Windows slowing down

Hey all,

So lately, I was working with my laptop, and everything seemed to be fine; apps were quick, typing was fine, etc.

Then all of a sudden, everything started to slow down massively. The time it took for the computer to recognize my typing was like 5 seconds. Even windows task manager took half a minute to pop up, and the cursor looked like it was moving through water.

My laptop (see specs below) came with Windows Vista HP x64, and I recently upgraded it to Windows 7 HP x64. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

Mr. Mysterious

 

Malware? Have you scanned it with your A/V software?

 

Yep, I have both Avira Antivirus and Norton...Both have indicated that there are no problems so far.

Mr. Mysterious

 

try Malware Bytes it will detect any adware and malware. This nifty program usually finds all of my spyware and malware problems. Where Avast or any normal antivirus fails, Malware Bytes owns =D

 

So, if you check the Processes tab in task manager, can you identify the process that hogs your CPU?

 

Have you checked on the HP website to see if there are any updates for your drivers and whatnot? It's entirely possible that you've got a dysfunctional driver that's blocking at an elevated priority level and stopping everything else from getting execution time on the cpu.

 

Sounds like a paid endorsement...not sure if I trust you. >_>

When it's running normally, it's HPMediaSmart software, Chrome (my default browser), IM services...(in that order).

And when it's in slowdown mode, then I don't look there, too busy to wait for it to get to that point.

I do run Windows Update and HP Update as often as I can...I don't make it a habit to visit the HP website whenever I can, but I do stop by there once in a week or so.

Mr. Mysterious

 

MalwareBytes is legit (although I agree that many of its users sound way too much like used car sales reps sometimes). If you check in the Security and A/V Software subforum you should find some discussion of it if you're curious.

It sounds like the next time you get a slow-down, take the time, however long and boring, to follow Pirx's suggestion about checking in the task manager to see what process(es) are hogging all of the cpu time.

 

You have two AV programs with realtime monitoring on your machine---bad news. Remove one.

Having two programs that monitor file activity in real time is like being the only girl at a hoe-down--all the guys are pulling you in two different directions.

Never have two antivirus programs with realtime monitoring on a machine--if you insist on those two, disable realtime monitoring on one.

 

MalwareBytes is good, but it's not as great as some people claim. I actually had a nasty bug recently and it didn't even pick it up.

If it doesn't pick up anything, Dr. Web-Cure It is pretty darn good with the experience I had with it.

I strongly second this. It is not a good idea to have two. Pick the one you are most comfortable with, and that has a good user rating, and go with that.

 

Besides the fact that 2 AVs with live scanning are bad,
you didn't do any "system tweaks" did you?

 

Have you noticed any heavy network activity when the slowdown happens? While you're in the task manager, click the Networking tab and see what the utilization is like. If you can't look at the manager when the issue actually occurs, you might want to just leave Task Manager up and running for awhile, so that you'll have it up right when the problem happens. That way you can check if any new processes appear to account for the lag and look at the network utilization as well.

Do you find that it happens regardless of what software you have open or does a particular program tend to be open when it happens? I ask because I have a similar problem from time to time with my web browser, which slowly starts eating up available resources the more tabs I open. I eventually have to end the process for it to get things running at normal speed again.

 

Ok, disabled Avira for now...

Not unless you count RivaTuner...but I've uninstalled that.

I wouldn't characterize it as 'heavy' networking...just normal networking. 2 tabs open at the same time, at the most, and 2 messaging services going on at the same time as well...

Mr. Mysterious

 

What exactly did you do with it?

As long as you kept off the registry and services I don't think it'll be a problem.

Generally "tweaking" will more likely break Vista or Windows7.

 

I'd have malwarebytes on-hand for occasional manual scanning and run the msft security essentials.

If you really feel you need active anti-malware that is.

I stopped running any kind of real-time scanning a year ago (on XP sp3) and haven't regretted it. My storage server(s) run security essentials full-time but the three workstations and two laptops (all of which are on Win7Pro/64 now), nothing.

 

I used it for (what else) overclocking my graphics card a bit. I didn't make the system unstable, if that is what you're implying...But no, I did not "break" Vista or Windows 7. I'm not a hacker or software expert.

Well...not sure if I have a storage server of sorts...It's just my laptop, lol. For now, I'll be content to trust Avira and Norton (and malwarebytes, decided to give it a try). I think ever since I uninstalled RivaTuner, there hasn't been any slowdowns...who knows, perhaps that's what was causing the trouble.

Mr. Mysterious

 

Might be Nero. I've had many issues with it. It causes Explorer to run extremely high when opening windows. Do you have Nero?

 

Never caused a problem for me - at least 6 and 8 didn't... and 5 didn't either - but any hunch might be worth a check... apparently it's getting more and more bloated...