My computer is running extremely slow

[RagingInMiami]

I even ran a recovery disk thinking it would clear up any problems in the registry. But it's still running slow. What could it be?

[WhollyHeretic]

1. Have you installed any new programs recently?

[RagingInMiami]

2. I re-installed PS CS2 and Office 2003

And I installed a few Windows updates, including SP2. I'm thinking the problem might be a bunch of RAW images that I recovered before running the recovery disc. But I don't get any messages telling me they're corrupted.

[WhollyHeretic]

3. Have you checked task manager to see what's being used?

Hit Ctrl-Shift-Esc and check out the performance tab and check out the CPU usage and PF (memory) Usage. If the PF Usage is high you could check out the processes tab and see if there is anything strange using up a bunch of memory.

[RagingInMiami]

4. This is what's running on five-digits

hpqtra08.exe - 11,348 k
bridge.exe (photoshop) 45,084 k
CCAPP.EXE 10,040 K
firefox.exe 23,188
svchost.exe 30,284
explorer.exe 29.992

I use firefox so I don't know why explorer would be running so high.

[WhollyHeretic]

5. Explorer is windows, internet explorer would be iexplorer

None of those seem to be out of whack.

How much RAM do you have?

What does the task manager say the CPU Usage is?

[RagingInMiami]

6. CPU usage is flucuating between 2 percent and 17 percent

Where do I check on the RAM

[WhollyHeretic]

7. Click the start button, click on Run... and type: dxdiag

Once you hit OK a screen will pop up that lists how much RAM you have.

The CPU usage is fine so that's not the problem.

[RagingInMiami]

8. I have 1006 MB RAM

[RagingInMiami]

12. I take that back

I didn't fix the problem.

[RagingInMiami]

10. Now my CPU is running at 100 percent

Before, when I answered your question, it was lower because my computer was idle. I was in the middle of cooking. But now that I am working on PS again, it's running slow and the CPU is at 100 percent.

[WhollyHeretic]

13. Does it only run slow when you're using PS?

[RagingInMiami]

14. It looks that way

I'm in the process of trying to sort out a bunch of RAW images, deleting some, saving some, etc. They're in several different files on my desktop. It seems that when I am working in PS or even directly with the files, it gets very slow.

But when I'm on the internet, there's no problem.

[WhollyHeretic]

15. I think the problem might be that you have integrated video

instead of a video card. Try the dxdiag thing again (start->run->dxdiag) and click on the display tab. What does it say under device? If you do have integrated video you can always add a video card for not much money if your computer has a slot for one.

[RagingInMiami]

16. Now I'm really confused because I was doing nothing with video

Under Device it says:

Name: Intel(R) 82852/82855 GM/GME Graphics Controller
Manufacturer: INtel Corporation
Chip Type: Intel(R) 82852/82855 Graphics Controller
DAC Type: INternal
Approx. Total Memory: 64 MB

[WhollyHeretic]

18. A video card deals with everything graphical on a computer

if your doing a lot of work with something like Photoshop you should have a decent card.

[RagingInMiami]

19. But I'm on a laptop. I'm not sure if it would accept such a card.

[WhollyHeretic]

20. You might not have much options with a laptop

You could contact the manufacturer other than that here's one thing to increase the performance

Right-click My Computer
Click on Properties
Click the Advanced tab
Click on the Settings button under Performance
Choose Adjust for Best Performance
Click OK.

That should help at least somewhat. Good luck.

[RagingInMiami]

21. Wow

That did help. It also changed the appearance (I was sure to click "best performance" and not "best appearance" but it looks like its running smooth now. I hope it lasts. Thanks for the pointers. I would never have known about the CPUs and this latest trick.

[ConsAreLiars]

9. You might want to use "What's Running" to see if you can find the problem.

It gives a lot more info than you want, but it is well organized and easier to make some sense of than a first glance would suggest. Someone here suggested it for a different problem, but just reading through the various sections may help you see the problem. Just don't use any of the options to change things if you are at all unsure of the consequences or asking for advice.

http://www.whatsrunning.net/whatsrunning/main.aspx

[RagingInMiami]

11. Thanks, I will give it a try

[charlie]

17. Try this

Go without running Firefox for a while. No, I'm not suggesting you switch to another browser or revert to using IE, just keep from opening Firefox for a period of time and see if the OS still turns to sludge.

Firefox has a bug (or bugs) that causes it to occasionally peg the CPU, sometimes to the point that every application is effectively in a "freeze" state -- it can be as long as minutes between an action and response, such as raising/lowering windows. It doesn't happen to everyone and occurs in disparate situations on different OSes, so finding a definitive cause(s) has so far been fruitless.

So, do a reboot and bring up the other apps you usually use, minus Firefox. If your OS continues to be snappy past the time it ordinarily bogs, Firefox might be the problem.