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General discussion

What caused this ridiculous slowdown, and how do I fix it?

Aug 8, 2005 5:28AM PDT

I have an older pentium 200MMX computer, running win95, which I keep only to use while I fix my regular computer. Being only a 200Hz machine, it never was known for its speed. But it was tolerable. After not using it for a couple of months, I started it up the other day. Something has happened that has caused it to become extremely slow on certain routine tasks. On other tasks, it appears normal, like loading apps. Examples of what I'm experiencing:

In Windows Explorer, if I click on the plus sign to expand a folder, I wait 5 to 8 seconds for the folder to expand.

I tried to remove some startup items. I went to start/settings/taskbar/remove item. Just to move down the list, I click and then wait UP TO 30 SECONDS for the cursor highlight to go to the selected folder.

I went to Task Manager and closed everything except systray and explorer. No change. I then opened norton system doctor and saw that with virtually nothing running, CPU usage fluctuated between 1% and 99%.

I defragged the HDD; removed and reinstalled the memory chips; removed and reinstalled the CPU; disconnected/reconnected the HDD cable at both ends. No help.

If anyone can tell me what's going on here; or where to look next; or how to fix this; I'd be most grateful. Thanks.

Discussion is locked

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CPU usage fluctuated between 1% and 99%.
Aug 8, 2005 5:51AM PDT

How long at 1% vrs how long at 99%????
If you have nothing running the idle process should be taking up the 99%. If there is somthing else taking up time this might be the cluprit. Have you check for spyware?? John

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Ridiculous slowdown - reply
Aug 9, 2005 1:18AM PDT

Maybe 60% at under 10%, 40% at 99%, while system doctor is running.

I checked for viruses and spyware; both came up negative.

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reinstall
Aug 10, 2005 5:33AM PDT

Back up your data and try reinstalling win95.

Also, win95 is unstable, go to ebay and get win98. I ran 98 on a 90MHZ processor, 16MB RAM and it ran faster than expected. Zero problems with it.

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ebay and get win98.
Aug 10, 2005 6:00AM PDT

If you do,go for Win98SE. john

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the slowdown is caused by spyware doctor 3.2
Aug 13, 2005 5:08AM PDT

it's not your system at fault here...

I have been comparing the latest versions of Spyware Doctor 3.2, Webroot Spy Sweeper 4.0, and Ad-aware SE Pro and my conclusion is that Spyware Doctor is a total system hog.

You most likely have the OnGuard feature turned on in Spyware Doctor. By default, the Startup Guard scans your system every 15 seconds.

I have an AMD XP 2500+ with 1.5G of RAM, and Spyware Doctor consistently uses AT LEAST 50% of the CPU whenever it does its little scans...and this is when the system is IDLE!!! Don't believe me? Turn off the various guards for yourself.

Despite all the reviews touting the Doctor's ability to "detect" spyware, it's questionable if it ever "removes" the said spyware. Just do two consecutive scans and you'll see the same items show up in the scans. I think it's revealing when the button in the menu is titled "Fix items" and not "Remove items".

What's even more surprising is the conspicuous absense of a cookie blocker.

I've decided to use the real-time protection provided by Ad-Aware SE Pro (Ad-watch) and maybe use Spyware Doctor for regular scans. Webroot Spy Sweeper would also be a better alternative.

I think the problem with all the spyware reviews I've come across (and I've read lots) is that they don't take system performance into account.

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Total Resource Hog - System Strangler!!!
Aug 13, 2005 11:27PM PDT

I bought this sw because it was rated #1 by PC magazine. What a joke. This program is great if you have a dedicated PC to run it, because that is all that will run at any given time. the resource meter pegs 100% every 60 seconds. It locks the PC evertime this happens. They asked me to be patient and work with them, turn off each feature one by one till it stopped. That is rediculous. I tried that before contacting them - but doesnt that defeat the purpose... I got my money back.

This was the all time worst software experience I have ever had!

STAY AWAY!!!