Sloooooow Computer, please help!!!

[ilikemycomputer]

Recently, my computer has been running extremely sloooow. I watched the clock yesturday and it took about 42 minutes for it to start windows xp. It isn't any better in safe mode. Normally, it should fly down the list of drivers and files, but it took about 45 minutes to complete the list. I have AVG installed, but I don't think that a virus has anything to do with it. Please post as to how I may speed it up, or what might be wrong..

*It has a pentium 3 processor, and 512mb ddr ram, if that helps...

[unlovedwarrior]

What Operating System do you have?
When did this start?
What protections do you have installed on your computer?
Any new hardware or software installed on your computer before this started?
How big is your harddrive? how much free space do you have?
Are there any new icons on your taskbar and/or desktop or programs list

[ilikemycomputer]

Windows XP Pro, it started about a month ago, windows firewall, avg free, avg antispyware, 55gig harddrive - 33gigs are used, spybot search & destroy, i didn't knotice any new icons on the taskbar or desktop

UPDATE: I've plugged the harddrive into another computer, and it is still slooooow, so i booted up in linux and am doing virus scans and, malware scans.

[unlovedwarrior]

have you done the scans in safe mode

[patio]

Go to Control Panel/System/Hardware/Device Manager...
Open IDE/Atapi controllers.
Right clik Primary IDE and select Properties.
Clik on Advanced and post back what it reports...

[blackpaw]

I have same kinda problem but it doesnt go that slow takes about 5 minutes to start up usually takes 3 i did what u told him to do and heres list
i got.
Intell(r)82801AA Bust master IDE controller
Primary IDE channel
Secondary IDE channel

Do i have to uninstall one of these or what plas help me too!

[blackpaw]

NVM i fixed my problem ok what u gotta do is install tuneup utilities 2006(look around google) their should be a trial of it. install it and go to optimize and improve then click on system optimizer. hope that helps!

[ale52]

Sounds like your hard drive is going south.  Better back everything up and prepare to replace it.

Alan <>< 

[contrex]

what u gotta do is install tuneup utilities 2006

Why are you spamming us about this program?

[ilikemycomputer]

ok i will try tuneup utilities 2006, hopefully i can boot it up first