Windows XP slow to open applications

I think that it is your virus checker scanning the executing program to make sure it is not malicious.

much RAM you got?

Windows XP.
On opening any application, the delay is getting worse (now 15-20secs)
I have defragged, Deleted Various old/unused programs and even threated the size 10.
I followed the steps from a previous thread on this topic, with no success.
I have found an application AppSvc32.exe that seems to be using some 30-40 cpu units during and for 15-20 secs after opening the application.
We are using the latest 2007 NORTON Package.
Whats up, or is it time to get the pros around?

Open Norton Protection Center
Click on Norton AntiVirus tab at top
Expand "Settings" and scroll down to bottom for Additional Options -> Virus and Spyware Protection Options
On the left-hand side of the screen that pops up, click on General Settings under Manual Scanning
Uncheck the second item, which should be "Scan active programs and start-up files"
Again, on the left-hand side, click on General Settings under LiveUpdate
Uncheck the second box there, too. It should be "Run quick scan whenever protection updates have been received"

Hi there,

Try to disable your Norton Antivirus and see the behavior of your applications and how much time consumes when opens it.

Then let me know.

Thanks,

L][nk

Big smiles all round
Thank you very much
Followed CYBERDYNE steps and bingo- my baby's back
Dumb question department but where does one find RAM properties
We are JAPANESE Performance Transmission Specialists.
If we can help anyone with any transmission issues feel free to email us
Again many thanks

if you right click on my computer, and go to properties it should say in there :)

You can open Task Manager by Cliking CTRL+ALT+DEL
then choose processes tab.
and you will see your all programs runnig.
End the program you do not want, to be your pc faster.

ATTENTION: DO NOT END THE SYSTEM PROGRAMS, AND DO NOT END THE EXPLORER.EXE

if you end the explorer.exe you do not see your windows, to fix the problem bring TASK MANAGER, Click FILE form the menu then choose new task then write explorer

ATRAN

Windows XP.
On opening any application, the delay is getting worse (now 15-20secs)
I have defragged, Deleted Various old/unused programs and even threated the size 10.
I followed the steps from a previous thread on this topic, with no success.
I have found an application AppSvc32.exe that seems to be using some 30-40 cpu units during and for 15-20 secs after opening the application.
We are using the latest 2007 NORTON Package.
Whats up, or is it time to get the pros around?

My friend, RevBooter, may be on to something. I've seen systems slow way down when memory is low (lots of page swapping). If you have less that 512MB, get more.

It's telling me I have 224MB of RAM
How does one increase the RAM?
Can you pour it in floopy disc hole (kidding)

Opened Task Manager
Some 29-30 processes are usually running
Where can I find what programs need to run and what are just wasting space?

very low, especially if you have windows xp service pack 2 running. i would generally recommend at least 512MB RAM for xp sp2. anything less than that and it just complains over silly things... if you go to www.crucial.com it has a nice little utility that scans your computer, and tells you which memory module is right for your system. check out here for how to install into laptops http://www.helpwithpcs.com/upgrading...top-memory.htm and here for desktops http://www.helpwithpcs.com/upgrading...memory_ram.htm . you should also see alot more juice available for your system. with regards to the processes running, windows has a lot of processes running in the background. best way is just to open task manager, type in the process into google, and have a little nosey around... unless one particularly jumps out at you, do no worry. the cpu usage should be sitting around 99 idle anyway, unless you have anti-virus or a particular process hungry application running! also if you go to start, run, and type "eventvwr" and have a little nosey around, and make sure there is nothing worrying! happy upgrading :D

[quote=Cyberdyne]Open Norton Protection Center
Click on Norton AntiVirus tab at top
Expand "Settings" and scroll down to bottom for Additional Options -> Virus and Spyware Protection Options..................

I had noticed my drive light always flashing and my laptop slowing down. Even though its a few years old its always been quick enough.Recently installed Norton. Followed your advice on Norton settings now seems to be ok. Am I at any risk by disabling these settings though??

Thank you.

Open Norton Protection Center
Click on Norton AntiVirus tab at top
Expand "Settings" and scroll down to bottom for Additional Options -> Virus and Spyware Protection Options
On the left-hand side of the screen that pops up, click on General Settings under Manual Scanning
Uncheck the second item, which should be "Scan active programs and start-up files"
Again, on the left-hand side, click on General Settings under LiveUpdate
Uncheck the second box there, too. It should be "Run quick scan whenever protection updates have been received"

Hi - I followed the instructions above, but my applications are still taking 30-40 seconds to open. This is a new computer witn WinXP. Yesterday after I finished all the installs everything was opening in 1-2 seconds. I have Office 2003 installed and have some shortcuts to databases on the desktop. Now when I click the shortcut the application takes 'forever" to open. If I receive a Word attachment, and click on it in the email, Word takes a very long time to open. However, if I save the attachment to a folder and then open Word, the application and the file open immediately. What do I have set wrong? Norton AntiVirus 2008 is onboard and I have changed the settings as you recommended.

