Best Practice for windows PC running slow/freezing

[2004tdigls]

first of all enable automatic updates to ensure your computer is secure, it almost sounds like your computer is polluted with malware or a virus

the newest service pack is #3

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=24

then install Microsoft security essentials,

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-CA/windows/products/security-essentials

then try installing either ie8 or firefox 8

 

[Donald]

I am also finding hard drives that take forever to run a check against like a CHKDSK. I assume the hard drive is going bad and does many many retries trying to read or write a block and finally gets past it this time.

 

[2004tdigls]

back your drive asap,it is headed for failure

a good program is here

http://www.paragon-software.com/home/br-free/features.html

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: Donald
I am also finding hard drives that take forever to run a check against like a CHKDSK. I assume the hard drive is going bad and does many many retries trying to read or write a block and finally gets past it this time.


It is possible. Or the drive is heavily fragmented, which can cause a similar issue.

Regardless, new drives are much, MUCH faster than the older ones, so even a drive upgrade on a system with a drive that "might" be failing is worthwhile.

EASEUS makes a nice, free partition/drive tool:

http://www.partition-tool.com/personal.htm

I've used it with great results.

 

[Vikas]

It is running up-to-date Avast anti-virus. I have heard too many negatives about SP3 and that is why I am sticking with SP2. Windows says defrag is not necessary at this time.

I already ordered an expensive fast desktop to replace this; so I am open to any crazy suggestion!

- Vikas

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: Vikas
It is running up-to-date Avast anti-virus. I have heard too many negatives about SP3 and that is why I am sticking with SP2. Windows says defrag is not necessary at this time.

I already ordered an expensive fast desktop to replace this; so I am open to any crazy suggestion!

- Vikas


WHAT??????????????

Dude, I've installed SP3 on hundreds of machines with no issues. INSTALL SP3.

 

[2004tdigls]

what have you heard about sp3?

i used to run a computer lab, sp3 increases performance and independent tests have demonstrated this

http://exo-blog.blogspot.com/2007/11/windows-xp-sp3-yields-performance-gains.html

you are also leaving your computer unpatched and extremely vulnerable to known hacks and exploits

quite frankly your computer is probably infected with malware BECAUSE you have not deployed xp sp3

 

[2004tdigls]

exactly, you beat me to it

this guy is not well informed

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: 2004tdigls
what have you heard about sp3?

i used to run a computer lab, sp3 increases performance and independent tests have demonstrated this

http://exo-blog.blogspot.com/2007/11/windows-xp-sp3-yields-performance-gains.html

you are also leaving your computer unpatched and extremely vulnerable to known hacks and exploits

quite frankly your computer is probably infected with malware BECAUSE you have not deployed xp sp3


Exactly!!!!