High CPU usage

[bexta]

My computer is currently running very slow. When I open applications everything keeps freezing. My CPU usage in the task manager is at 100% and it look to me as if I have hundreds of different McAffee programs running. In total I have about 60 programs running in the background. I have tried to disable some at start up but it still keeps happening. How can I speed it up. do I need more RAM?

[parkesquay]

Sounds like you don't have enough virtual memory(RAM).
If you go onto this website they will automatically check out your computer and tell you how much more RAM(assuming that this is the problem) you will need. They are also very competitive in price. The site also comes with a pdf which will tell you how to fit the new RAM cards.

www.crucial.co.uk/

[parkesquay]

Sorry it should have been .com:

http://www.crucial.com/uk/

[QmunkE]

60 processes sounds pretty high - having recently had to deal with a new Dell machine which came loaded with McAfee, I can see where you may be having problems - it is a very clunky antivirus solution.

Solution one: Get rid of McAfee, get a free antivirus solution (Kasperspy I think, or FreeAVG).

Solution two: Make sure it is actually McAfee - there may be other processes going. Are you on Windows XP? If so, in the task manager sort the processes by CPU usage and list which come out at the top.

[fo3nix]

bexta: how much RAM does your machine have? If you're unsure, right click My Computer on the desktop and click properties. it'll tell you there.

secondly, what operating system are you running? I assume windows XP? press ctrl+alt+del and in task manager click the "processes" tab. click the "CPU" heading twice (so that it orders the CPU column, high numbers at the top), and tell us the "image name" of the high processes (those with a CPU number consistently above 20 say).

[Space]

first, find out which process takes most of the CPU time.
I disagree with people saying you need more RAM. It might be true, but it is a differen problem.

[bexta]

Ok, firstly thanks for all feedback. Here's the info you need:

I'm running windows XP service pack 2.
AMD Duron 701 mhz processor.
624 MB RAM
20 GB hard drive

At the moment I have 44 processes runing:
System Idle process being the highest - 67 CPU

All the rest vary, svchost and various mcafee things but most show 00 CPU.

Is this any help?

[fo3nix]

yea it is really. for XP, your processor is below par really. the hard drive could also do with an upgrade, but this isn't as big a reason for the speed issue as the processor. personally I wouldnt want to use XP with less than a 1400MHz processor, twice what yours has.

[bexta]

Ok so I could do with changing the processor, would that mean changing the motherboard too? (Do they still make replacement AMD processors to it was compatable with my motherboard now?
I'm so used to using XP now I don't think I could go back to another operating system, is there any other quick fix?

[fo3nix]

Not that I know of, no. Has the computer always been as slow are you're noticing it now? Because 700MHz seems very slow to me for XP, but it would have always have been that slow.

As for knowing what processor you can upgrade to, what motherboard is it? If you need a new motherboard you're probably just best off buying a whole new computer.

[bexta]

No its only just got really slow, i've noticed that when I open any short cut menu's that just appear blank and I cant get rid of them unless I close the application by ending the process in the task manager.
The system must be about 6 years old now but I upgraded the RAM about 2 years ago and installed XP.
I can't think of any changes i've made lately that might have caused it to slow down, although my friend uses it for a lot of itunes stuff.
I don't know whatt motherboard it is, i'll have to check tonight if you need to know that.

[ykkp]

Ok, goto your start menu, then run, type in 'msconfig'.
This will bring up a utility where you can see exactly what is loading at start up. Most likely you won't need hardly any of it, so uncheck what you don't need.
Reboot, then run a spyware program such as spybot or adaware, they're free downloads. Then finally defrag your hard drive. You should find you get a fairly reasonable speed boost.