Computer slow-down

[mumper]

Hi,

My PC has has slowed right down since yesterday (we did have a power cut last night). Things are taking longer to do - does anyone have any ideas as to what causes this?

I've done a disk clean-up and at the moment I am defraging - should this cure the problem?

Thanks in advance

 

[Richard Conyard]

I'd have a quick look at the bios settings to see what speed your processor is running at.

 

[Andy @ BlueLight Creative]

Also - It might be nothing to do with the power cut.

Try checking for adware, viruses etc...

Andy

 

[chris1317]

It depends if the power cut did any damage, usualy nothing will happen but occasionaly it can cause problems.

Id run a chkdsk also to see if there are any errors

If your running Windows XP also check the system event log for any errors.

Chris.

 

[mumper]

Sorry Richard - I know absolutely nothing about how computers work - where do I find the bios settings?

 

[mumper]

Thanks to all for your replies - I did a virus check and caught a couple of Trojans (whatever they are) and got rid of them - seems to have done the trick


Thanks again

 

[Jayne]

Hi,

Did you find out where the bio settings etc are. I was reading your posts hoping to learn something too. I'm glad i'm not the only novice. Found a great learning site (FREE), i'll email it to you. Haven't found what bio's are yet or that other stuff they told you to do!

Best Wishes

Jayne

 

[Richard Conyard]

The BIOS can be found normally on starting your machine - there will be a prompt to his DEL or ESC to access it.

Once in there be careful because you could end up trashing your machine.

 

[mumper]

Hi Jayne, thank you for that - no I'm still no nearer to knowing about bios but the problem is cured now - hopefully!

I don't mind admitting to not knowing something - none of us knew anything until we asked :wink:

 

[Jayne]

Think I'll leave my bio's alone then! Knowing me i'll muck it up, i'll play with my bio's later when I know more about computers.

Thanks, at least I know where they are now!

Jayne

 

[chris1317]

Your BIOS is your computers "Basic Imput Output System", it controls the settings for the hardware in your PC. It is loaded when you boot up your PC before it starts loading Windows.

It is stored on a chip on your PC motherboard

Chris.

 

[Jayne]

Why can they not just say that then, instead of making up stupid names etc. Maybe one of you book writers out there could make a computer dictionary for us thickies!

Thank You

Jayne

 

[CG Effect]

Messing with the bios settings is like taking your car engine apart to see if you can make it run better. The bios is the last place to look and you need your motherboard manual to know what each setting does. Most good motherboards have default settings that auto detect your hardware messing with those settings can cause your hard drive to not boot up or your cpu to over heat or run too slow.

I would only recomend updating the bios chip if your motherboard has two of them or its a new motherboard if you update it wrong.

 

[Julie]

Are you lot speaking English?

When we wrote our IT section, even though Microsoft helped us with the 'jargon buster' some of the definitions were almost as complicated as the original words! In the end, we all had to 're-jargon-bust' the busted jargon...

If you get what I mean.

Julie

 

[Cornish Steve]

I don't mind admitting to not knowing something - none of us knew anything until we asked

"The only stupid question is the one never asked."

 

[Anonymous]

Last time my PC dramatically ran slow it was due to an infestation of viruses. These were mostly Trojan Horses and several diallers. I tried everything but to avail (I run Norton Antivirus, Firewall) and use Spybot. Ended up restoring my PC from the start-up disc!!

 

[CG Effect]

I could of said fish 'n' chips instead of bios and beer instead of motherboard but i don't think it would of helped.

 

[chris1317]

I agree, theres no need to make things over complicated but when you are speaking about something technical you have to speak with some degree of technicality otherwise the message is lost.

Chris.

 

[Webstuff]

For those of you who don't know, a "Trojan" is designed to allow someone else to access files on and control your computer.