Computer Horribly Slow - How Can I Clean It Up?

I am trying to help some friends with a desktop computer running Windows 7 Home (64-bit). It's running VERY poorly with CPU frequently close or at 100% and Memory very close to the max all the time. It's an eMachines EL1333G with 2GB of memory. It is running Win 7 Home SP1. The processor is an AMD 2850e 1.80 GHz.

I ran the Avast Smart Scan and it did not find any malware. It *did* indicate "Performance Issues" but I can't get on their computer for the next several hours to investigate things further. While I'm waiting, I thought I'd ask what I should do when I get back into the computer.

Also, I'm starting to think that 2GB of memory simply isn't enough and maybe these problems will go away or be greatly reduced if I add some memory. I'm not sure how to determine how much memory this particular computer can have or what format that memory should be. I'd appreciate some guidance on how to do that so I can start tracking down the appropriate memory. Or is this a bad idea? Maybe 2GB is perfectly adequate for this machine and I should be doing something else? If that is the case, please tell me. I don't want them to throw money away on something that doesn't help the problem.

(Mellon beat me to it so some of this is a repeat probably....)

this site says your machine can handle 4GB

RAM SSD Upgrades | eMachines EL1333G-03w | Crucial.com


I'd clean up the hard drive by removing programs that are not needed (control panel > programs), also remove unneeded programs that are starting automatically (start > run > msconfig), also create some space on the hard drive if its over 75% full ( SpaceSniffer, find lost disk space the easy way. ), also defrag the hard drive (start > run > dfrgui), also run a virus/malware scan (do a free online scan if you have nothing installed Free Malware Removal Software 2017: The Best Online Tools ),


btw no offense but that cpu is so slow, the machine is on the edge of adequate performance already

Mellon Head said:

For starters, 2 GB is not really enough memory to run a 64 bit version of Windows. Your machine would be better off with 4 GB of RAM which, by the way, is the maximum it can support. I looked on the Crucial site and they have a memory locator which lists available memory for your PC, and I found some that will work for not a whole lot of money:

RAM SSD Upgrades | eMachines EL1333G-03w | Crucial.com

Your machine is old and under powered, adding a couple of $16 memory sticks is about the only upgrade that I would do. Any other money spent would really be wasted.

As for your slowdown, it's not normal for the PC to run with 100% CPU activity all the time. I would run a scan with MalwareBytes (use the free version) and check to see if you have something going on in the background to start with. Please try the MalwareBytes scan (full scan, please) and post back the results.

Malwarebytes | Free Cyber Security & Anti-Malware Software

I actually installed the free edition of Malwarebytes when I was there yesterday but didn't have a chance to run it because the Avast scan was already running and I wanted to wait until Avast was finished. I'll do that later today when I can get back on their computer.

Are you sure that the memory you've specified will work on their computer? Windows specifies the computer as being model EL1333G, not EL1333G-03w. I'm not sure what the 03w means but could it be a different version of the computer that can take more memory than the EL1333G?

Also, you suggest buying two $16 chip but the $16 one is the 1GB chip so two of those would leave the computer at 2GB, which it already has. You meant that my friend should buy two of the *two* GB chips, like that package of two 2GB chips:Crucial 4GB Kit (2 X 2GB) DDR2-800 UDIMM for $57. You just misspoke when you specified $16 right?

By the way, have you dealt with these people at Crucial before? I've never heard of them. Hmm. I've just searched on that same memory - I *think* it is the same - and found it for cheaper locally: Canada Computers Electronics | Memory | Mushkin Essentials 4GB(2x2GB) DDR2 800MHz CL5 UDIM (996558)
$54.99 CDN is cheaper than $57 USD and we don't have to deal with shipping, duty, etc. Or does the "CL5" in the designation imply that it is *not* the same format of memory chip?

johnhoh said:

(Mellon beat me to it so some of this is a repeat probably....)

this site says your machine can handle 4GB

RAM SSD Upgrades | eMachines EL1333G-03w | Crucial.com


I'd clean up the hard drive by removing programs that are not needed (control panel > programs), also remove unneeded programs that are starting automatically (start > run > msconfig), also create some space on the hard drive if its over 75% full ( SpaceSniffer, find lost disk space the easy way. ), also defrag the hard drive (start > run > dfrgui), also run a virus/malware scan (do a free online scan if you have nothing installed Free Malware Removal Software 2017: The Best Online Tools ),


btw no offense but that cpu is so slow, the machine is on the edge of adequate performance already

Thanks for all the suggestions!

How do I find faster processors that will work in this computer? I'm not sure what kind of socket it has.

Going with the statement above that the PC is very old and underpowered, only removing other from the sentence "Any money spent would really be wasted."

eMachines/Gateway documentation is Non-existent. I recently "retired" a eMachines running a Celeron 356D. Anything you try to do with a single core single thread CPU will run at 100% usage. With Win 10 Pro 32bit I couldn't even play YouTube Vids at 360p. Was Great for watching Cam Girls though.

I Googled upgrading the CPU and came up with this link saying the x2 5050e would run on the MOBO: https://forums.techguy.org/threads/s...lease.1057826/
One of those "used" runs from $5.00 to $10.00 US on places like EBay or possibly StarMicroInc.
The Socket is AM2 but BIOS Support is only for a very limited number of low power CPUs, so No Guarantee of the accuracy of what's in the link I posted. You can try Searching yourself.

The Athlon 64 2850e is an energy efficient cpu so though it is socket-compatible with some faster cpus, there is no guarantee your motherboard and power supply will handle them. So the next step to take is to know exactly what you are dealing with. Your best chance at figuring out your motherboard details are

1) download and run belarc advisor and/or cpu-z, which are pretty good at telling you specific part numbers for your system, and

2) get out a flashlight and magnifying glass and closely inspect your motherboard for any writing. Most all boards have the exact model and version number written on them somewhere. Just write down everything you can see then google it, and I bet you'll find your motherboard details online.

If The OP does take a look with a flashlight and magnifying glass, it'd also be a good idea to Carefully inspect the capacitors around the CPU socket for swelling, discoloration and leakage.