My Computer is Running Slower Than When I First Bought It - Hardware & Software

The title pretty much explains it all. My computer is really slow and I've tried defragging, doing disk cleanups, but it stays slow. I don't want to completely wipe my hard drive because it would take me hours to back it up/redownload everything, so can somebody tell me what I can do to help speed it back up again?

As far as I know reasons might be: Filled HDD's Registry Which is no longer active. Virus infected Too much programs running or processes (which sometimes appears to be virus) Temp. Files. Well that's basically my reasons that always helps me

1. My hard drive isn't filled, still has ~32gb's of memory left. 2. I'm not sure, how would I check that? 3. Perhaps, but I have a virus program and a spyware program and would've probably detected that by now. 4. My CPU usage is at 55-70%; is that bad? 5. No; I just cleaned it out today. I've had this problem for a long time (a year give or take). My computer isn't real old and I think the specs on it are ok. Any other suggestions?

Download CCleaner and run it.

What is your Virus and Spyware program? It is possibly a virus... And CPU usage, if that is idle, that is horrible.

Remove stuff from starting up with computer. (Do run then msconfig) Download CCleaner and remove shit. Uninstall stuff you don't really use. Download a nice anti-virus program if you don't have one. Try to update to latest drivers. And if nothing else works, Reformat the computer. [quote]I don't want to completely wipe my hard drive because[b] it would take me hours to back it up/redownload everything[/b][/quote] I think it's worth a couple of hours to get your computer to run fast again.

[QUOTE=deathbringerhcm;17392713]Download CCleaner and run it.[/QUOTE] Trying that now, thanks. [quote=Second-gear-of-mgears] What is your Virus and Spyware program? It is possibly a virus... And CPU usage, if that is idle, that is horrible. [/quote] That was with my defragging program up, my web browser and my virus and spyware programs, which are Trend Micro PC-Cillin and PC Tools Spyware Doctor respectively. [quote=AntlionFTW]Remove stuff from starting up with computer. (Do run then msconfig) Try to update to latest drivers.[/quote] I'll try it, but what kind of drivers would I be looking for, and where would I find them (as you can probably tell by now I'm not very computer-savvy). [quote]And if nothing else works, Reformat the computer.[/quote] I will if nothing else works.

Use Defraggler, CCleaner, and Spybot S&D. Those will work wonders on your PC.

[QUOTE=Bredirish123;17392983]Use Defraggler, CCleaner, and Spybot S&D. Those will work wonders on your PC.[/QUOTE] This a million.

[QUOTE=Bredirish123;17392983]Use Defraggler, CCleaner, and Spybot S&D. Those will work wonders on your PC.[/QUOTE] Ok, I'll try those, thanks.

Turn of the feature that VIsta creates a million restore points

[QUOTE=SilentS;17392648]1. My hard drive isn't filled, still has ~32gb's of memory left. 2. I'm not sure, how would I check that? 3. Perhaps, but I have a virus program and a spyware program and would've probably detected that by now. 4. My CPU usage is at 55-70%; is that bad? 5. No; I just cleaned it out today. I've had this problem for a long time (a year give or take). My computer isn't real old and I think the specs on it are ok. Any other suggestions?[/QUOTE] I think CPU usage 55-70% at idle stage of pc is really bad. Mine pc is 15% CPU usage with Sims 3 running, Skype open. + Firefox with 10 tabs open. So I don't think it's alright.

[QUOTE=arleitiss;17395044]I think CPU usage 55-70% at idle stage of pc is really bad. Mine pc is 15% CPU usage with Sims 3 running, Skype open. + Firefox with 10 tabs open. So I don't think it's alright.[/QUOTE] Mine is at 10-20% now, I think I was doing something when it was at 55-70%.

mine gets to 70% when running UT3, Firefox and AIM/WLM also, CCleaner and Spybot S&D = fixed.