There is a nuisance item worth noting. Some may put a GIF or some on the desktop background and Windows seems to eat its CPU. Try NONE for the background picture to dismiss this item.
1. Open a command window and type the command TASKLIST and supply the forum the output.
2. Use a web based Virus scan like Housecall to be sure no new bugs are playing.
3. Perform the procedure at http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hwdev/tech/storage/IDE-DMA.mspx to assure yourself that DMA is working. Don't LOOK AT IT! The issue is that Microsoft admits that it can indicate it incorrectly so you set to PIO than back to DMA as noted.
I am running a Compaq Presario 5000. It has 512 MB of Ram and a P4, running Windows XP. It is from around 2001. It has done fine till latley. Now it is getting really slow for about ten seconds, then normal. I just replaced the whole power supply and I though that would solve the problem. It doesnt get slow as often but it still does every now and then when a lot of programs are running. There are 47 running processes in the task manager and the cpu usage is usuall around 60 or 70. But sometimes it will stay around 90%. Is this normal? I have Ad Aware and it hasnt solved the problem. Please Help! Thanks

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