You have two problems, which may be interrelated.  The slow clock could be
hardware related (specifically, a dying battery) or software related.  You
might want to search the archives using search terms "clock" and "battery".

The other problem is the grindingly slow loading which may or may not be
related.  I have Win98, but the problem sounds painfully familiar.  When I
have this problem, it is typically because the system is overloaded.  HP is
particularly good at loading up lots of software at startup.  I would
suggest that you clear everything out of the startup menu and see what
happens.  Also, I am not sure if it is available in ME, but if it is, do an
alt-cont-del and shut down all unnecessary aps.  (One of these days, I have
to check the archives about how to disable that &#E*&#@ RealPlayer that
loads every time I start up.)

One good way to determine what's going on with the computer is to use the
resource meter, assuming it is available in ME.  Although it uses resources,
too, it will give you a good idea if the system is being bogged down by
something.

Since you reformatted the computer, it shouldn't be necessary (and probably
won't be helpful) but it can't hurt to degragment the drive.

Is there antivirus and firewall software running?  The antivirus especially
can cause havoc.  Temporarily disable it to see if that's a factor.  You
probably don't want to run naked on the internet . . . perhaps a change in
software is in order.

BTW, memory is cheap.  It couldn't do any harm to slip some extra memory in
and see if that helps.

Hope this helps points the way.

William Closure


----- Original Message -----
>
> Date:    Tue, 21 Oct 2003 19:46:03 -0700
> From:    Angela Z Espinoza <[log in to unmask]>

> Hello every one and God Bless I have a question my sister has a computer
> HP,
> OS Windows ME, 600 megahertz Intel Pentium III, 25 GHD, 512 MB Memory, HP
> CD
> Writer=8000 [CD-ROM drive] DVD-ROM DVD-114. I reformatted the computer but
> after installing everything now it is really slow and the time has to be
> set
> constantly I need help what could the problem be? She uses her computer a
> lot for homework, when she opens the programs it takes more then 5 min to
> do
> anything, to open up mail, to close one program and open another it is way
> to slow anybody might know what is going on?
>
> Thank you
> Angela

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