Slow behavior

[Guest BobJam]

A little over a week ago, my XP (HE) began to visibly slow down. For

example, on startup the desktop icons would have the generic look and then

slowly refresh one by one. And another example, when opening a program, it

firsts displays partially and then the whole window comes up.

 

So, I started to troubleshoot. First, I loaded Task Manager in an effort to

see if any processes or applications were taking an unusual amount of

resources. Nothing that gave me a hint there.

 

Next I disabled indexing for searches, 'cause I thought maybe that was

slowing things down (though I had indexing on prior to this and it never

slowed things down like I'm seeing in my examples above). No joy there.

 

Then I though that maybe my prefetch files were gone and that was causing

this, but that wasn't the case.

 

I've scanned for spyware and viruses, but no joy there either (for once I

was hoping some malware would show up).

 

My swap file is fixed and defragmented, so that doesn't seem to be it

either.

 

MS came out with a bunch of updates on the 14th, so I thought maybe it was

one of them, and have been removing one by one, but still no joy there.

 

I've disabled all polling that some programs do for updates (like Adobe

Reader and Java), thinking that perhaps that was interrupting the display .

.. . but no joy there either.

 

I did update to Java Version 6 Update 10, which is listed as a Release

Candidate but is still really a beta, right around the time those MS Updates

came out and when my slow problem first started, so my next step will be to

either go back to Update 7, or just uninstall Java completely (I really

don't use it, and only have need of it when I do the Secunia online scan for

security update info).

 

Since beta's are essentially unfinished software, I'm thinking that maybe

Update 10 could be doing it.

 

I'm reluctant to bash MS Updates, but they have been known to screw things

up. However, on all the searches I've done I don't see anything about those

updates slowing things down, so I'm thinking that the MS Updates are

probably not the cause.

 

So . . . thoughts or ideas??

[Guest PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Re: Slow behavior

 

Help! My Computer is slow!:

http://miekiemoes.blogspot.com/2008/02/help-my-computer-is-slow.html

--

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)

MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002

AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net

DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

 

 

BobJam wrote:

> A little over a week ago, my XP (HE) began to visibly slow down. For

> example, on startup the desktop icons would have the generic look and then

> slowly refresh one by one. And another example, when opening a program,

> it

> firsts displays partially and then the whole window comes up.

>

> So, I started to troubleshoot. First, I loaded Task Manager in an effort

> to

> see if any processes or applications were taking an unusual amount of

> resources. Nothing that gave me a hint there.

>

> Next I disabled indexing for searches, 'cause I thought maybe that was

> slowing things down (though I had indexing on prior to this and it never

> slowed things down like I'm seeing in my examples above). No joy there.

>

> Then I though that maybe my prefetch files were gone and that was causing

> this, but that wasn't the case.

>

> I've scanned for spyware and viruses, but no joy there either (for once I

> was hoping some malware would show up).

>

> My swap file is fixed and defragmented, so that doesn't seem to be it

> either.

>

> MS came out with a bunch of updates on the 14th, so I thought maybe it was

> one of them, and have been removing one by one, but still no joy there.

>

> I've disabled all polling that some programs do for updates (like Adobe

> Reader and Java), thinking that perhaps that was interrupting the display

> .

> . . but no joy there either.

>

> I did update to Java Version 6 Update 10, which is listed as a Release

> Candidate but is still really a beta, right around the time those MS

> Updates

> came out and when my slow problem first started, so my next step will be

> to

> either go back to Update 7, or just uninstall Java completely (I really

> don't use it, and only have need of it when I do the Secunia online scan

> for

> security update info).

>

> Since beta's are essentially unfinished software, I'm thinking that maybe

> Update 10 could be doing it.

>

> I'm reluctant to bash MS Updates, but they have been known to screw things

> up. However, on all the searches I've done I don't see anything about

> those

> updates slowing things down, so I'm thinking that the MS Updates are

> probably not the cause.

>

> So . . . thoughts or ideas??

[Guest db.·.. >]

Re: Slow behavior

 

try opening the task manager

and simply kill all the processes

that it will allow you to.

 

when you kill explorer.exe

simply relaunch it as a new

task.

 

by eliminating processes from

memory you can then see if

the cpu is able to allocate more

power where you need it.

