with a similar software load.)

When I get home later, I'll post my services custom mods for you to review, as well as some registry entries to check for unnecessary startup processes (really, does iTunes need three processes running when you don't plan on using it?).

EDIT:

OK, here's my services registry settings on my laptop running Vista Business 64-bit - this will set numerous services to "manual" (3) or "disabled" (4); only a couple are disabled outright (Tablet services and Remote Registry); the rest are set to manual.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\AgereModemAudio]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Dnscache]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\EventSystem]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\TapiSrv]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WPDBusEnum]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Browser]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\CryptSvc]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\DPS]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\TrkWks]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\IKEEXT]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iphlpsvc]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\PolicyAgent]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NlaSvc]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\CscService]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RemoteRegistry]
"Start"=dword:00000004

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\TabletInputService]
"Start"=dword:00000004

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\lmhosts]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WebClient]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WerSvc]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\stisvc]
"Start"=dword:00000003

Also, you should check what programs have entries in the following registry keys:

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

HKLM\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run (64-bit only)

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Let us know what's located under these keys and we can probably tell you what is essential and what is not. (Of course, make sure you back up those keys before deleting anything in case something we say isn't important actually is!)

Edited June 11, 2009 by jrf2027

[broknindarkagain]

You're doing that the hard way. There is a GUI window for it that may be easier for someone who hasn't done it before. In the search bar in the start menu, type in "services.msc" and you can disable/auto/manual everything by right clicking and goto properties. There is descriptions that tell you what everything is in there as well.

As far as good cleaners, I use both Ccleaner and Comodo. Another must have program is Diskeeper 2009, it uses idle processes to keep your disk defragged as well as a bunch of other helpful stuff.

EDIT:

OK, here's my services registry settings on my laptop running Vista Business 64-bit - this will set numerous services to "manual" (3) or "disabled" (4); only a couple are disabled outright (Tablet services and Remote Registry); the rest are set to manual.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\AgereModemAudio]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Dnscache]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\EventSystem]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\TapiSrv]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WPDBusEnum]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Browser]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\CryptSvc]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\DPS]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\TrkWks]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\IKEEXT]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\iphlpsvc]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\PolicyAgent]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\NlaSvc]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\CscService]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\RemoteRegistry]
"Start"=dword:00000004

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\TabletInputService]
"Start"=dword:00000004

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\lmhosts]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WebClient]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WerSvc]
"Start"=dword:00000003

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\stisvc]
"Start"=dword:00000003

Also, you should check what programs have entries in the following registry keys:

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

HKLM\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run (64-bit only)

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Let us know what's located under these keys and we can probably tell you what is essential and what is not. (Of course, make sure you back up those keys before deleting anything in case something we say isn't important actually is!)