Running very slowly at present, checked CPU useage and its often at 100% but only have an anti-virus programme and current programme running. Thought I may have a virus but have run a number of checks and al seems fine.

Any help much appreciated.

Check processes too not just applications.

Drac
just checked barely anything registering but CPU useage still quite high

just checked barely anything registering but CPU useage still quite high

look on processes tab, make sure show programs from all users is ticked. Click the CPU column to sort by usage and see whats at the top.

Norton? Known to be bad for it IIRC

Is this a change or has it always been like this?

Too much stuff running in the background? http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml
Is a nice utility for stopping programmes running in the background that you don’t need

TJ, thanks but the problem is that I’m not sure exactly what should be running and what should’nt!

Get a Mac

I find usually a good clear out works:

Scan for virus (I use Avira or AVG)
Scan for malware (Spybot)
Check how much crap you have, and if uninstalling / clearing up is needed.
Use Winpatrol to check out start up stuff.
Check if you need to defrag.
Final clear up (CC Cleaner)

Restart = usually faster

*edit – forgot winpatrol*

Is it slower uphill than downhill?