 

--

 

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>

 

"BobJam" <rbjamieATgmailDOTcom> wrote in message news:eUpPhwlBJHA.3396@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>A little over a week ago, my XP (HE) began to visibly slow down. For

> example, on startup the desktop icons would have the generic look and then

> slowly refresh one by one. And another example, when opening a program, it

> firsts displays partially and then the whole window comes up.

>

> So, I started to troubleshoot. First, I loaded Task Manager in an effort to

> see if any processes or applications were taking an unusual amount of

> resources. Nothing that gave me a hint there.

>

> Next I disabled indexing for searches, 'cause I thought maybe that was

> slowing things down (though I had indexing on prior to this and it never

> slowed things down like I'm seeing in my examples above). No joy there.

>

> Then I though that maybe my prefetch files were gone and that was causing

> this, but that wasn't the case.

>

> I've scanned for spyware and viruses, but no joy there either (for once I

> was hoping some malware would show up).

>

> My swap file is fixed and defragmented, so that doesn't seem to be it

> either.

>

> MS came out with a bunch of updates on the 14th, so I thought maybe it was

> one of them, and have been removing one by one, but still no joy there.

>

> I've disabled all polling that some programs do for updates (like Adobe

> Reader and Java), thinking that perhaps that was interrupting the display .

> . . but no joy there either.

>

> I did update to Java Version 6 Update 10, which is listed as a Release

> Candidate but is still really a beta, right around the time those MS Updates

> came out and when my slow problem first started, so my next step will be to

> either go back to Update 7, or just uninstall Java completely (I really

> don't use it, and only have need of it when I do the Secunia online scan for

> security update info).

>

> Since beta's are essentially unfinished software, I'm thinking that maybe

> Update 10 could be doing it.

>

> I'm reluctant to bash MS Updates, but they have been known to screw things

> up. However, on all the searches I've done I don't see anything about those

> updates slowing things down, so I'm thinking that the MS Updates are

> probably not the cause.

>

> So . . . thoughts or ideas??

>

>

>

>

[Guest BobJam]

Re: Slow behavior

 

I think I may have found the culprit. It's the latest lengthy hosts file

from the mvps.org site ( http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm ).

 

I disabled it and the slowness seems to have gone away. But I'm still

experimenting with it, so a conclusion just yet is premature.

 

If indeed that turns out to be it, then I'm going to have to either adjust

to advertising or figure out a workaround. In the past I have had the DNS

Client Service set to Manual as described on that web page to limit the

hosts file from slowing things down, but maybe Disable is the setting now.

[Guest PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Re: Slow behavior

 

See http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm#Note

--

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)

MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002

AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net

DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

 

BobJam wrote:

> I think I may have found the culprit. It's the latest lengthy hosts file

> from the mvps.org site ( http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm ).

>

> I disabled it and the slowness seems to have gone away. But I'm still

> experimenting with it, so a conclusion just yet is premature.

>

> If indeed that turns out to be it, then I'm going to have to either adjust

> to advertising or figure out a workaround. In the past I have had the DNS

> Client Service set to Manual as described on that web page to limit the

> hosts file from slowing things down, but maybe Disable is the setting now.

[Guest Daave]

Re: Slow behavior

 

BobJam wrote:

> I think I may have found the culprit. It's the latest lengthy hosts

> file from the mvps.org site (

> http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm ).

> I disabled it and the slowness seems to have gone away. But I'm still

> experimenting with it, so a conclusion just yet is premature.

>

> If indeed that turns out to be it, then I'm going to have to either

> adjust to advertising or figure out a workaround. In the past I have

> had the DNS Client Service set to Manual as described on that web

> page to limit the hosts file from slowing things down, but maybe

> Disable is the setting now.

 

Can't hurt to disable DNS Client Service.

[Guest Daave]

Re: Slow behavior

 

BobJam wrote:

> A little over a week ago, my XP (HE) began to visibly slow down. For

> example, on startup the desktop icons would have the generic look and

> then slowly refresh one by one. And another example, when opening a

> program, it firsts displays partially and then the whole window comes

> up.

