BleepingComputer.com: Very Slow Computer

This is my first post to the site. Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me. I am running XP Home SP2 on a Dell Dimension 2350--Pentium IV and 256 MB RAM.

The computer has gotten very slow; it used to be very fast. I have the following programs downloaded and running in terms of spyware, etc. 1. Norton 360 2. AVG virus free edition 3. AVG Spyware 4. Ad-aware 2007 5. SpyBot Search and Destroy.

In an attempt to clean the computer, I have downloaded the following programs and run them: 1. Uniblue Spyeraser 2. Uniblue Registry Cleaner, and 3. Uniblue Speed Up.

My internet and e-mail are supplied by AOL v 9.0.

Even after running the programs and cleaning the registry, the spyware programs, and the speed up program, the machine is very slow.

HELP, please, and thanks.

swtexas70

You have too many security programs running. You also have two antivirus programs which will cause problems. Suggest you uninstall AVG Antivirus. If you have the teatimer enabled in Spybot S&D, stop any other antispyware you have from starting at startup.
Lay off of the registry cleaning and tuneup. I would uninstall all of Uniblue.
Let us know if doing the above improved your computer.
Cleaning out the temporary files, cookies, etc. and defragmenting may help, too, if you haven't done it lately.
256mb of ram is borderline with XP OS. You might want to consider doubling it.
Are you on dialup?

Most of the antivirus programs and spyware programs were added only to try to clean up the computer. I will be happy to remove the uniblue programs--I may even be able to get my money back.

I suspected that the 256 may be borderline with XP.

The AOL is a broadband connection through a att dsl program. When I go to explore, it is amazing how much stuff AOL has put on the the computer.

I will follow your suggestions, and I hope that it will help the situation.

Thanks,

swtexas70

AOL was my first ISP. It was fun at first with all the cute things you could do within email and such. It was ad heavy though and today it is even more of an ad platform. I saw recently that they have purchased one of the larger ad companies. Yeah, you probably have close to 50mb's of AOL software on your computer.
The ISP I have now for cable connection is small and did not install ANY software on my computer.
Make sure AVG is completely shut down before attempting to uninstall. That goes for any other program, too. You can be sure of that by running the uninstalls in safe mode. Here is a link if you need it.
How to Start Windows in Safe Mode:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/how-to-start-windows-in-safe-mode/

As buddy215 mentioned, part of your slowdown can also be attributed to the 256MB of RAM.
I consider 512MB to be a minimum for XP; 1GB if you can afford it, would be even better.
If you were to, at least, double the RAM you have installed, you would notice a significant performance increase.

Also, read this topic, Slow Computer?, for some more tips on increasing your computer's performance.

I have removed all of the excess programs, and the computer is still slow. I believe now, as both of you do, that I will have to increase memory. Do either of you have a suggestion as to the "brand" of memory that I should get. I plan on going to Fry's this afternoon and getting the memory to install.

Thanks,

I suggest either Crucial, Kingston, or Corsair.

Whatever you do, don't buy "cheap" RAM.
This is one area where it's definitely, "You get, what you pay for".

The link below has Crucial's suggestion for the Dell Dimension 2350
http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.asp...ion+2350+Series

Hey folks,

Getting rid of all of the excess virus protection, etc. helped. And, now that I have dropped the new memory (all brand names, thanks tg1911), the computer is running better than it did when it was new.

I appreciate all of the help that you have given me.

Thanks again,

You're welcome, swtexas70.
Glad we were able to help you out.

That additional RAM does make a difference, doesn't it?