[Katarn1]

My computer has been running very slowly these last few days. A minute or so after startup, it becomes slow to respond to commands, programs such as Photoshop are a drag to use, and games (that I could naturally run just fine) show significant stuttering.


Task Manager shows an increasing consumption of memory when idle. It starts at around 1.3 GB (which is fine), and doesn't stop growing until it reaches about 2.30 GB within a few minutes. Cached memory wavers between about 1780 MB -1980 MB.


I am using Windows 7 64-bit on an Intel Core 2 Duo E7300. 4GB RAM. My HDD is split into two drives, C: and D:, with 58/232 GB and 61/232 GB free space respectively. I will give more info on my specs if necessary.


I have used CCleaner to clean out junk and the registry. Running a Malwarebytes scan shows no positives. I don't know what to do next. Has my computer gotten that old overnight?







Thanks in advance,
Katarn1

 

[spunk.funk]

Re: Slow Computer, High Memory Use

Use Process Explorer to see what programs are increasing the memory

 

[Katarn1]

Re: Slow Computer, High Memory Use

Again, got Windows 10, PC runs better now. Except that, when playing a game, even a low demanding one (Fistful of Frags, Fallout 3), I get very poor performance after a short time in the game (say, 3-5 minutes), and when I quit, my memory usage is 1.7-2GB, and the computer runs more slowly (although not as unresponsively as before).

Yes, C: has been defragmented, I have eliminated all background apps. The only one that has me thinking might have something to do with high memory usage is Symantec Endpoint Protection.

 

[spunk.funk]

Re: Slow Computer, High Memory Use

The only one that has me thinking might have something to do with high memory usage is Symantec Endpoint Protection.

You would easily see this in Process Explorer
Symantec (Norton) is a huge resource hog. Use the Norton Remover to uninstall it and restart and see how it goes. If that works, install Microsoft Security Essentials.

 

[Katarn1]

Re: Slow Computer, High Memory Use

I downloaded Process Explorer. But I don't know what anomalies to look for.

At the moment, Firefox is at the top in regards to the Working Set standard, which if I understand correctly, is the one I should be after (~250,000 KB), which doesn't surprise me, as it is open; followed by Microsoft.Photos.Exe (~52,000 KB) - it is greyed out, though, and I have no photos open; and then scvhost (~66,000 KB) and dwm.exe (33,000 KB).

May I inquire what is the difference between uninstalling Symantec through Add or Remove and using the Norton Remover Tool? Also, in how much danger is my computer going to be once I am left to rely on Microsoft Security Essentials, as opposed to what is argued to be the best antivirus software at present?

Finally, can these things cause a computer to run slowly: the windows.old folder, a crowded desktop, lots of files lying around (I have hundreds of .png, .jpg, .psd, and .doc files all over C: and D:), Nvidia applications (such as Geforce Experience, Nvidia 3D Vision Controller Driver), Adobe updates (which keep showing up despite being turned off in Startup), Cortana, and heat (hwmonitor shows nothing alarming, but I have had heating issues in the past).

 

[Rich-M]

Re: Slow Computer, High Memory Use

Well this is the first time in recent years I have heard anyone believe Norton is the best Antivirus. I think the only category it is number 1 is in system drag, certainly not in Malware Removal. Personally I think MSE is better protection than any Norton product.
As for the difference in removal process well the Norton Remover does a better job of getting all the Norton nodes out that are left behind with the Windows uninstaller.

The Windows Old file if it is big as it usually is will definitely slow down any pc so after you have out of it any files and data from the old OS, I would definitely delete it. And lots of desktop icons will slow down the system.

You want to keep Adobe products updated if you want them to work properly and not give way to Malware to enter your system as old Adobe files and Java files make easy to do.

