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Dan
April 1st, 2006, 11:56
Howdy folks.

Ok, here is the rundown of my problem.

My computer is running slower than normal, even on the net. (I am on high speed cable) and when I close a window, it scrolls off the screen like and takes a couple seconds to close down. Folders on my desktop take ages to open as does Firefox or any browser I open.
A message apears every day telling me that My Virtual Memory is running low.

Now, I had some serious spyware issues last week and sorted that with Spyware Doctor and LookToMe Destroyer. But the computer seems to be getting worse.

I have AVG, Norton and Avast all running and they do a good job. Well AVG does anyways. Avast is good at checkin emails etc.

So, my guess is that it is the Memory that is causing my PC to lag. So, has anyone faced this issue before? And, if so, how do I sort it? My computer is about 4 months old. I don't want to take it to the menders.

I have a Philips iQon with Windows XP.
Yellowmc
April 1st, 2006, 12:05
Increase the virtual memory, through system tools in your control panel.
Bruce
April 1st, 2006, 12:30
I have AVG, Norton and Avast all running Don't.

They all do the same thing so choose one (preferably NOT Norton) and stick with it. Norton alone is enough to slow many computers to a crawl. Having multiple anti-virus software running in the background is suicide.
Dan
April 1st, 2006, 12:32
Don't.

They all do the same thing so choose one (preferably NOT Norton) and stick with it. Norton alone is enough to slow many computers to a crawl. Having multiple anti-virus software running in the background is suicide.

Oh ok. So, delete Norton and Avast, and keep AVG?
Dan
April 1st, 2006, 12:33
Increase the virtual memory, through system tools in your control panel.


I can't find that option in System Tools.
Bruce
April 1st, 2006, 12:36
I would.

Or you could keep them installed, disable the background processes (Active scan or whatever they call it) and just run a full scan when necessary.
Yellowmc
April 1st, 2006, 12:36
Start > Control Panel > Performance & Maintenence > System > Advanced > Performance Setting > Advanced > It will be at the bottom!

I also suggest as Bruce has already said to drop some of your background applications, I would suggest dropping Norton.
Dan
April 1st, 2006, 12:36
I would.

Or you could keep them installed, disable the background processes (Active scan or whatever they call it) and just run a full scan when necessary.

Thanks Bruce. I will do that shortly. :)
Bruce
April 1st, 2006, 12:38
Go to task manager (ctrl-alt-del).

Could you take a screenshot of your processes tab?
Robert
April 1st, 2006, 12:38
I would run HijackThis and post the log.
Dan
April 1st, 2006, 12:42
Hold up guys. :D This is all getting a bit technical for me. I am hopeless with PCs and all the lingo. haha :D

Yellowmc, there is nothing in my Control Panal called Performance and Maintainance.

I am such a noOb it's unbelievable :D
Bruce
April 1st, 2006, 12:47
Virtual Memory is under Control Panel > System > Advanced > Settings > Advanced

But I would seriously suggest not changing it since you seem unsure about it.

//edit

No offense, but how exactly do you run a hosting business with this limited knowledge? :confused:
themoose
April 1st, 2006, 12:48
After you do all the above (or they explain better, dont want to explain for them lol) I'd suggest getting a memory upgrade, its much cheaper than you would think and it's easy to do at home.
Bruce
April 1st, 2006, 12:49
I'd suggest getting a memory upgrade, its much cheaper than you would think and it's easy to do at home.
He may already have 1GB or more for all we know.
hottweelz
April 1st, 2006, 12:50
Virtual Memory is under Control Panel > System > Advanced > Settings > Advanced

But I would seriously suggest not changing it since you seem unsure about it.

//edit

No offense, but how exactly do you run a hosting business with this limited knowledge? :confused:

Let's see a screenshot of ALL running processes (I think that was asked before)

And if you go to where they showed you about Performance settings for Virtual Memory, you might be best off selecting "Let Windows Manage" For Virtual memory.
Click "SET" (Everyone forgets this)

How do you host not knowing XP?
Dan
April 1st, 2006, 13:02
//edit

No offense, but how exactly do you run a hosting business with this limited knowledge? :confused:

Good question. :D

Nah. My mate ethix takes care of all the technical side of things. I take care of the rest.
Decker
April 1st, 2006, 13:14
Oh - don't let windows manage it - take your actual RAM multiply by three and set that as both min and max - you get a permenant paging file not a variable one that takes system resources to expand and contract it. Also if you then get memory errors it's usually a page file corruption so you just set it to 'none' to delete it (doesn't matter it holds nothing of interest) and reboot set it again - reboot and you get a clean file.

Try that one and see if it helps - but as Bruce says don't run multiple AV's, not unhappy with Norton though but I have seen it run bad on some systems dependant on what's running, it can fight with other apps.
hottweelz
April 1st, 2006, 13:27
I offered that option, cuz as Bruce suggested, if you don't know you're way around it, might be better to just let Windows manage it.

I have a 2gb of RAM on this PC, i have NO page file.
Dan
April 1st, 2006, 13:59
Thanks Decker. That did it.
She is loading like a dream. :D

I set Ram to 1gig and also stopped all processes for Norton. I will just run a scan with it now and then.
Yeah. Norton and Avast do not agree with each other at all.
So, thanks everyone. :)
Decker
April 1st, 2006, 15:43
I offered that option, cuz as Bruce suggested, if you don't know you're way around it, might be better to just let Windows manage it.

I have a 2gb of RAM on this PC, i have NO page file.

Yep I know it's best if your not sure but it was just advice from experience what was asked -with 2gb (me too) I've set 1gb for swap as windows likes to move idle processes out of physical RAM so you might get a boost :)

Glad it helped too Dan :)
hottweelz
April 1st, 2006, 16:41
Yep I know it's best if your not sure but it was just advice from experience what was asked -with 2gb (me too) I've set 1gb for swap as windows likes to move idle processes out of physical RAM so you might get a boost :)

Glad it helped too Dan :)

Lol this thread got me watching my memory usage now.
Bruce
April 1st, 2006, 16:48
I have a 2gb of RAM on this PC, i have NO page file.You should always use a pagefile regardless of the amount of RAM you have. You will see better performance with a pagefile, and some programs just plain won't work without one.

A pagefile isn't bad. It just makes more sense to store cached files there than in RAM.
Decker
April 1st, 2006, 16:49
LOL - Oh is there someone behind me ;)
All stuff you just pick up from things like this :)
Decker
April 1st, 2006, 16:51
Not if you run virtual servers Bruce - it cripples it. Runs best without a pagefile and lashing of RAM.
Dan
April 1st, 2006, 19:01
Yep I know it's best if your not sure but it was just advice from experience what was asked -with 2gb (me too) I've set 1gb for swap as windows likes to move idle processes out of physical RAM so you might get a boost :)

Glad it helped too Dan :)

So, I have an 80 gig HD right? So, if I upped the ram to even 2gig, it will work even better?
Galaxy-Hosts.com
April 1st, 2006, 20:40
How much physical Ram do you have?
Decker
April 2nd, 2006, 13:22
Unless it's the case about virtual machines, yes say you have 1Gb RAM setup a 1 or 2GB pagefile, with virtual machines I tend towards disabling my pagefile for those and re-enabling it for normal running, sure it's effected as they run their own 'virtual' pagefile which would mean the system handling the OS, a pagefile, a virtual machine and a virtual pagefile.