Computer Hope

Microsoft => Microsoft Windows => Windows 10 and 11 => Topic started by: vickster on May 10, 2021, 08:26:52 AM

Title: Don't know where to start
Post by: vickster on May 10, 2021, 08:26:52 AM
I'm having trouble with my laptop running slow. I have an Aspire E 15 with Windows 10. I have Malwarebytes and AVG installed. I'm not completely computer illiterate, but i'm not all that bright, i guess. Anyway, i know why my internet is slow, and i can deal with that (i live way out in the country) but my laptop is very slow to respond most of the time, if at all. There are times for instance, that i push ctrl/alt/delete 2 or 3 times for the page to come up where i can click on task manager. Same with trying to start weatherbug or itunes, just to mention a couple. Sometimes i have trouble closing programs too. I'm seriously thinking about doing a system restore  (? the one that takes it back to factory settings) because i'm getting so frustrated. If i do indeed decide to do that, should i save files and photos to a flash drive so i don't lose everything? Thanking all in advance for any help you can offer, and for bearing with my lack of knowledge.
just a side note: i was concerned about privacy and found an article by microsoft or possibly firefox(?). It had links to install certain programs so i have CookieAutoDelete, Privacy Badger, HTTPS Everywhere and Ghostery installed as well.
Just a side note, i have clicked on Preview twice and its not responding to that. I'll try clicking on Post and see what it does.
Title: Re: Don't know where to start
Post by: Lisa_maree on May 10, 2021, 02:39:18 PM
The quickest way to give the helpers here all the information they may need is to run speccy from here https://www.ccleaner.com/speccy/download
After you run it select file , publish snapshot. you you recieve a url link to the report please copy that url here for review.

If this is the model E15 I see specs on the internet for it shouldn't be running this slow. 
Title: Re: Don't know where to start
Post by: SuperDave on May 10, 2021, 03:55:58 PM
AVG is a resource hog and should be uninstalled. Windows Defender which comes with Windows 10 is adequate.
Title: Re: Don't know where to start
Post by: patio on May 10, 2021, 04:58:47 PM
+ + 1...
Title: Re: Don't know where to start
Post by: vickster on May 10, 2021, 07:20:27 PM
Lisa, is this what you were looking for? http://speccy.piriform.com/results/EUXtpfXStq3tU0VCfSsHhh3
Title: Re: Don't know where to start
Post by: Lisa_maree on May 10, 2021, 09:11:26 PM
What the others said about AVG. The more pressing problem is the warning on the Hard drive. The sector re allocation count is to high and there has been several times the laptop has been moved to activate the g force sensor. With the amount of data on the hard drive I would suggest getting a crucial 256GB SSD drive. You may need to take it to a tech to have it fitted. Here is a video on how to change the hard drive. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqRXHRyrrF4
Title: Re: Don't know where to start
Post by: mathis.ws on June 08, 2021, 09:39:25 AM
I'm having trouble with my laptop running slow. I have an Aspire E 15 with Windows 10. I have Malwarebytes and AVG installed. I'm not completely computer illiterate, but i'm not all that bright, i guess. Anyway, i know why my internet is slow, and i can deal with that (i live way out in the country) but my laptop is very slow to respond most of the time, if at all. There are times for instance, that i push ctrl/alt/delete 2 or 3 times for the page to come up where i can click on task manager. Same with trying to start weatherbug or itunes, just to mention a couple. Sometimes i have trouble closing programs too. I'm seriously thinking about doing a system restore  (? the one that takes it back to factory settings) because i'm getting so frustrated. If i do indeed decide to do that, should i save files and photos to a flash drive so i don't lose everything? Thanking all in advance for any help you can offer, and for bearing with my lack of knowledge.
just a side note: i was concerned about privacy and found an article by microsoft or possibly firefox(?). It had links to install certain programs so i have CookieAutoDelete, Privacy Badger, HTTPS Everywhere and Ghostery installed as well.
Just a side note, i have clicked on Preview twice and its not responding to that. I'll try clicking on Post and see what it does.

If you or someone you know is handy with a screwdriver... The simple way to make an old computer fast is order a Samsung 860 Pro SSD (should be less than $100 for a 512GB) and order a USB to SATA adaptor (usually $20).  Once you have the SSD just download the Samsung Migration Utility (only works with a Samsung Drive) and use it to image your computer to the SSD plugged into the USB.  Once that is done and shut down carefully remove the screws (google your specific model to learn where they hid them all) and install the SSD.  You computer will usually be 10-20 times faster (depending on if the old drive was almost dead or not).

Other notes,

Third-party cleanup software is not usually as helpful as it is harmful.  You can also remove all AV software make a separate Admin account so you can make your account a Standard user (to avoid viruses) and that will also speed you up quite a bit.  This will force Windows to ask you for a password before installing something and prevent you from accidentally installing a virus when you were not trying to install anything.  And it prevents hackers from ever having elevated privileges if they ever gain access to your machine.  Thus a simple reboot is all you need if you think you have a virus.

Besides that, you can uninstall any other bloatware you don't use.

Thanks,

Mike