Hey experts. I hope you can help with this. I have a Dell CPX laptop which keeps locking up due to the CPU usage hitting 100%. It has a pentium 3 498 MHz processor and 128 MB of RAM. Out of the 18.6GB of storage on my C drive I am only using 4.76 GB. I am running XP w/ SP 2. I have run Defrag / Mcafee / Spybot / Ad-ware and System Mechanic 4. System Mechanic made it so the computer would not lock up except for when I connect the printer but the thing is still slow as hell and I still cannot print. I downloaded Hijack This and here is what it said.

Hope you can help.
Thanks,
JM

Logfile of HijackThis v1.98.2
Scan saved at 10:37:22 PM, on 8/31/2004
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\atievxx.exe
c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsrte.exe
C:\Program Files\Linksys\Odyssey Client for
Linksys\OdTray.exe
C:\Program Files\Linksys\Wireless-G Notebook
Adapter\WLMon.exe
C:\Program Files\HP\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd2.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsshld.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\agent\mcagent.exe
C:\Program Files\HP\hpcoretech\hpcmpmgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3\hpztsb09.exe
c:\progra~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsescn.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\fxssvc.exe
C:\Program Files\HP\hpcoretech\comp\hptskmgr.exe
c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcshield.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Office\Local
Settings\Temp\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet
Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.yahoo.com/
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet
Explorer\Main,Local Page =
F1 - win.ini: run=fntldr.exe
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class -
{06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program
Files\Adobe\Acrobat
6.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O3 - Toolbar: McAfee VirusScan -
{BA52B914-B692-46c4-B683-905236F6F655} -
c:\progra~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsshl.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [OdTray.exe] "C:\Program
Files\Linksys\Odyssey Client for Linksys\OdTray.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WLMonWPC54G] C:\Program
Files\Linksys\Wireless-G Notebook Adapter\WLMon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Software Update] "C:\Program
Files\HP\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd2.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [VSOCheckTask]
"c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcmnhdlr.exe" /checktask
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [VirusScan Online]
"c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsshld.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MCAgentExe]
c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\agent\mcagent.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MCUpdateExe]
C:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\agent\mcupdate.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Component Manager] "C:\Program
Files\HP\hpcoretech\hpcmpmgr.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HPDJ Taskbar Utility]
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spool\drivers\w32x86\3\hpztsb09.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\RunOnce: [DELDIR0.EXE]
"C:\DOCUME~1\Office\LOCALS~1\Temp\DELDIR0.EXE"
"C:\Program Files\McAfee\McAfee Shared
Components\Guardian\"
O4 - HKLM\..\RunOnce: [System Mechanic Cache Cleanup]
C:\Program Files\iolo\System Mechanic 4\SysMech4.exe
/COMPLETECACHE
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [McAfee.InstantUpdate.Monitor]
"C:\Program Files\McAfee\McAfee Shared
Components\Instant Updater\RuLaunch.exe" /startmonitor
O18 - Protocol: cetihpz -
{CF184AD3-CDCB-4168-A3F7-8E447D129300} - C:\Program
Files\HP\hpcoretech\comp\hpuiprot.dll

Well, right offhand I'll point out that you're at the very bare minimum for memory running Windows XP. It really only begins to run well with 256 megs of ram. 512mb of ram is even better.

Perhaps someone else will spot something in the Hijack log, but I'd really recommend getting yourself at least another 128 megs of ram for starters.

How hard is it to install aditional RAM?

With the average desktop, very easy. With a laptop, that all depends on the manufacturer. However, since yours is a Dell, I'd bet it's pretty easy, probably a little cover on the back, or underside of the unit is removed, plug in a new memory module, and away you go.

Your best bet, it being a Dell laptop, is to call Dell and tell them what you have, and what you want to do with it, they'll help you out. I just looked on their site, and found you can buy 256mb memory modules for that laptop for 144$ US, and you can buy 128mb modules for 50$. My opinion, jump on 1 256mb if you can't afford a pair. If you can afford a pair of those, then I'd consider replacing your memory outright. (It looks like there are only 2 slots for memory in your machine, but the info I'm seeing isn't real comprehensive). If you are looking to keep it cheap, buy one of the 128mb modules, and pair it up with what you have.

Again, 512mb of ram would be ideal for you, but I do believe you'd find the machine ran better even with only 256mb. It's all a matter of what you want to pay. Good luck to you, let us know how it goes, okay?

Thanks! I'll post when I do the upgrade.

Yes, 256 MB SHOULD be the recommended minimum for XP.