[Joe 6-pack]

Be sure you're logged in.

[TruBluKentuckian]

My first suggestion is to download AdAware and clean your computer of adware and spyware. My cousin had a new Dell that acted that way in just a few weeks after she got it. I downloaded AdAware and ran it... 499 files were found. Once deleted the computer ran like new again.

[Prime Choice]

Unless you have a personal firewall in place along with an up-to-date anti-virus software, chances are better than average that you have either a trojan or virus at work that's probably turned your workstation into a spam-bot.

Solution? Pick up Symantec Anti-Virus at a local computer store, follow the directions and disinfect. Then pick up a personal LAN router at a computer store (Linksys makes a good one) and install a personal firewall on your system (ZoneLabs makes ZoneAlarm which is free for noncommercial use).

That's it in a nutshell. Have fun...it beats gnashing your teeth.

[Labyrinthos]

Run Ad-Aware, Spybot, Spywareblaster, et seq. They are all Freeware products. Do a Google to find where.

[Keith in Iowa]

YOu could have some adware running in the background - get SpyBot Search & Destroy, AdAware, or some sort of tool to analyze and see if this is the case.

Otherwise, do you have a system utility that might initiate an automatic defragmentaion of the hard drive based on a threshold? That could do what you describe.

[republicangel]

download adaware and run a scan and get rid of the crap it finds. you are describing my old computer until i used adaware. my daughter was having trouble with her laptop and when she used adaware, she found 119 "things" running on her puter.

[Incorrigible]

It's most likely your paging file (Virtual Memory) on your hard drive

Here are some relevant links:

Optimize Virtual Memory for Performance in Windows XP

HOW TO: Set Performance Options in Windows XP

Probably worth defragmenting your hard drive as well:

HOW TO: Analyze and Defragment a Disk in Windows XP

How to Defragment Your Disk Drive Volumes in Windows XP

HOW TO: Use Computer Management in Windows XP

Good luck. Hope this helps.

[Incorrigible]

Anti virus and firewalls are good suggestions as well.

If your computer is connecting directly to your cable modem, then you must use this software:

ZoneAlarm

There's a free version for download available on their site.

[Nateman]

Sometimes adding more RAM (Random access memory) is all you need. It worked for my computer and another one I added memory to. Microsoft uses tons of memory and if it does not have RAM it uses the hard drive instead.

[Izzy Dunne]

It's most likely your paging file (Virtual Memory) on your hard drive

Here's a test:
Put down the mouse, stop typing, and wait, and wait, and wait (5 minutes min). Does the disk stop accessing? If so, then the virtual memory might be the problem. You don't have enough physical RAM (memory chips) to do all the Bill Gates thinks you should be doing at one time.

If not, you've been owned. Your computer has been taken over and is spitting out Viagra advertisements or something by the thousands.

Probably worth defragmenting your hard drive as well

I doubt if that's the problem. Defragging will speed up accesses in some cases, but a fragmented drive won't CAUSE new accesses to be made.

I'm betting on the virus, myself.

Click here for one solution.

[PureSolace]

I put my money on Internet programs that decided to make your harddrive a home. go to Ad Aware Home and download Ad Aware!!! This program is free and blasts all sorts of programs that end up on your computer. Trust me you'll love it... Also, set up a firewall or something so script kiddies can't get in and start using your machine as a free ftp data store. And one more thing... always check for windows update, and always install those updates. If you take care of your machine, it will take care of you.. KEep your ear to virus webpages (Symantec coems to mind) and stay safe! Cyaz!

[potlatch]

If you bought a new Dell you should have a years free Tech help. They will spend all the time you need on the phone with you.

[DustyMoment]

The other posters have some good ideas. I would also recommend loading Norton SystemWorks and let it check things out. You probably have several problems:

1) the spyware is a good possibility (I learned something myself about that)
2) your disk may be fragmented. SystemWorks will help detect and repair it plus detect and repair other associated problems like registry file problems and missing/orphaned files.
3) You may want to get rid of your cookies in the C:\Windows directory. Be careful, however, because cleaning out the cookies will also eliminate all of the automatic logon and passwords you may have stored.
4) Also do a search for all *.tmp files and get rid of them. The computer thinks they are legitimate files and loads them during the Windows start sequence and that also gums up the works.

Good luck. If none of these suggestions work, call Dell's Help line and let Krishna in Mumbai read you all of the suggestions that Dell has written down for him. Just don't expect any of them to work.

