CPU Usage @ 100% - Slowing down computer big time

need suggestions

[Compworld]

Here's my computer config:

P IV 2.8GHZ @ 533
512MB 2700 DDR SDRAM

When I try to launch two big programs, such as AOL & Outlook 2003, the computer freezes until I close one of them down. I do not know if it is because of MSFT Office 03, but it didn;t happen with 2000 & AOL together. Anyway, does anyone know what I need to do in order to multi-task again with big programs?

Thanks,

CompWorld

[bnhall]

Could be lack of memory, or get a good adware/virus checker.

[AmericanBulldog]

I'm with bnhall on this, I would get a good virus and adware checker, these programs should load at the same time, I'm on a less powerful machine with the same memory and have those and 24 other windows open!

That said, I would reccomend 1 gig of ram or more on any new machine.

[kwngian]

Could also be an overheating issue. Get a gigantic system fan and blow it directly to your CPU and see if it is better.

You can also test if this is the problem by opening up the casing and run a fan directly at it.

[NeedScripts]

I am not sure if you have already tried this or not, but you can try pressing ctrl+alt+delete and it will open-up windows task manager and under processes you can see what it taking up most cpu usage.

hope this helps.

NS

[Raymond]

Normally Outlook and other MS Office aren't such "big" programs that would slow down your computer especially with your current configuration.

As NeedScripts said, you should examine each process and see what is really going on in your computer.

[vkaryl]

One of our office machines had this problem a week ago. At fault? Bagle worm. The "remover" didn't work, and eventually the machine had to be "cleaned" by reformatting the drive.... after having put another hdd into it with the OS pre-installed so the data on the "dirty" drive could be moved to the new drive (due to terminal stupidity re backups by the "IT specialist" *sigh*).

[onlineleben]

Had a massive slowdown caused by a dialer blocking software. In the beginning everything worked fine and it didn't slow down the machine, but after about a year it became a nightmare. Finally uninstalling the program (free trial had expired) solved the spped problem.

[Leosghost]

those are not big progs at all for the config you have ..look for virii and BHO's ...dialers ..scumware ...

[Compworld]

I run Spybot @ Ad-aware daily, it's neither those two options. I use Zone Alarm w/ built in anti-virus, so it should not be that either. I guess I will purchase another 512K of RAM and see if that improves anything.

Thanks,

CompWorld

[longen]

Restart Windows in Safe Mode and have a look around

[Raymond]

It sounds like your sockets are in blocking mode, which always freezes the system.

Are you on dialup? Try making Outlook to "work offline" to see if the situation improves.

[Compworld]

Nope, broadband. It only happens with Outlook 03, not Word, Excel, etc. Very strange.

CompWorld

[UDaMan]

Just a thought, could it be a corrupt personal folder? MS provide a utility called scanpst.exe that should fix it. You could always check this before hand by removing the personal folders from your mail settings in control panel (noting their paths first), just remove them and fire up Outlook to test.