Why is my computer running so slow???

[SufferWell1396]

my Compaq is running very slow after being idle for about 20-30 mins or so.
my eMachines stays on all day without a worry. My Compaq is hooked up to a wireless network and wireless internet.
When idle my computer will just start loading like crazy! i dont know what it is, nothing new appears on screen, the hdd is making all sorts of loading sounds and the LED is going crazy
See Specs Below

Please Help!!

[mjc]

Well...one thing that comes to mind...System Restore.

Also, AV scanning...

[SufferWell1396]

so should i just Disable System Restore??? personally i dont care if its there or not..... But How would you, and AV Scanning??

[mjc]

Things like SysRestore/AV scanning and what not are often set to happen at idle times...both would tend to have lots of drive access...so check SR to see what, if any limits are on it. You can turn it off, at least to see if it is the cause...the same for any background scanning.

[karthik]

the hdd is making all sorts of loading sounds and the LED is going crazy

That loading sound that you mentioned must be a result of a Bad HDD/ defective one.

[Erik]

That loading sound that you mentioned must be a result of a Bad HDD/ defective one.

Omm, why a bad HD? If there was a bad HD wouldn't you expect things like errors and corrupted files, or even not being able to boot the PC? Most likely it is just somehting doing a scan of the computer during idle time. Also if it is not protected with a good AV solution it could be infected (less likely though since it is only at idle times).

[karthik]

Omm, why a bad HD? If there was a bad HD wouldn't you expect things like errors and corrupted files, or even not being able to boot the PC? .
No all bad HD will give errors, corrupted files and unable to boot to the PC
It is only a indications that the drive is bad.

[mjc]

And not all excessive drive access is indicative of a bad hard drive...

[SufferWell1396]

i dont know about a dying drive, because it seems fine. Im Running the Virus Software now.

Its been scanning for about an hour, but hasnt come up with anything(Im using ClamWin Antivirus)

[kriptokool]

backup and re-install is always an option :) specially with that amount of HD it wouldn't take to much. After that you'll have your PC running smooth and if its not better worry about your HD after that, but at least you'll get it out of the way :)

[LadyGrey]

I don't know Surferwell1396 but an hour seems an awful long time for a scan. You might want to try the Free version of AVG. I've have an 80 gig and it only takes a few minutes to scan my C: drive.
AVG (http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2/)

LG;)

[karthik]

And not all excessive drive access is indicative of a bad hard drive...

mjc Please tell me what do the sounds indicate.
--------------------------------------------------------------
A good known system will not produce any HD sound while accessing resources and this machine which SufferWell1396 described produces sound when the system is in idle state, surely something is wrong.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Ok, so the system is trying to access something.
Check any unwanted process is running in the background. Because this could make the processor to waste its time in executing these process calls.

[LadyGrey]

I have also observed karthik that a bad cable can cause undue noise from a HDD. Just had a computer in that was making noises,seeming to access all the time, and the owner was sure the drive was bad. It turned out to be the cable, replaced that and no more noise/problem. So you see that all noise/access with a HDD does not mean the drive itself is bad.
Running the diag. program from the maker would settle the status of the drive anyway.
LG

Just so you know, this noise/seeming access was in an idle state.

[Erik]

mjc Please tell me what do the sounds indicate.
--------------------------------------------------------------
A good known system will not produce any HD sound while accessing resources and this machine which SufferWell1396 described produces sound when the system is in idle state, surely something is wrong.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Ok, so the system is trying to access something.
Check any unwanted process is running in the background. Because this could make the processor to waste its time in executing these process calls.

WHAT? HD access is HD acces. It happens when you boot, when you search for files, when you do a virus scan, etc. It is a part of normal computer operation. How noisy or quiet it is is a function of what HD model you use. Ever heard an SCSI HD spinning up? Many of the more modern drives are pretty quiet, but older ones can be a bit noisy at times of heavy use. Doesn't mean it is failing or anything, just it is being accessed. Remember ther are a lot of mechanical parts in a HD still.