> So, I started to troubleshoot. First, I loaded Task Manager in an

> effort to see if any processes or applications were taking an unusual

> amount of resources. Nothing that gave me a hint there.

>

> Next I disabled indexing for searches, 'cause I thought maybe that was

> slowing things down (though I had indexing on prior to this and it

> never slowed things down like I'm seeing in my examples above). No

> joy there.

> Then I though that maybe my prefetch files were gone and that was

> causing this, but that wasn't the case.

>

> I've scanned for spyware and viruses, but no joy there either (for

> once I was hoping some malware would show up).

>

> My swap file is fixed and defragmented, so that doesn't seem to be it

> either.

>

> MS came out with a bunch of updates on the 14th, so I thought maybe

> it was one of them, and have been removing one by one, but still no

> joy there.

> I've disabled all polling that some programs do for updates (like

> Adobe Reader and Java), thinking that perhaps that was interrupting

> the display . . . but no joy there either.

>

> I did update to Java Version 6 Update 10, which is listed as a Release

> Candidate but is still really a beta, right around the time those MS

> Updates came out and when my slow problem first started, so my next

> step will be to either go back to Update 7, or just uninstall Java

> completely (I really don't use it, and only have need of it when I do

> the Secunia online scan for security update info).

>

> Since beta's are essentially unfinished software, I'm thinking that

> maybe Update 10 could be doing it.

>

> I'm reluctant to bash MS Updates, but they have been known to screw

> things up. However, on all the searches I've done I don't see

> anything about those updates slowing things down, so I'm thinking

> that the MS Updates are probably not the cause.

>

> So . . . thoughts or ideas??

 

So far, you've done all the right things.

 

Go ahead with uninstalling Java. Then for good measure, use System

Restore to go to a date before the slowness began.

 

Another idea is to check that your hard drive's access mode didn't

change from DMA to PIO:

 

http://www.technize.com/2007/08/02/is-your-hard-disk-cddvd-drives-too-slow-while-copying/

 

and

 

http://users.bigpond.net.au/ninjaduck/itserviceduck/udma_fix/

[Guest Kelly]

Re: Slow behavior

 

Suggestions:

 

To proceed: Go to: Windows Explorer/Tools/Folder Options/View/Show Hidden

File and Uncheck Hide Protected Operating System Files.

 

Delete Icon Cache. It is located here:

 

IconCache.db

C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Application Data

 

To clear and reset icon cache:

 

Right click the Desktop/Properties/Appearance/Advanced. Use the item

drop box and choose Icon. Change the pixel number by one. Ok your way

out.

 

Increase Icon Cache (Line 121)

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

 

Correct/Repair the Icon View (Line 4)

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

 

Prevent Auto Folder/Icon Refresh (Line 157)

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

 

Tip:

 

Add Icon Cache Size to Folder Options/View (Line 166)

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

 

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

--

 

All the Best,

Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

 

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

 

SupportSpace

http://www.supportspace.com/pages?aiu=kellyskorner

 

"BobJam" <rbjamieATgmailDOTcom> wrote in message

news:eUpPhwlBJHA.3396@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>A little over a week ago, my XP (HE) began to visibly slow down. For

> example, on startup the desktop icons would have the generic look and then

> slowly refresh one by one. And another example, when opening a program,

> it

> firsts displays partially and then the whole window comes up.

>

> So, I started to troubleshoot. First, I loaded Task Manager in an effort

> to

> see if any processes or applications were taking an unusual amount of

> resources. Nothing that gave me a hint there.

>

> Next I disabled indexing for searches, 'cause I thought maybe that was

> slowing things down (though I had indexing on prior to this and it never

> slowed things down like I'm seeing in my examples above). No joy there.

>

> Then I though that maybe my prefetch files were gone and that was causing

> this, but that wasn't the case.

>

> I've scanned for spyware and viruses, but no joy there either (for once I

> was hoping some malware would show up).

>

> My swap file is fixed and defragmented, so that doesn't seem to be it

> either.

>

> MS came out with a bunch of updates on the 14th, so I thought maybe it was

> one of them, and have been removing one by one, but still no joy there.

>

> I've disabled all polling that some programs do for updates (like Adobe

> Reader and Java), thinking that perhaps that was interrupting the display

> .

> . . but no joy there either.

