Laptop is slow and programs are not responding

Hi,

These methods should help you to resolve software causes of those issues.

Error: Windows Explorer has stopped working
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2694911

Windows hangs or freezes <- try these first and the methods do apply to your issues.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2681286#method22

Performance and Maintenance <- check these especially the troubleshooters
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/performance-maintenance-help#performance-maintenance-help=windows-7&v2h=win7tab1&v3h=winvistatab1

Other troubleshooting methods to use as needed :

Use the Clean Boot and other methods to try to determine the cause of and/or
eliminate the issues.

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References to Vista also apply to Windows 7.

What antivirus/antispyware/security products do you have on machine? Include
any you have EVER had on this machine including those you uninstalled (they
leave remnants behind which can cause strange issues).

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Do these :

Try these to clear corruption and repair/replace damaged/missing system files.

Start - type this in Search Box ->  COMMAND   find at top and RIGHT CLICK  -  RUN AS ADMIN

Enter this at the prompt - sfc /scannow

How to Repair Windows 7 System Files with System File Checker
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

How to analyze the log file entries that the Microsoft Windows Resource Checker
(SFC.exe) program generates in Windows Vista cbs.log
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928228

Also run CheckDisk so we can rule out corruption as much as possible.

How to Run Disk Check in Windows 7
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html

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After the above :

How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows
Vista or Windows 7
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

Use Advanced Tools to Troubleshoot Performance Problems in Windows 7
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/6152/use-advanced-tools-to-troubleshoot-performance-problems-in-windows-7/

Problems with overall system speed and performance
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/gp/slow_windows_performance?p=1

Optimize Windows 7 for better performance
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Optimize-Windows-7-for-better-performance

Open the Performance troubleshooter
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Open-the-Performance-troubleshooter

To see all that is loading bootup - wait a few minutes without doing anything -
then Right Click TaskBar - Task Manager - take a look at Applications -
Processes - Services - this is a quick reference (if you have a little box on
Lower Left - Show for All Users then check that).

How to Change, Add, or Remove Startup Programs in Windows 7
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1401-startup-programs-change.html

A quick check to see which are loading is Method 2 there - using MSCONFIG
then post a list of those here.
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Tools that should help :

Process Explorer - Free - Find out what files, registry keys and other objects
processes have open, which DLLs they have loaded, and more. This uniquely
powerful utility will even show you who owns each process.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx

Autoruns - Free - See what programs are configured to startup automatically
when your system boots and you login. Autoruns also shows you the full list
of Registry and file locations where applications can configure auto-start settings.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx

Process Monitor - Free - Monitor file system, Registry, process, thread and DLL
activity in real-time.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896645.aspx

There are many excellent free tools at Sysinternals
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/default.aspx

WhatsInStartUP - Free - This utility displays the list of all applications that are
loaded automatically when Windows starts up. For each application, the following
information is displayed: Startup Type (Registry/Startup Folder), Command -Line
String, Product Name, File Version, Company Name, Location in the Registry or
file system, and more. It allows you to easily disable or delete unwanted programs
that runs in your Windows startup.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/what_run_in_startup.html

There are many excellent free tools at NirSoft
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/index.html

Window Watcher - Free - Do you know what's running on your computer? Maybe
not. The Window Watcher tells all, reporting every window created by every running
program, whether the window is visible or not.
http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptwinwatch.asp
Many excellent free tools and an excellent newsletter at Karenware
http://www.karenware.com/

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Consider this an absolute must - manually updating your drivers.

Vista and Windows 7 love updated drivers so here is how to update the major ones.

This is my generic how to for proper driver updates :

This utility makes it easy to see which versions are loaded : Run DriverView - set
VIEW to Hide Microsoft drivers - update those with Dump in their names. (Also
update the BIOS and chipset drivers at the System/Motherboard Maker's site.)

DriverView - Free - utility displays the list of all device drivers currently loaded
on your system. For each driver in the list, additional useful information is
displayed: load address of the driver, description, version, product name,
company that created the driver, and more.
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/driverview.html

For Drivers check System Maker as fallbacks and Device Maker's which are
the most current. Control Panel - Device Manager - Display Adapter - write down
the make and complete model of your video adapter - double click - Driver's tab -
write down the version info. Now click UPdate Driver (this may not do anything
as MS is far behind certifying drivers) - then Right Click - Uninstall - REBOOT
this will refresh the driver stack.

Repeat that for Network - Network Card (NIC), Wifi, Sound, Mouse and Keyboard
if 3rd party with their own software and drivers and any other major device drivers
you have.

Now go to System Maker's site (Dell, HP, Toshiba as examples) (as rollback)
and then Device Maker's site (Realtek, Intel, Nvidia, ATI as examples) and get
their latest versions. (Look for BIOS, Chipset and software updates at System
Maker's site while there.)

Download - SAVE - go to where you put them - Right Click - RUN AD ADMIN -
REBOOT after each installation.

Always check in Device Manager - Drivers tab to be sure the version you are
installing actually shows up. This is because some drivers rollback before the
latest is installed (sound drivers particularly do this) so install a driver - reboot -
check to be sure it is installed and repeat as needed.

Repeat at Device Makers - BTW at Device Makers DO NOT RUN THEIR
SCANNER - check manually by model.

Manually look at manufacturer's sites for drivers - and Device Maker's sites.
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/driverssupport/ht/driverdlmfgr.htm

Installing and updating drivers in Windows 7 (updating drivers manually using
the methods above is preferred to ensure the latest drivers from System maker
and Device makers are found)
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/43216-installing-updating-drivers-7-a.html

If you update drivers manually then it is a good idea to disable Driver Installations
in Windows Updates, this leaves Windows Updates ON however it will not install
drivers which will usually be older and cause issues. If Updates suggests a new
driver then HIDE it (Right Click on it) and then go look for new ones manually if
you wish.

How to stop Windows 7 automatically installing drivers
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2500967

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Refer to these threads for many more excellent tips however be sure to check
your antivirus programs, update major drivers and BIOS, and also troubleshoot
with the cleanboot method first.

Problems with overall system speed and performance
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/slow_windows_performance/en-us

Performance and Maintenance tips
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7performance/thread/19e5d6c3-bf07-49ac-a2fa-6718c988f125 

Windows Explorer has stopped working
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7performance/thread/6ab02526-5071-4dcc-895f-d90202bad8b3

Hope this helps.

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Rob Brown - Microsoft MVP <- profile - Windows Expert - Consumer : Bicycle <- Mark Twain said it right!