 

[Rich-M]

Re: Slow Computer, High Memory Use

Running CCleaner in registry, or any reg cleaner is like taking a sledge hammer to the case and you have an equal ability to repair both as well. Once that rips gaping holes in the registry, about all it will do you have a reinstall of Windows on the horizon I'm afraid as I have never seen a registry backup fix the damage a reg cleaner does.

Can you also tell us what is running in the background in startup please?
"Run, msconfig, Ok, Startup" will tell you.

 

[Katarn1]

Re: Slow Computer, High Memory Use

I did all of the above. I uninstalled Symantec and used the Norton Removal Tool. I deleted windows.old. I defragmented C: again. I updated my graphics card drivers. I opened up my PC and cleared the dust from and around the fans.
When my computer starts up, the RAM usage is around 900-1000 MB. It grows up to 1.4 GB. Is that ok?

While it does operate responsively enough when performing small tasks (and even some work in Photoshop), the moment I open a game, all hell breaks loose. The loading times are fast, but games that I know for a fact I've run smoothly, run at 20- fps. Lowering the visual settings does not improve performance at all.
This happens with a game I had during the migration from Windows 7 to Windows 10 (Fistful of Frags), and a game I installed afterwards to test if a freshly installed game would have the same issue (Warhammer 40k: Space Marine).

Startup shows five programs (three before I accepted the update for Acrobat Reader): Microsoft OneDrive, NVIDIA Backend, NVIDIA Capture Server Proxy, Adobe Acrobat SpeedLauncher, and AcroTray (this one is something by Adobe Systems Inc.). They are all disabled.
So... I am at a loss. Does this sound like a software or a hardware issue? Is it about RAM (it certainly doesn't seem so anymore)? Is my HDD failing? (that would be a blast)

The only other actions I can think of would be:

a) Reinstalling Windows 7 or 10, except that instead of asking that everything is as I had left it, I will only ask to keep my files.

or

b) Applying thermal paste on my processor and video card, which I was going to do anyway, since it has been a year or two.

 

[Corday]

Re: Slow Computer, High Memory Use

When you deleted Windows.old you lost quick access to bringing everything back tio the way it was before upgrading. That said, it was the right thing to do. Try checking the RAM with the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool.

 

[Katarn1]

Re: Slow Computer, High Memory Use

I tried to do a recovery of the system and reinstalled Windows 10 (using the Recovery option). It went well. I chose to keep my files but remove apps. Once restarted, the memory usage was 1.4 GB. I ran CCleaner and let it clear out the old windows installation (it was over 50 GB). It did.
After restarting, my computer won't boot up. I get Windows 10's version of the BSOD, which gives me very little information because 'Critical Process Died' is the only thing I am being told.

I have had heating issues with this computer ever since I bought it (every spring-summer, BSODs until a cleaned). Two years ago, a reboot loop I had thought was a software issue was in fact my video card dying and, eventually, it did. So, aware that my current video card is an old gaming card (GTS 250 1GB 256bit DDR3), I did not want to risk the same thing happening again, so I shut the PC off when given the option. I haven't touched it since.

Any ideas?

I plan on first applying thermal paste on the CPU and trying to boot the computer using another video card. If that works, I know it's the card. If it doesn't, I'll simply format C: (losing all the data, I'm afraid) and do a clean install of Windows 7 (and I won't be accepting Windows 10 next time the prompt shows up; I didn't like it anyway). Is this a good idea?

 

[Katarn1]

Critical Process Died [Windows 10]

In the Windows 7 forum I had posted about a problem I was having with my computer running slowly (I don't know why it doesn't show in my statistics). Eventually, I had moved on to Windows 10, uninstalled Symantec, and removed a lot of flies. My computer ran well (except for the coolers being very loud, but that has been going on for months now) but performance when gaming was poor (20- fps). Again, there are details in my thread in the Windows 7 forums.

