I reformatted my mother-in-laws 900mhz Pentium III computer and reinstalled WinXp SP2 from my slightly-less-than-legal copy recently (2 weeks ago).  The thing was running fine, albeit somewhat slowly (for a 900mhz machine), but nothing too bad.  Installed the standard stuff like Firefox and AVG etc...

I have just received a call on my cell stating that she can barely use her computer because it is godawful slow.  Her internet connection speed in particular is terrible (~7.0 KB/s).  I told her to download AdAware and run it (it'll take 50mins to download), and to uninstall her damn eGames toolbar.

But, is it just malware and spyware (accumulated over a 2 week span) that would cause such a serious slow down?  I am skeptical.

Does microsoft cripple any none-genuine windows installs somehow?  Disables key services or the like?

Any other ideas on how to speed up the internet connection and/or PC in general?  My next step will be to remove all the fancy XP skins and effects.

Thanks for input.

Non-genuine installs just don't get updates and if the user doesn't know what he's doing, he'll end up installing Genuine advantage that will basically nag him constantly to get a legit copy.

Now, spyware and malware can really do whacky shit to the pc.
For example, the other day I had gotten a trojan that prevented javascript from working on a particular site (Mine) with a particular browser.

How much RAM does it have? Either she installed something "omgwtfexplode" (prolly by accident, clicked "YOU ARE TEH 6059 WINNERZ CLICK HERE THIS AIN NO JOKEZ") or WinXP won't run nicely on those specifications. I'd probably install 2000 instead but iunno.

How much does your mother know about computers?

I think 512mb.  And next to nothing.  She uses it to play Bridge online at MSN gaming.

Uh oh, knowing next to nothing + MSN gaming = bad times ​.

Non-genuine installs just don't get updates and if the user doesn't know what he's doing, he'll end up installing Genuine advantage that will basically nag him constantly to get a legit copy.

Non-genuine installs do get updates, which is how they are able to install WGA in the first place. Make sure she has all the updates installed from the little shield in the system tray (except WGA of course). Also try Spybot and even an antivirus like AVG just in case.
And I suggest installing firefox or opera as IE is just plain unsafe.

Ad-ware is very crippling, just one instance completely cut off my internet, another one was taking 70% cpu load, so that's well within ad-ware's performance corroding ability.

Non-genuine installs do get updates, which is how they are able to install WGA in the first place. Make sure she has all the updates installed from the little shield in the system tray (except WGA of course). Also try Spybot and even an antivirus like AVG just in case.
And I suggest installing firefox or opera as IE is just plain unsafe.

Ad-ware is very crippling, just one instance completely cut off my internet, another one was taking 70% cpu load, so that's well within ad-ware's performance corroding ability.

I know, but I was after the impression that AFTER WGA, you couldn't get any more.

I know, but I was after the impression that AFTER WGA, you couldn't get any more.

Actually even after failing validation they can still get critical updates.

Lord Kamina : kentona :It's not related to your problem, but you can turn off some of the "flashy" OS effects to minimize resources/cpu usage, and make the UI more responsive.

goto control panel/system/advanced/performance->settings
and set it to "custom" and ONLY enable font smoothing. If you like the default win xp skin you can enable the bottom-most option ("use visual styles on buttons and windows").

also goto control panel/display properties/appearance/effects
and turn off the top option. It's known to be a memory leak, and also wastes resources/cpu usage.

EDIT: not lord kamina...

Actually even after failing validation they can still get critical updates.

Lord Kamina : It's not related to your problem, but you can turn off some of the "flashy" OS effects to minimize resources/cpu usage, and make the UI more responsive.

goto control panel/system/advanced/performance->settings
and set it to "custom" and ONLY enable font smoothing. If you like the default win xp skin you can enable the bottom-most option ("use visual styles on buttons and windows").

also goto control panel/display properties/appearance/effects
and turn off the top option. It's known to be a memory leak, and also wastes resources/cpu usage.

Hm, I think you meant kentona.
Either way, I didn't know about that option under Effects. I suppose it won't hurt to turn it off. :P

That's the plan.  I went over there on Saturday night but didn't even boot the computer (we played Settlers of Catan and Rock Band instead - yeah, I rocked out to Detroit Rock City with my mother-in-law).

I had installed both Opera and Firefox when I rebuilt the machine, but *sigh* during the call she asked me "What's a Firefox?"  "A browser," I replied.  "Do I need it?" she asked.  "Well, it's a really good browser," I answered.  "Oh..."  Something tells me that she won't be using Firefox.

I do plan on taking out a lot of the graphical nicities, as well as checking msconfig for startup items.

That's the plan.  I went over there on Saturday night but didn't even boot the computer (we played Settlers of Catan and Rock Band instead - yeah, I rocked out to Detroit Rock City with my mother-in-law).

I had installed both Opera and Firefox when I rebuilt the machine, but *sigh* during the call she asked me "What's a Firefox?"  "A browser," I replied.  "Do I need it?" she asked.  "Well, it's a really good browser," I answered.  "Oh..."  Something tells me that she won't be using Firefox.

I do plan on taking out a lot of the graphical nicities, as well as checking msconfig for startup items.

If you want her to use firefox, why not just make a firefox shortcut with the internet explorer icon and rename it to internet explorer.  It's a lot easier than explaining to her the difference between the two, and its doubtful that she will ever know that she has been duped.

If you want her to use firefox, why not just make a firefox shortcut with the internet explorer icon and rename it to internet explorer.  It's a lot easier than explaining to her the difference between the two, and its doubtful that she will ever know that she has been duped.

IMO you should do that with Opera and then you can make it mimic IE's layout as well, so she won't notice the change.

I totally agree with you on that Atari. I prefer firefox and have done that trick many a time and long as you move the favorites they usually won't notice or care. But lord kamina has a point, if she wont notice firefox, she won't notice opera... and even firefox is starting to get hit by adware/malicious code. Firefox is the best but Opera is still the safest.

Also, when you get spybot s&d on there, show her how to run it and tell her to run it once a week.

Also, when you get spybot s&d on there, show her how to run it and tell her to run it once a week.

Will do.

However, MSn gaming zone (where she spends most of her browsing time) doesn't seem to run in Firefox or Opera.  At least, they didn't used to (I don't go to MSN games, and I can't check right now because I am at work and "games" are blocked).  Something to do with ActiveX controls or somesuch.

Does that still hold true today?  (MSN games only running on IE).

I'm not aware of any workarounds, but microsoft sites working best with IE is a given. Good thing you won't have to worry about security if it's just the microsoft sites that you use IE on though.

Make a shortcut to IE named MSN games and make the homepage to ie as the MSN games site.
Then place it near the firefox shortcut (or the ie icon leading to firefox/opera if that's what you did) and tell her to use it for anything not MSN games.

Make sure you install IE7 if you continue to use IE.

Firefox is the best but Opera is still the safest.

disagree 

What are you disagreeing with, exactly?
Opera being the safest, Firefox being the best or both of them?

Also, I think Opera is the safest AND best but that is my opinion.

That firefox is the best. You're right, Opera is safest and best.