LOL

[Psycho_Bunny]

To quickly check for a virus, forget going and buying a AV app.  Just download the TrendMicro Sysclean.com program here

SysClean

And then download the latest pattern:

SysClean Pattern

Put them both in a folder and run the SysClean.com file.

You can run them right off the desktop if you'd like.  They'll create a bunch of temp files that may alarm you but once the program's run, all the temp files will be deleted except the original files and a .log file.

Sysclean is a free "Command line" AV program that will only help find and remove viruses: it doesn't install anything on your system and it won't prevent your getting viruses.

If you're in the market for a good AV program, I'd suggest Symantec Norton Anti-Virus or TrendMicro.

The SysClean homepage is here, just incase you don't trust my links.  lol.

 

[GeronL]

Me thinks you have too many programs running 'in the background', probably spyware and all that other stuff has been downloaded too. Everyone has this problem to some extent... even me.

[Varmint Al]

You might have all of your Internet Explorer temp file free space filled up and it has to delete a file before it can read a new one. Here is how to free the space.

Right click on the IE icon on your desktop and select Properties. The when the menu appears, click on the delete files button. That will dump all of the temporarily files that have accumulated on your hard drive each time you visit a web page.

Next you can compact your hard drive so it will read files faster. Run the defrag program?

Click on Start

Click on Search

Find the defrag.exe and double click on it.

It will put the files on your hard drive in a more compact order so that they can be read faster.

Hope this helps.

Good Hunting... from Varmint Al

[SERE_DOC]

send it back and buy an apple. you won't be sorry.

I know that sounds trite but after 15+ years on windows pc's I have my first MAC and have had it for about 2 months 0 problems, 0 issues and it's reliability is incredible.

[AFreeBird]

A cable connection to the internet with no firewall and no anti-virus?

You like living on the edge don't you.

Not only have you opened yourself up to virus and spyware programs, but hackers may very well be having a field day with your system without your knowledge. As for wanting to find out whats kicking you harddrive so much you can try checking the task list. Not sure about XP but a CONTROL-SHIFT-ESC brings up the task list on W2K. Check your processes. Clicking on a column heading for CPU time will show you the most active process.

In any case; you HAVE to get a firewall. ZoneLabs has a freeware software version that you can download, in addition you might want to consider a hardware version such a Linksys. ZoneAlarm is good because it resides on your PC and monitors "outgoing" traffic as well as incomming. The hardware version is another layer of defense between your cable modem and PC. Quick frankly I recommend both and use both myself.

I would also suggest getting an anti-virus program such as McAfee. It is not free but it is worth the money. It might be a good idea to procure the anti-virus from your local CompUSA or Bestbuy (Good sources for firewalls too) so you have it on CD. I would be leary of internet purchases right now since we don't know what kind of virus/spybots may be on you system and could possibly intercept credit card numbers or other sensitive information.

And, I would seriously consider using something other than Internet Explorer. That is one of the weakest components of a Microsoft system. Ever since microsoft decided to "integrate" IE into Windows to win the browser wars, problems have gotten worse.

That's all I got for now.

Good luck!

[spunkets]

Dump the trash and defrag the drive. The disk is always spinning, but now it's near full. The files are all in little pieces all over the place and the system is trying to keep track and fit the new stuff into all the little holes all over.

[Mannaggia l'America]

Lots of the other suggestions are good, especially about running Adaware AND Spybot Search & Destroy. Download and run BOTH. After installing each, be sure to use their "download updates" buttons.

If you are a little savvy, click on Start/Run and type "msconfig" and click OK. Go to the Startup tab - this is a list of programs that your computer starts up automatically when you log in (there are others in the Services tab, but most spyware that runs at startup installs itself in the area shown by the Startup tab, because that is common between all Windows 9x/2000/XP systems).

Take a look at the list and uncheck anything that looks suspicious. If you want to get investigative, it shows you the name of the .exe in the Command column - go find that file with Windows Explorer and right-click on it, choose Properties, and look on the Version tab. It shows information like the company name, etc. embedded in the file. If you don't see a company name or recognize the name, uncheck it or do a search on it at groups.google.com to see if you can figure out what the file does.

BTW, there were a lot of responses that said "get a firewall" or "get a router". The original post said he has a "cable modem/router". While a router is not necessarily a firewall, generally any type of router will give your PC a private IP address and protect you somewhat.