Yes it does seem the system is doing something when in an idle state. That isn't necessarily a bad thing though. It could be a virus or just as easily a virus scanner set to scan while in an idle state. Using processor time is no big deal, especially if it isn't needed for anything else, as long as you know what is using it and for what.

SufferWell,
Have you checked to see if ClamWin runs while idle? I have it installed on my test computers but have never really looked at it that closely. Next time you have a lot of HD usage open up task manaer and see if there is also processor and memory usage. See what exactly is using that HD and why.

[karthik]

the hdd is making all sorts of loading sounds and the LED is going crazy
Read the words LED is going crazy, hdd is making all sorts of loading sounds
Yes, hdd is accessing something or it is trying to accomplish a task and it's been prevented. I could say check whether internal components are intact.
This options is left to Sufferwell when all options fail.
--------------------------------------------------------

LadyGrey I have also observed karthik that a bad cable can cause undue noise from a HDD. Just had a computer in that was making noises,seeming to access all the time, and the owner was sure the drive was bad. It turned out to be the cable, replaced that and no more noise/problem. So you see that all noise/access with a HDD does not mean the drive itself is bad.
Running the diag. program from the maker would settle the status of the drive anyway.
Ok was the cable overlapping on the CPU fan ? Or the Cable by itself was producing noises
----------------------------------------------------------------

Erik WHAT? HD access is HD acces. It happens when you boot, when you search for files, when you do a virus scan, etc. It is a part of normal computer operation. How noisy or quiet it is is a function of what HD model you use. Ever heard an SCSI HD spinning up? Many of the more modern drives are pretty quiet, but older ones can be a bit noisy at times of heavy use. Doesn't mean it is failing or anything, just it is being accessed. Remember ther are a lot of mechanical parts in a HD still.
I don't see any point in your statement

[UkGamer]

have you considered that it might be the indexing service? This is built in to windows and when you dont use the computer for a while it indexes all your files so that search goes faster. Try disabling to see what happens

start>all progs>admin tools>component services>services(local)>indexing service then click on it and set it to disabled

[mjc]

Indexing service is NOT in ME... read the OS being used.

Karthik...

If you are going to start paying that close attention to what the OP posted, then include this part....When idle my computer will just start loading like crazy!

If the activity/behavior were present from the start, I'd agree to start with checking for drive failure...but since it happens when idle...it is time to look at what possible software causes could be doing it...

[LadyGrey]

It was the cable itself karthik, just the cable, they do sometimes go bad you know, or maybe you don't, I really don't think any obstruction would make a HDD make a noise any way. As far as I know cables, at least any I've ever known don't make any noise whatsoever. In a machine that old with hardware that old it is most assuredly a possibility. If you worked on computers for a living like I do you would find that there are other things that cause problems. Any "good" tech would not say a drive is bad right from the start. That's like saying a mobo is fried just because a computer won't turn on.

[Erik]

karthik,
My point is very simply that HD access is a part of computing, and hearing the HD work is normal. HDs have plenty of moving mechanical parts, so having some noise is normal.

Keep in with the OPs problem, HD usage when idle. No reason to believe it is bad drive. Bad drives give errors, take excessively long to do transfers, things of that nature. HD usage while idle is the function of some application.

[karthik]

All right fellows I agree

Well now I know there are lot more things involved.
Thanks pcguide
----------------------------
Sufferwell have you considered the above options to solve your slow factor !

[SufferWell1396]

I will try a new Cable as LadyGrey suggested. The HDDs in there now arent the original, the original was a 60gig that failed. Everything seems to be intact, is there a program that can scan for processes running in the backround??

[mjc]

HJT, Process Explorer, heck, even Task Manager will show some...

[Sylvander]

Process Explorer (http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/ProcessesAndThreads/ProcessExplorer.mspx) is good. :) :cool:

[Erik]

My first step is always Task Manager. Built in, so it will be on every computer you may ever work on. If you have a fair amount of CPU usage (a small amount say under 10% can be expected) while doing nothing find out what is using it. Most likely if it is using CPU time it may be using HD access as well. Track down what it is and see if it is needed/wanted, and work from there.

