Computer Running Slow

[Billbrad]

I have a problem with my desktop computer. For the last two years about every six months it will run really slow. It will take forever to load and also after it boots, it crawls. When the status bar during windows xp pro starts, it does one box every few seconds. My hard drive is a sata maxtor 500gb 7h500F0. I blew out any dust in the machine, but that doesn't help. It usually takes a day or two or maybe longer for the computer to get back up to its speed. I have fans pointed on my HD so I don't think it is a cooling problem. The cables to the drive and mb look tight and in place. I think its weird because it seems like the drive is about to fail, but then runs normal for another six months. Is there a problem with these maxtor drives or any drive made by them? Maybe the drive is too fragmented, cable is bad, or something. May it be a motherboard issue, or too much dust on the cpu fan? I have no idea what is causing this. Has anyone had this same problem? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[IBEPCWIZ]

Could be heat or connection..... Do you ever clean out your system? IF not i use CCleaner for that. What heat are you running at

 

[awildgoose]

I am currently working on a guide that will help you greatly.

http://www.computerforum.com/146844-how-make-you-computer-faster.html

If you don't want to read it I will say now.

Do a disk defrag and a disk cleanup. Run Ccleaner like the other guy said.
Now something that will make heaps of difference.

Open run and then type "msconfig".
Go into startup and uncheck all the programs you don't want to start up when you turn on the computer, Don't uncheck anything that is a Microsoft program!!!1
Now still in msconfig go into the BOOT.INI tab and click on advanced options.
Check /NUMPROC and type how many cores you have in your processor (if more than one) and also check /MAXMEM and type how much RAM you have (it's in Megabytes so 1G is 1024, 2G is 2048 etc).

That should help heaps.

 

[Billbrad]

My temps are CPU 36 C, Local 30 C, Remote 31 C, HD 28 C. I'm running an older processor - 2.8ghz Intel Pentium 4 northwood, intel mb. win xp. I have an intake and output fan on my power supply, a Fan on the processor, and two case fans. The temperature outside where I live just started going from 50-60's F to now around 74 F. I remember that when it used to get warm in the summer, I would have to crank the AC or point a fan into the case by leaving the side open. Last night it was 74 F and hot and the computer was turning on, but not usable because it was barely crawling. One thing I can think of is to upgrade my dinasour of a case which I got way back when I has a PII processor. The negatives about this case is that the power supply sits close over the processor fan which probably is a bad design for a new processor giving off more heat. I think because of the heat in the case, I have to always run the computer with the side panel off for air flow, but dust probably gets in easier with it open. Is it better to keep the case closed by just getting a bigger case for better inside air flow? The temp on my processor just rose to 45 C during high cpu use for a short moment.