>

> I did update to Java Version 6 Update 10, which is listed as a Release

> Candidate but is still really a beta, right around the time those MS

> Updates

> came out and when my slow problem first started, so my next step will be

> to

> either go back to Update 7, or just uninstall Java completely (I really

> don't use it, and only have need of it when I do the Secunia online scan

> for

> security update info).

>

> Since beta's are essentially unfinished software, I'm thinking that maybe

> Update 10 could be doing it.

>

> I'm reluctant to bash MS Updates, but they have been known to screw things

> up. However, on all the searches I've done I don't see anything about

> those

> updates slowing things down, so I'm thinking that the MS Updates are

> probably not the cause.

>

> So . . . thoughts or ideas??

>

>

>

>

[Guest BobJam]

Re: Slow behavior

 

Hey Kelly,

 

Thanks . . . Done!!!

 

And as far as my slowdown problem besides the slow redrawing of desktop

icons, see my follow-up post in this thread.

 

I think your tips here helped a bit anyway.

 

"Kelly" <kelly@kelly.com> wrote in message

news:%23mNOER6BJHA.2480@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> Suggestions:

>

> To proceed: Go to: Windows Explorer/Tools/Folder Options/View/Show

> Hidden File and Uncheck Hide Protected Operating System Files.

>

> Delete Icon Cache. It is located here:

>

> IconCache.db

> C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Application Data

>

> To clear and reset icon cache:

>

> Right click the Desktop/Properties/Appearance/Advanced. Use the item

> drop box and choose Icon. Change the pixel number by one. Ok your way

> out.

>

> Increase Icon Cache (Line 121)

> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

>

> Correct/Repair the Icon View (Line 4)

> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

>

> Prevent Auto Folder/Icon Refresh (Line 157)

> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

>

> Tip:

>

> Add Icon Cache Size to Folder Options/View (Line 166)

> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

>

> Good luck and keep us posted.

>

> --

>

> All the Best,

> Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

>

> Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!

> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

>

> SupportSpace

> http://www.supportspace.com/pages?aiu=kellyskorner

>

> "BobJam" <rbjamieATgmailDOTcom> wrote in message

> news:eUpPhwlBJHA.3396@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>>A little over a week ago, my XP (HE) began to visibly slow down. For

>> example, on startup the desktop icons would have the generic look and

>> then

>> slowly refresh one by one. And another example, when opening a program,

>> it

>> firsts displays partially and then the whole window comes up.

>>

>> So, I started to troubleshoot. First, I loaded Task Manager in an effort

>> to

>> see if any processes or applications were taking an unusual amount of

>> resources. Nothing that gave me a hint there.

>>

>> Next I disabled indexing for searches, 'cause I thought maybe that was

>> slowing things down (though I had indexing on prior to this and it never

>> slowed things down like I'm seeing in my examples above). No joy there.

>>

>> Then I though that maybe my prefetch files were gone and that was causing

>> this, but that wasn't the case.

>>

>> I've scanned for spyware and viruses, but no joy there either (for once I

>> was hoping some malware would show up).

>>

>> My swap file is fixed and defragmented, so that doesn't seem to be it

>> either.

>>

>> MS came out with a bunch of updates on the 14th, so I thought maybe it

>> was

>> one of them, and have been removing one by one, but still no joy there.

>>

>> I've disabled all polling that some programs do for updates (like Adobe

>> Reader and Java), thinking that perhaps that was interrupting the display

>> .

>> . . but no joy there either.

>>

>> I did update to Java Version 6 Update 10, which is listed as a Release

>> Candidate but is still really a beta, right around the time those MS

>> Updates

>> came out and when my slow problem first started, so my next step will be

>> to

>> either go back to Update 7, or just uninstall Java completely (I really

>> don't use it, and only have need of it when I do the Secunia online scan

>> for

>> security update info).

>>

>> Since beta's are essentially unfinished software, I'm thinking that maybe

>> Update 10 could be doing it.

>>

>> I'm reluctant to bash MS Updates, but they have been known to screw

>> things

>> up. However, on all the searches I've done I don't see anything about

>> those

>> updates slowing things down, so I'm thinking that the MS Updates are

>> probably not the cause.

