computer insanely slow, help!

excuse me, this is the only forum i really post on where people still reply



100%cpu usage like alll the time
reformat???

it is going insanely slow, very sure due to norton
and of course i cant disable norton
it is a $150 computer i got off new egg that came with a fake copy of windows
what is the closest i can get to a reformat without needing to reinstall a copy of windows (which i do not have)

also can anyone recommend me a cheap complete laptop that can handle simple browsing AND norton antivirus
this has two gigs of ram and 64gig hard drive, i figured it should be able to handle interneting just fine, but i guess im wrong

Two GB of RAM on Windows 7 will be the bare minimum. I sell a lot of refurbished laptops, and the ones with 2GB of RAM are the entry level ones. A $150 laptop can be had with 4GB of RAM and a larger hard drive without a problem. A 2GB machine is going to be like a Dell Latitude D630- it'll do the job, but there won't be much "left over" in terms of capacity.

Check to see what you have right now. Often, you can upgrade the RAM in there. Then, run a MalwareBytes scan, and you should be in better shape. Newegg usually has pretty good stuff, but I've never bought a refurbished PC (I of course use my own!), but I'm sorry to hear that.

Anyways, I'd try MalwareBytes, and posting your system model and basic specs here. You may just need a cheap little part....

one thing you might be having issues with is your hard drive...you MIGHT be almost full (ie using your swap file)...sometimes that can make the CPU run 100%...easiest thing is to do CRTL ALT Delete and start the task manager...click on processes tab and lets see what is running and how much memory it is taking up.

Take a screenshot or 2 and lets see what is running...do the same with the programs tab in the task manager. You might be running A TON of crap you don't need.

Oh. and GET NORTON THE F off your computer...it will suck your memory dry. Use AVG, Malwarebytes or avast...they are all FREE and KICK THE SH%^ out of Norton.

We also need to see if your hard drive needs cleaning and defragging as well.

Final thing is to know how much ram you have installed....let's see if you even have enough.

i was able to uninstall norton, and while it is no longer unsusable,it is still obscenely slow.

90/115gigs are free on the harddrive
i dont have a bunch of tabs open or addons added
pretty sure it was the norton


can i reformat this bizzzysnatch?

Ubuntu will cure the problem.

Download Ubuntu Desktop | Download | Ubuntu

Depending on your needs Ubuntu or other Linux operating system in place of Windows solves all problems not having to do with actual physical issues, ie bad ram, hard drive.

I test and sell computers and computer parts. I test the computer using Ubuntu on a usb stick or cd/dvd. If you down load a copy of the Ubuntu iso and I recommend you get the 32bit version, it will give you the option of installing or testing Ubuntu on your computer.

Here is one of many links for Ubuntu on youtube.


What this does for me is do a fairly good test on all the working parts of a computer including wifi, on line operating, video etc. I do this in the "Try Ubuntu without installing"

Good luck Mike

main issue I see is you only have 2gb of RAM....THAT is a HUGE problem. 2gb will get you up and running, but then you open Chrome, Word, outlook etc...you are toast.

Not sure why you have 4 chrome.exe running....that is 4 instances of chrome running which make little sense as you should only have 1. Close and reopen chrome and see if all those goes away. I stop and reload all my tabs on Firefox every so often...but then again I typically have 1.5GB of tabs running in just Firefox daily.....this is why I don't screw around and have 16gb of ram.

Norton was your #1 issue certainly...especially with only 2gb of ram.

Get one of the free antivirus we mentioned, download and run malewarebytes (I actually also typically run spybot search and destroy....also free) to get rid of any malware/spyware, and ABOVE ALL, get at least 4gb TOTAL ram installed (assuming yours can run that, it should)....it is CHEAP, Stupidly cheap. Also easy to install most likely...even if you did it yourself.

With all due respect to everyone who is suggesting Ubuntu...is it NOT an OS for the average user. Most people just want to fire their computer up and run Word, Excel, Outlook etc....they want to play games sometimes...all these things are not the same with Linux (not even close) as with a Windows machine, hell even a MAC (and no I do not particularly like Mac's). Linux is certainly good at what it does...but the average user just needs a Windows machine....and in this case Win 7 is a great OS to work with. He just needs more memory and probably some cleaning out of some crap on his machine.

Ubuntu isn't your solution either. You have 2GB of RAM- that's just not enough for Unity (The graphical manager behind Ubuntu).

If that was a Newegg machine, it's probably a Dell OptiPlex. They should all support 4GB of RAM. Do that first- you won't have the power to do much else otherwise. RAM is cheap, and if that's a 745 or 755, you should be able to use the really cheap 1GB sticks.

Linux is a great OS. I have it on all but two of the machine that I use. When those machines are replaced, they'll go Linux. That'll be a while though, and it's certainly not a move for the faint of heart. I'm very knowledgeable and experienced with computers- that's a must for Linux. Most times it does what you need just fine, but there isn't much support behind it for when there are issues. I love Linux, but I wouldn't recommend it for the OP.

Your CPU should be good enough. But, you're at 71% RAM usage. That's way too high. Boost it to 4GB, and she'll run like an entirely different computer.

Originally Posted by bluemeate

I couldn't edit the post:
it is a dell laditude D630 laptop
I can just pop it open and throw in a stick of ram with very little know-how regarding computers? plug and play, it will just make itself work??

In general YES you can...it is harder than a desktop for sure, but not really hard. There should be a youtube video on it (might as well see it done)...and yes it will be plug and play. You will only have 2 slots instead of 4 for a desktop....this unit will only support a MAX of 4gn of ram....you will need to get 2 sticks of 2gb EACH. The only issue I saw is that you can only get to 1 stick from the back...the other is under the keyboard. I would NOT try this unless you are comfortable doing it (ie not a beginner). Just take it somewhere cna get it installed...a computer shop, not Best Buy (they will jack you on price).

This will get you up and online with some basic computing...but this laptop is NOT going to be a desktop replacement, run a bunch of games etc...it just isn't that kinda of horse....but it will certainly do the basics once you get 4gb of ram installed.

the morons that sold people that 1gb of ram was sufficient should have their asses kicked.

The D623/D630 is annoying. One slot is under the keyboard.

hmmm it deleted the post before my most recent. annoying.

what I would really like to do is reformat the computer. no one ever answered whether I could reformat without the install disk. also my copy of windows isnt valid so Idk what the effect of that will be.

every time I boot up. there is an option to system restore. can I just hit this without encountering further problems.
typed offmy phone

I posted previously that hd is and always has been mostly emptied.
also that 70% CPU usage was an anomaly
it has typically been at 100% cpu usage
I posted this all before but the post got deleted :/

so I just opened up show processes fr all users, and now its a huge list with that svchost.exe guy using upnmost the resources
(trying to install printer hardware to print my own passport photo to save $10bux charge from riteaide... spent 2+ he's trying to print this photo by now :/

once again can I hit that system restore button I've seen at bootup without owning the boot up disk and/or a legit copy of windows?

you can try this...will only work if the recovery partition is on there from Dell.

I posted previously that hd is and always has been mostly emptied.
also that 70% CPU usage was an anomaly
it has typically been at 100% cpu usage
I posted this all before but the post got deleted :/

so I just opened up show processes fr all users, and now its a huge list with that svchost.exe guy using upnmost the resources
(trying to install printer hardware to print my own passport photo to save $10bux charge from riteaide... spent 2+ he's trying to print this photo by now :/

once again can I hit that system restore button I've seen at bootup without owning the boot up disk and/or a legit copy of windows?