If it doesn't show up in Task Manger it might be a bigger problem, as most legitmate applications will show up. Then you can resort to Process Explorer or HJT to see what is going on.

[SufferWell1396]

I have used Process Explorer in the past, and it never really reads my CPU usage over 30-40%, while Free Ram XP Pro reads it as a solid 100% 3/4ths of the time.

My Computer is running INCREDIBLY smooth right now, im enjoying it alot:D it hasnt done this in awhile. I think it is because, the longer its on, its performance deteriorates.

CPU usage is about 20% right now. Filsecab firewall is the big eater with about 10% but thats ok.

Heres my HJT Log
Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 11:53:20 AM, on 11/11/2006
Platform: Windows ME (Win9x 4.90.3000)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v5.50 (5.50.4134.0100)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\KERNEL32.DLL
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSGSRV32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SPOOL32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\mmtask.tsk
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MPREXE.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSTASK.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\TV VIEWER\TVWAKEUP.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\TV VIEWER\ANNCLIST.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\COMMON FILES\MICROSOFT SHARED\VS7DEBUG\MDM.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\COMMON FILES\SYSTEM\MOSEARCH\BIN\MOSEARCH.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\TASKMON.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SYSTRAY.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\MCAFEE.COM\PERSONAL FIREWALL\MPFTRAY.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\MCAFEE\SPAMKILLER\MSKSRVR.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\MCAFEE\SPAMKILLER\MSKAGENT.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\MCAFEE.COM\AGENT\MCTSKSHD.EXE
D:\PROGRAM FILES\FILSECLAB\XFILTER\XFILTER.EXE
D:\PROGRAM FILES\CLAMWIN\BIN\CLAMTRAY.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\CTFMON.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\WMIEXE.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\YOURWARE SOLUTIONS\FREERAM XP PRO\FREERAM XP PRO.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\AIM\AIM.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\HP DESKJET 690C SERIES\EREG\REMIND32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\HIDSERV.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\802.11 WIRELESS LAN\802.11G WIRELESS CARDBUS & PCI ADAPTER HW.51 V1.00\WLANCU.EXE
D:\PROGRAM FILES\SONY CORPORATION\PICTURE PACKAGE\PICTURE PACKAGE APPLICATIONS\RESIDENCE.EXE
D:\PROGRAM FILES\SONY CORPORATION\PICTURE PACKAGE\PICTURE PACKAGE MENU\SONYTRAY.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\COMMON FILES\FILSECLAB\FILMSG.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\DDHELP.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\MCAFEE.COM\PERSONAL FIREWALL\MPFAGENT.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\MCAFEE.COM\AGENT\MCAGENT.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\MOZILLA FIREFOX\FIREFOX.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\STIMON.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\DESKTOP\PROCESSEXPLORER\PROCEXP.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\DESKTOP\HIJACKTHIS\HIJACKTHIS.EXE