>>

>> So . . . thoughts or ideas??

>>

>>

>>

>>

>

[Guest Kelly]

Re: Slow behavior

 

Great news, glad to hear all is well. :o)

 

--

 

All the Best,

Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

 

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

 

SupportSpace

http://www.supportspace.com/pages?aiu=kellyskorner

 

"BobJam" <rbjamieATgmailDOTcom> wrote in message

news:uxgwCE7BJHA.1012@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> Hey Kelly,

>

> Thanks . . . Done!!!

>

> And as far as my slowdown problem besides the slow redrawing of desktop

> icons, see my follow-up post in this thread.

>

> I think your tips here helped a bit anyway.

>

> "Kelly" <kelly@kelly.com> wrote in message

> news:%23mNOER6BJHA.2480@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>> Suggestions:

>>

>> To proceed: Go to: Windows Explorer/Tools/Folder Options/View/Show

>> Hidden File and Uncheck Hide Protected Operating System Files.

>>

>> Delete Icon Cache. It is located here:

>>

>> IconCache.db

>> C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Application Data

>>

>> To clear and reset icon cache:

>>

>> Right click the Desktop/Properties/Appearance/Advanced. Use the item

>> drop box and choose Icon. Change the pixel number by one. Ok your way

>> out.

>>

>> Increase Icon Cache (Line 121)

>> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

>>

>> Correct/Repair the Icon View (Line 4)

>> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

>>

>> Prevent Auto Folder/Icon Refresh (Line 157)

>> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

>>

>> Tip:

>>

>> Add Icon Cache Size to Folder Options/View (Line 166)

>> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

>>

>> Good luck and keep us posted.

>>

>> --

>>

>> All the Best,

>> Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

>>

>> Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!

>> http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

>>

>> SupportSpace

>> http://www.supportspace.com/pages?aiu=kellyskorner

>>

>> "BobJam" <rbjamieATgmailDOTcom> wrote in message

>> news:eUpPhwlBJHA.3396@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>>>A little over a week ago, my XP (HE) began to visibly slow down. For

>>> example, on startup the desktop icons would have the generic look and

>>> then

>>> slowly refresh one by one. And another example, when opening a program,

>>> it

>>> firsts displays partially and then the whole window comes up.

>>>

>>> So, I started to troubleshoot. First, I loaded Task Manager in an

>>> effort to

>>> see if any processes or applications were taking an unusual amount of

>>> resources. Nothing that gave me a hint there.

>>>

>>> Next I disabled indexing for searches, 'cause I thought maybe that was

>>> slowing things down (though I had indexing on prior to this and it never

>>> slowed things down like I'm seeing in my examples above). No joy there.

>>>

>>> Then I though that maybe my prefetch files were gone and that was

>>> causing

>>> this, but that wasn't the case.

>>>

>>> I've scanned for spyware and viruses, but no joy there either (for once

>>> I

>>> was hoping some malware would show up).

>>>

>>> My swap file is fixed and defragmented, so that doesn't seem to be it

>>> either.

>>>

>>> MS came out with a bunch of updates on the 14th, so I thought maybe it

>>> was

>>> one of them, and have been removing one by one, but still no joy there.

>>>

>>> I've disabled all polling that some programs do for updates (like Adobe

>>> Reader and Java), thinking that perhaps that was interrupting the

>>> display .

>>> . . but no joy there either.

>>>

>>> I did update to Java Version 6 Update 10, which is listed as a Release

>>> Candidate but is still really a beta, right around the time those MS

>>> Updates

>>> came out and when my slow problem first started, so my next step will be

>>> to

>>> either go back to Update 7, or just uninstall Java completely (I really

>>> don't use it, and only have need of it when I do the Secunia online scan

>>> for

>>> security update info).

>>>

>>> Since beta's are essentially unfinished software, I'm thinking that

>>> maybe

>>> Update 10 could be doing it.

>>>

>>> I'm reluctant to bash MS Updates, but they have been known to screw

>>> things

>>> up. However, on all the searches I've done I don't see anything about

>>> those

>>> updates slowing things down, so I'm thinking that the MS Updates are

>>> probably not the cause.

>>>

>>> So . . . thoughts or ideas??

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>

>

>