My son's comp. runs very slow and at 100% usage always. I have tried ending processes with task manager, cleaned all temp. and prefetch files and RAN ad-aware and MS anti-spyware but nothing helps. Any suggestions. He is running Windows XP with 512 megs memory.You don't mention SCANNING for viruses with an up to date virus scanner............Sleepy:

How's Sneezy and Dopey? (sorry, bad joke).  

I agree with Gussery; a virus MAY take up a lot of resources.  Also, please answer a few questions:

Has this always been a PROBLEM with his system, or a recent development?  If recent, what has changed just prior to this BEHAVIOR? (for example, did he install a new game or add a new hard drive)?  What processor and speed does the system have? (to find out, right-click My Computer and choose Properties; the processor and megahertz (MHz) is listed under Computer.

Let us know,
Doc
He has a dell 4200 w/2.66 ghz and 512 memory. Been a problem for a while. It got really slow once before and I removed all adware and spyware and it made a huge difference. But there are none on the comp. now so that is not it. Quote

You don't mention scanning for viruses with an up to date virus scanner............