Initially convinced it was most likely a software issue, I chose the Recovery option and let Windows 10 reinstall itself, keeping my files. When done, I deleted windows.old using CCleaner. I restarted the machine. Now, it is stuck in a loop of Critical_Process_Died.
I don't know whether this is a hardware issue or a software issue, and I don't know what to do next, as my system is stuck in a loop at startup. I also have a reason to believe it might have to do with hardware more than it has to do with software.

Ideas?


Thanks

thread: http://www.techsupportforum.com/forums/f217/slow-computer-high-memory-use-1123746.html

 

[Corday]

Re: Slow Computer, High Memory Use

I can't figure out what you've been doing. You could have gotten rid of the old installation by merely deleting Windows.old or running the Microsoft built in Disc Cleanup app. When you say, won't boot, do you mean even the fans aren't running or just nothing on the screen?

 

[Rich-M]

Re: Slow Computer, High Memory Use

I think what you did makes perfect sense if your goal was to blow away Windows.
A number of years ago Ccleaner made two of my systems completely unbootable and I really don't understand why anyone would use it as I mentioned in an earlier post.
When will everyone wake up and realize there is nothing that needs "cleaning" on a hard drive especially the registry.

 

[doggie007]

Re: Slow Computer, High Memory Use

You would easily see this in Process Explorer
Symantec (Norton) is a huge resource hog. Use the Norton Remover to uninstall it and restart and see how it goes. If that works, install Microsoft Security Essentials.

I do not agree... Microsoft SE are for noobies. It will leave you with viruses!

Better try Avira, avast!, AVG.

 

[doggie007]

Re: Slow Computer, High Memory Use

Norton could be it.

I always recommend scanning C for errors.

 

[jcgriff2]

Re: Critical Process Died [Windows 10]

In the Windows 7 forum I had posted about a problem I was having with my computer running slowly (I don't know why it doesn't show in my statistics). Eventually, I had moved on to Windows 10, uninstalled Symantec, and removed a lot of flies. My computer ran well (except for the coolers being very loud, but that has been going on for months now) but performance when gaming was poor (20- fps). Again, there are details in my thread in the Windows 7 forums.

Initially convinced it was most likely a software issue, I chose the Recovery option and let Windows 10 reinstall itself, keeping my files. When done, I deleted windows.old using CCleaner. I restarted the machine. Now, it is stuck in a loop of Critical_Process_Died.
I don't know whether this is a hardware issue or a software issue, and I don't know what to do next, as my system is stuck in a loop at startup. I also have a reason to believe it might have to do with hardware more than it has to do with software.

Ideas?


Thanks

thread: http://www.techsupportforum.com/forums/f217/slow-computer-high-memory-use-1123746.html

Based on seeing "Critical_Process_Died", it is possible that your HDD has failed.

Run HDD diagnostics - SeaTools for DOS, LONG test - https://www.sysnative.com/forums/hardware-tutorials/4072-hard-drive-hdd-diagnostics.html

It is DOS-based, so Windows won't load.

Regards. . .

jcgriff2

`

NOTE: I am recovering from major surgery (double hip replacement) and may not be able to promptly reply to your thread. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

 

[jcgriff2]

Re: Critical Process Died [Windows 10]

I have merged your 2 threads.

 

[Katarn1]

Re: Critical Process Died [Windows 10]

I'm back with Windows7. It ran perfectly well the first few days. Then (well, today), I am getting 3GB+ of memory usage, 2GB of which is svchost. Well?

Based on seeing "Critical_Process_Died", it is possible that your HDD has failed.

I don't think so. This is what I did: I applied thermal gel to my CPU and installed a new fan. The problem persisted. I tried to use the Recovery option (the clean install one). It failed. So I booted my computer from CD and installed Windows 7 again.
It works.

I have merged your 2 threads.

Thank you for merging the two threads, this makes everything more practical, but I am again using Windows 7, so I think this should be in Windows 7, as the problem I am facing again (slow PC) is in Windows 7.

 

[Corday]

Re: Critical Process Died [Windows 10]

Moving thread to W7