Question for computer geeks
 

I am having trouble on my two office computers and I need help figuring it out.

The basic problem is intermittently both computers (they are networked together by a wired network and router) will slow down to a snail's pace. One keystroke will take a few seconds to show up on the screen, closing or opening a window will take 5 seconds.

I ran a virus scan, two spyware scans and I defragged both hard drives. The problem is still happening.

The slowdown happens when I run one program which is an office scheduling and records program. This program is running all day long. I need to figure out if it a problem with the program, or a problem with something else slowing the computer down. I contacted the vendor for my program and they have looked at it and can't find anything wrong.

Is there a program I can run to see how fast my computer is running at any given time, and how much memory it is using up? Then when my computer slows down, I could run this program, and it will help me figure out what is slowing my computer down.

When it happens

Hit Ctl-Shift-Esc

Click on the process tab

Click on the CPU column to sort it

What is using the most CPU cycles when it happens?

I would look at the startup and see if there is anything unusual. In the windows -> start -> run -> type msconfig ...click ok.

View your start up and start disabling programs until you isolate the problem.. you can reactivate them using the same method.

The scheduling program or whatever might have a memory leak?

What virus protection software are you using? Sometimes, especially after an automatic update or fresh install of virus software, this will happen.

Thanks for all the advice, I will try the ctrl-shift-escape thing and the startup program thing.

I am not sure what a memory leak is.

I am using the AVG free anti-virus program.