Computer running slowly and slower and ...

[wolf63]

My computer is running slow - a common problem but not one that I usually suffer from.

Windows 7 and my browser is firefox - not sure which version but it updates automatically so I presume that I have the latest version.

Pages are taking a while to load, the Avatars on AB seem to take much longer than usual to appear. I have broadband via cable with Virgin media and although I do not have their highest speed I have always been able to move from page to page with no delay.

I notice that the computer is not keeping up with my typing speed when I am writing this out. Sometimes I get a page failing to respond.

Is there anything that I can tinker with that may help me with this problem?

Thanks for any help that you can give. Meant to say -- have shut down the computer a few times since this problem started and it doesn't make any improvement to the speed.

:-)

[Old_Geezer]

Check task manager to see if something is hogging the CPU or memory that you can turn off. Especially things that start automatically at boot up. Run a malware scan & a virus scan. Check you have enough memory and try a drive defragment.

[galeck1947]

It seems that you may have a malware infection. Have you run a scan with your antivirus program in safe mode? Do you have MalwareBytes installed ? if not download it and run it the same way it will tell you if you are infected and remove the infection.

[daffy654]

Have you tried rebooting your router/superhub? Just unplug it, leave for 60 seconds and plug back in.
Do you have the same problem if you use a different browser?

[vivandorron]

You can check to see if your Firefox is up-to date. Click..Firefox 'Help' and then, in the drop-down menu, click 'About Firefox'. You should now be operating on FF 14.0.1...if not you will be given a chance to update in the info box.

If you do need to install Malwarebytes, make sure that you Do Not purchase anything or accept 'Trial run' of the paid-for version. Just install the Free Version.

http://www.malwarebytes.org/

Ron.

[LochNessMonster]

Hi wolf63

My computer is like that sometimes. Have you tried a system restore to a previous date.

[bazwillrun]

In my experience unless its something you find in the first 30 minutes you might as well cut your time losses and backup your files and re-install windows from clean.

works out far quicker than spending hours going round in circles trying to sort it out

[Mosaic]

Another cause of this can be if you have two anti-virus softwares installed. Like Baz says, save your files onto a pendrive or dvd and do a full system restore.

[RATTER15]

bazwillrun, thats rather extreme!!!

[vivandorron]

Under no circumstance should one have more than one AV programme installed...the conflict can be disastrous

O_G has mentioned CPU and this is a possibility that too much is being used.

Having too many Firefox 'Add-ons' is sometimes a problem'.

It's worth having a look at the following:-

http://support.mozill...reezing&r=0&e=es&as=s

Ron.

[wolf63]

Wow - you lot are helpful and also know how to scare a girl.

I am off to work soon and will try out some of the suggestions when I get home.

Thanks.

[jno]

if you've been allowing cats to play with your settings...

[daffy654]

Do not try a system restore or a clean install, both are very extreme solutions for a simple to solve problem.

It really winds me up when people suggest these things!

[vivandorron]

I go along completely with daffy654 on this one. Furthermore, whilst O_G has given good advice, I doubt that a 'drive defragment' is necessary at this stage.

My experience has been that a softly softly, step by step approach, often resolves matters.

I am not a Techie, but it could assist those who are to know what AV programme you have installed and if indeed you do have malwarebytes programmed. Furthermore, do you have any firewall installed which could be unnecessary to that which is in-co-operated into Windows.

Ron.

[MarkRae]

I agree completely about system restore being really bad advice. I see this "solution" time and time again on here (and elsewhere), 99 times out of 100 being offered by people who know nothing about computers. If you consider a trash and rebuild as the absolute last resort, then system restore is one step behind it.

Also agree that defragging is a complete waste of time. The OP is running Windows 7, so the hard disk will be using an NTFS partition. Fragmentation is built directly into NTFS so, the minute the defragmentation process ends, the disk will fragment again.

[wolf63]

To all interested parties

I did a virus check and it found nothing. The computer seems a bit faster but still a wee bitty slower than usual. I will just leave it and see if the 'ignore it and it'll go away/get better' method of dealing with problems works. :-)

Thanks to all of you

[vivandorron]

Thanks wolf for your feedback.

I am not a Techie but feel sure that MarkRae will approve of my further suggestion.....Try Google Chrome as a Browser....You can have as many Browsers as you like and make whichever you desires as the default one.
I have IE9, Google and, my favourite, FF as the default Browser.

https://www.google.com/chrome/

Ron.