Trying to help a friend that knows less than me. It runs very slow. I have run chkdsk twice, defraged 3 times, checked task manager for any funky processes, installed Spybot and got rid of a bunch of junk, updated Norton and ran a full scan - it took 7 hours! on a 30 gb HD with only 8 GB of files! THe only thing I found that seems odd is the DMA settings for the HD controller - the primary channel is UDMA mode 2, and the secondary channel is UDMA mode 5, but I don't know how to change it - IF that's a problem. So, a lot of work, and it's still really slow, although a little better. ANy ideas out there?

The DMA settings are fine. Leave them the way they are. Go to Start - Run and type MSCONFIG. On the General tab, uncheck the Startup list. Save the new settings and restart the computer. Repost with the results. Tomorrow the Stars!

If you have not used Mscofig before here is page that explains it. How to use MSCONFIG Also on the page is link to an extensive list of startup programs both good and bad. Startup Applications List Norton's is a real system hog but 7 hours is a bit excessive. Plus Norton has been know to slow system do, just do a search on it any you will find tons of stuff on it. If the subscription to Nortons is running out , I would consider changing antivirus software. Never say Never Romeo Void Firefox 1.5.0.4 A Safer Browser Thunderbird 1.5.0.4

Look for 2 things in msconfig, first is remove any entry that does not show a name in the Startup Item and shows entries for command and location, these can slow the system because it is trying to find a non-existent program and takes time to see there isn't one. Second look for entries that don't have valid program names such as a54re2145.exe. These are typically some type of spyware. You stated that Spybot was run, did you do update on it to get the latest data files? I also use AdAware and Spy Sweeper to check systems since they can each find entries the other ones did not catch. As noted try and post results. Good luck Richard

First, thanks to all for the help. I had looked at the startup list with msconfig, but didn't see anything that looked strange. But of course a lot of the names are undecipherable, BCMSMMSG.exe for example. When I taught AP Comp Sci, I always said Comp Sci majors should be required to be English minors so they could communicate with regular people (OK off the soapbox) I did go in to startup and turn off everything and then everything except those which were in the system and Norton folders. There was one blank line, realplay and quicktime, which I have seen cause problems before. Since it is used for e-mail, a little surfing and playing solitare, those aren't needed. It has noticibly helped although I didn't see it before it "got slow", so I don't know how it compares. But this machine is owned by a couple in their 70s and so I've got to keep it simple for them. They obviously had never defraged the HD, for example. Wish me luck tryong to explain it all to them. Thanks again