A Computer Problem

[horologist]

I am running XP on a Dell Latitude laptop that has been a workhorse for a long while (about three, maybe four years).

I do intend to be arguing any point. I am just trying to determine what is going on with this laptop.

If this is recent behavior and you haven't installed or changed anything then I would start with a spyware check. I use Spybot...

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

Whenever my computer starts to behave strangely I know it is time to run a check.

If you are running such a program and your computer is clean, you might check to see if your hard drive needs defragmenting.

That's the best I can do at the moment, perhaps something else will occur while I'm pushing the #$%^&& lawn mower.


Troy

[tom_k/mo]

Something else to remember, Windows utilizes Virtual Memory, which is the swap file on your drive. Even with no active programs running, you CAN have valid drive access from cached writee and clearing the VM memory.

[knottymind]

My laptop had the same issue until I got rid of Norton Antivirus in place of Trend Micro. It crippled my laptop. Like you, nothing showed in task manager and processes running showed only a few % resources taken up. I think Norton was doing behind the scene scans but can't say for sure. There's some web articles on Norton running scans too frequently. Too bad for Norton. I had been with them for 10 years.

Don't hesitate to post anything about any subject. We all have 'issues' we can help each other with. That's what community forum is for.

Norton is very troublesome for the user re slowed down performance. Protection is one thing but that's all it cared about at the expense of performance. Left little control to user. I use AVAST now. It's free and rated highly. There's a pay version but I've had it for a couple years and no problem.

[burkhome]

I have 19 computers at the hardware store. We used free AVG for individual protection for years and someone suggested Avast was better. Changed all units. In 2 months I had 2 units with a virus. Had shop repair them and went back to AVG. Not an expert, just my experience. My experience with Norton is the same as everyone else. Memory hog.

[Stitch]

I agree with the comments about Norton but Norton is no longer part of my problem. I have stripped my laptop down to the OS and and a recent version of Microsoft Office for Windows. I have also loaded MSN so that I can get to the forum. The problem persists so I have concluded that I either have a hardware problem or I have something configured incorrectly. I am going to start by revised my virtual memory allocation. Also, I may need more RAM as I have a minimum amount.

[Ed in Tampa]

When you do a control alt delete you bring up a list of all the processes running check to see if WUAUCLT.exe is one of them.

If it is click on it and halt it. Does you disk stop?

Do a find for the WUAUCLT.exe you should have only one copy and it should be in the system32 file. If you have more than one delete them.

I believe WUAUCLT is a Windows update module and for some reason it goes nuts. Do some searches and note all the hits.

Some people say delete it and do your updates manually. Frankly I think one or two of the Spam programs mess with it and it goes goofy. I got one of those fake trojans that try to get you to install a fake virus prog and ever since my WUAUCLT goes nuts. I just this week found I had two copies one in place it shouldn't have been deleted it and things are better. I tempted to delete WUAUCLT and get a new copy. Haven't done that yet.

[JPG]

I agree with the comments about Norton but Norton is no longer part of my problem. I have stripped my laptop down to the OS and and a recent version of Microsoft Office for Windows. I have also loaded MSN so that I can get to the forum. The problem persists so I have concluded that I either have a hardware problem or I have something configured incorrectly. I am going to start by revised my virtual memory allocation. Also, I may need more RAM as I have a minimum amount.

This would increase the need to page to virtual memory as mentioned by tom_k/mo above.

Does the access occur with ONLY Firefox active?

[tom_k/mo]

I agree with the comments about Norton but Norton is no longer part of my problem. I have stripped my laptop down to the OS and and a recent version of Microsoft Office for Windows. I have also loaded MSN so that I can get to the forum. The problem persists so I have concluded that I either have a hardware problem or I have something configured incorrectly. I am going to start by revised my virtual memory allocation. Also, I may need more RAM as I have a minimum amount.

If you have a minimum amount of RAM, your system will be making even mure use of Virtual Memory. That could very easily be your problem.

[Ed in Tampa]

Just got back from the Microsoft forums and there is a known problem with Microsoft update WUAUCLT, see http://social.answers.microsoft.com/For ... dcf9a9a03b

My guess this is your problem. It probably started in early August.

No fix yet, there is a work around you turn off Microsoft updates
Note This is not Windows updates. Go to the above link and read the whole thing.

Personally I'm leaving my machine as is until MS develops a fix instead of a work around.

I just turn my machine on immediately in the morning and wait for the disk to stop thrashing, then everything is okay until my next power on.

[keakap]

My 2 cents:
I agree w/ Norton. Bad news. On one PC I "got rid of it", but in fact not all of it went. I had to reinstall windows to clear all of Norton's stealth baggage. Never did find out what it was doing, other than writing Vast amounts of stuff to the net, for no apparent reason.

AVG is good for me. A little hard to stop all auto updates and scans, but it can be done. Background scans EAT resources, despite "background".

I've not had those particular Windows probs mentioned, but have had others. I Always suspect Windows. It's like a reverse warranty.

Good luck!