Slow computer

My computer runs much slower than I believe it should be running. I currently use Kaspersky Anti-Virus. I also use CCleaner; Free Window Registry Repair and occasionally run scans using A-Squared Free and Ad-Aware from Lavasoft. Can anyone offer some advice on ways to investigate why it may be running slow or perhaps some other software which may be valuable to have or run??

Not sure if it plays a role in anything but there are 42 processes running in the window task manager. Is this a lot?

Also, under performance in the task manager the CPU usage quite often spikes up to 100%. Any ideas as to why?

Thanks for any help someone can offer!

Edited by gsbauer, 01 April 2009 - 09:47 AM.

42 running processes is not bad at all
When you see the CPU spike, look at the Processes tab in Task Manager, in the CPU column and see what is doing it
Another application you can use is Process Explorer:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinte...s/bb896653.aspx

Not sure if it plays a role in anything but there are 42 processes running in the window task manager. Is this a lot?

I only have 22 processes running at startup

I have 0 at startup, except CTFMON, which i delete and it comes right back. And i currenyl have 12 processes running now. Mostly SVCHOST.

Download and run Ccleaner
Clear your startup,
then clean your registry.

this will speed up your computer DRAMATICALLY

(IT will also delete your site history, and cookies and crap and any saved passwords if you choose it to

Edited by StickDude101, 01 April 2009 - 05:24 PM.

How can you possibly have zero at startup? Windows requires many processes just to run.
Where are you finding that you have zero?

Even though one usually has many instances of svchosts running, 12 seems like a lot. I generally have only 5 instances of it.

Also, it is not genearlly recommended to clean your registry, it really does not improve performance and it can really screw up your system

Edited by Stang777, 01 April 2009 - 05:31 PM.

Yeah that is if you dont know what you doing (COUGH COUGH). And yeah i have 0 at startup. According to ccleaner....i know it stars explorer and svshost and crap already, but not in msconfig or ccleaner or AWC )

Running Processes

Firefox
taskmgr
explorer
svchost
svchost
svchost
svchost
svchost
superantispyware
lsass
services
winlogin
csrss
smss
system system idle process

Edited by StickDude101, 01 April 2009 - 05:44 PM.

Well that program, Ccleaner, is not giving you a true picture of what you have running on startup as you do not have zero programs running on startup.

Looks like you probably have atleast 13 running on startup, not 0

Edited by Stang777, 01 April 2009 - 05:52 PM.

Im aware of that now ;)

then clean your registry.

Bleeping Computer DOES NOT recommend the use of registry cleaners/optimizers for a several reasons:

Registry cleaners can damage the registry by using aggressive cleaning routines. Many users (including some Staff Members) have reported problems after using registry cleaning tools - to include those tools released by Microsoft. This can cause your system to become unbootable.

Registry cleaners generally don't do anything significant for your system. This topic discusses it in greater detail than we could address here: http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=61015 Although the topic discusses the XP registry, the concepts there apply to all other versions of Windows.

Not all registry cleaners create a backup of your registry before making changes. If the changes prevent the system from booting/logging in, then there's no backup to restore in order to regain functionality. A backup of the registry is essential BEFORE making any changes to the registry.

I managed to destroy my Adobe Photoshop program by using a registry cleaner. I had to reinstall the program. Fortunately, that was the worst that happened in this case.

Orange Blossom

Ive ran numerous registery cleaner, and nothing has ever been wrong with my PC.
Just my opinion though, i never backup my registry, i just fix certain ones that i know cant harm my computer.
Im not computer illiterate