Wandap

I found that I could eliminate these delays for Microsoft applications by doing the following:

Start button -> Control Panel
Click on Folder Options icon
Select concerned file type (doc, xls, rtf, etc.) - this procedure must be done separately for each one
Select the Advanced button on the Folder Options menu
Select the Open option in the Actions list and click the Edit button
Make the following changes to "Application used to perform action" field

• Ensure it does not have the /dde switch

• Ensure it has this suffix (note the quotes): "%1"

• Keep other existing switches. For example, my entry for MS Word now looks like this for this field:

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\WINWORD.EXE" /n "%1"

Delete the text in the DDE message field
Click the OK button on the Edit Action menu
Click the OK button on the Edit File Type menu
Click the Close button on the Edit File Type menu
Enjoy your responsive opening of the application.

Everyone has all had really good points here, however let us all not forget another important thing to do on a weekly to monthly bases is to perform a "disk defrag" on your Hard Drive. This will improve performance as well...

Now you do have a low amount of RAM and with ever evolving technology it is becoming a lot more necessary for a user to be running 2 + gigs of RAM. It sounds like your PC maybe older so you might only be able to cap it out at 1gig or right at 2 gigs. You could also change your Paging size to allow your Hard Drive to help with some cache.

In case some didn’t explain how to obtain new RAM here are some instructions for you.

1. Find out the Brand of your PC "Make & model number" You can usually find this located on your PC's Tower.

2. Go to the manufactures website for example "hp.com" find their support section and type in your Serial Number located on your PC tower.

3. Once you located your machine look for "Specifications" You will be seeking your RAM or aka Memory.

4. You can order more RAM from your manufacture but in most cases I do not suggest this as you tend to pay for a name rather than the item it’s self. A great source is "newegg.com"

5. If the site didn’t list your RAM type or max size you can call support and ask them exactly which type to get and how much your machine will support.

Instructions for changing your paging memory

1. Go to "Start >: RIGHT CLICK: My Computer > Properties.

2. Your System Properties will then be displayed, Go to the "Advanced tab"
3. Under the "Advanced tab find "Performance & click on: Settings:"

4. Click on the "Advanced tab & look for: Virtual Memory: click on Change"

5. Now there are a few options here you can either let your system decided, in fact that might already be your default. But if you have an initial size and max size already set, I always found it best to match both initial and max size to the same value that your initial is set to. You could also use 2048 - 2048 or 4092 - 4092.

These steps are for Windows XP SP2 & newer.

To run Disk Defragment do the following.

1.Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter

2.Once Disk Defragmenter is open simply hit “Defragment”

3.Do not try and use your PC at this point while this program is running as it is very intensive on your machine and will cause a lot of lag if you are trying to do anything.

NOTE: This operation can take up to several hours to complete so it is best to let it run over night epically if you have never ran it before, once you start running it more often it will not take as long because your hard drive will stay nice and organized.

This concludes the steps you need to follow to help improve system performance, some suggestions where already made by experts and possible steps but just in case here they are. Good luck.

-Chris

Hi
I have win xp, 2 meg of ram and still my files are slow to open. Helllp!!!

My subscription to mcaffee finiished so i completely uninstalled it. Check to see if files were any faster. No is the answer.

It is slow when i open all files and also when i right click a file to see properties it takes ages to open that.

If i open the program first (like word, dreamweaver etc) and open the file from that program, ie go to 'file', then 'open' it is instant.

Can anybody help please

Chris

Had the same problem (2GB RAM, recently defraged all hard disks) and just fixed a few minutes ago.

Go to "Control Panel" -> "Administrative Tools" -> "Services", find and stop the following services:

Network DDE
Network DDE DSDM

Note, you may be prompted that the depending services will also be stopped, e.g. "ClipBook", do it but record all the services you stopped so you can start them if you need them later.

There are a few very good reasons why applications take slow to open, no matter what operating system you use.

Here are the reasons:
1. Not enough RAM (512MB isn't sufficient if you are into multitasking)
Between 1 and 2 GB is what you need in today's world.
2. The antivirus programs that you use may be using too much
memory, and checks every application you try to use before it opens, hence
slowing down the opening process.
Norton is notorious for doing this, and the others that follow suit are
AVG, and Avast antivirus programs which I have thoroughly
tested.
My recommendation is to use Windows Security Essentials which is
a free program from microsoft.
3. Build up of invalid files in registry, cache, and junk files, including the build up
of files in Windows\Prefetch folder. These need to be cleared
regularly.

Once all of the above has been taken care of, reboot your system and you will notice the difference.
One more minor detail .... do a speed test before you make changes, then run another speed test after you have made the changes and notice the difference.

Speed test link: http://www.speedtest.net/

Cheers, and Happy computing.

Majong

In the end you can just disable the indexing service; Control panel -> Administrative Tools -> Services -> find Indexing Service, right click, properties, Start-up Type = Disabled;

Net result, searching for documents using windows search might be slightly slower, but if you only use this feature once in a while the advice is to turn it off. Problem solved.

Morten

I tried this (turning off real-time protection) and my opening/closing lag with Firefox went away. My thanks

I should note that it did not fix my lag when opening OpenOffice, which I'll have to deal with another way.

There are several reasons in this regards.Mainly this happens when your registry full of different useless things and when your hard drive have no space. In this purpose you can use PC Registry Shield. I hope it will very effective