R3 - URLSearchHook: AOLTBSearch Class - {EA756889-2338-43DB-8F07-D1CA6FB9C90D} - C:\PROGRAM FILES\AOL\AOL TOOLBAR 2.0\AOLTB.DLL
F1 - win.ini: run=hpfsched
O2 - BHO: Yahoo! Toolbar Helper - {02478D38-C3F9-4EFB-9B51-7695ECA05670} - C:\PROGRAM FILES\YAHOO!\COMPANION\INSTALLS\CPN\YT.DLL
O2 - BHO: AOL Toolbar Launcher - {7C554162-8CB7-45A4-B8F4-8EA1C75885F9} - C:\PROGRAM FILES\AOL\AOL TOOLBAR 2.0\AOLTB.DLL
O3 - Toolbar: @msdxmLC.dll,-1@1033,&Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSDXM.OCX
O3 - Toolbar: AOL Toolbar - {DE9C389F-3316-41A7-809B-AA305ED9D922} - C:\PROGRAM FILES\AOL\AOL TOOLBAR 2.0\AOLTB.DLL
O3 - Toolbar: Yahoo! Toolbar - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - C:\PROGRAM FILES\YAHOO!\COMPANION\INSTALLS\CPN\YT.DLL
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ScanRegistry] C:\WINDOWS\scanregw.exe /autorun
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TaskMonitor] C:\WINDOWS\taskmon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PCHealth] C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\Support\PCHSchd.exe -s
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SystemTray] SysTray.Exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LoadPowerProfile] Rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,LoadCurrentPwrScheme
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MCAgentExe] C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE.COM\AGENT\mcagent.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MCUpdateExe] C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE.COM\AGENT\McUpdate.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MPFExe] C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE.COM\PERSON~1\MPFTRAY.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MSKServerExe] C:\Program Files\McAfee\SpamKiller\MSKSrvr.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MSKAGENTEXE] C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE\SPAMKI~1\MSKAGENT.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MSKDetectorExe] C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE\SPAMKI~1\MSKDETCT.EXE /startup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MCTskShd] C:\PROGRA~1\MCAFEE.COM\AGENT\mctskshd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Hidserv] Hidserv.exe run
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [xfilter] "D:\Program Files\Filseclab\xfilter\xfilter.exe" -a
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ClamWin] "D:\Program Files\ClamWin\bin\ClamTray.exe" --logon
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [SchedulingAgent] mstask.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [LoadPowerProfile] Rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,LoadCurrentPwrScheme
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [TVWakeup] C:\Progra~1\TVView~1\tvwakeup.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [VidSvr]
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [Announcements] C:\Program Files\TV Viewer\annclist.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [MDM7] "C:\PROGRAM FILES\COMMON FILES\MICROSOFT SHARED\VS7DEBUG\MDM.EXE"
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [MOSearch] C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\SYSTEM\MOSEARCH\BIN\MOSEARCH. EXE
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [FreeRAM XP] "C:\Program Files\YourWare Solutions\FreeRAM XP Pro\FreeRAM XP Pro.exe" -win
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [AIM] C:\PROGRAM FILES\AIM\aim.exe -cnetwait.odl
O4 - Startup: Reminder-hpc41001.lnk = C:\Program Files\HP DeskJet 690C Series\ereg\Remind32.exe
O4 - Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Microsoft\Installer\{90190409-6000-11D3-8CFE-0050048383C9}\misc.exe
O4 - Startup: Wireless Configuration Utility HW.51.lnk = ?
O4 - Startup: Picture Package VCD Maker.lnk = D:\Program Files\Sony Corporation\Picture Package\Picture Package Applications\Residence.exe
O4 - Startup: Picture Package Menu.lnk = D:\Program Files\Sony Corporation\Picture Package\Picture Package Menu\SonyTray.exe
O4 - Startup: Filseclab Messenger.lnk = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Filseclab\FilMsg.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://D:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~1\OFFICE10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: &AOL Toolbar Search - c:\program files\aol\aol toolbar 2.0\resources\en-US\local\search.html
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\PROGRA~1\MESSEN~1\MSMSGS.EXE
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: MSN Messenger Service - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\PROGRA~1\MESSEN~1\MSMSGS.EXE
O9 - Extra button: AOL Toolbar - {3369AF0D-62E9-4bda-8103-B4C75499B578} - C:\PROGRAM FILES\AOL\AOL TOOLBAR 2.0\AOLTB.DLL
O9 - Extra button: AIM - {AC9E2541-2814-11d5-BC6D-00B0D0A1DE45} - C:\PROGRAM FILES\AIM\AIM.EXE
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: d:\program files\filseclab\xfilter\xfilter.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: d:\program files\filseclab\xfilter\xfilter.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: d:\program files\filseclab\xfilter\xfilter.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: d:\program files\filseclab\xfilter\xfilter.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: d:\program files\filseclab\xfilter\xfilter.dll

[SufferWell1396]

and on Another Note, I Use FireFox because Opera was going too slow, when Firefox crashes, it takes the system with it