Problem with my laptop - extremely slow/not loading programs?

Question

My computer is a year old (a toshiba Satellite) and I'm currently overseas studying. I have an iPad as well which I've been using a lot recently, so I haven't been using the laptop as much. When I went two days ago to type a document on the laptop, it refused to turn on - it get to the 'windows loading' page that's black with the glowing logo, then turn off again. I tried this again and again and then a black screen with white text came up saying that it wasn't starting correctly.
I tried starting it in safe mode to then shut down and start up again. The black screen with white text came up.Again and again this happened. Then eventually it came on in regular mode with the wallpaper and everything and I thought it had recovered. But now it's painfully slow to use - to open Microsoft word takes like fifteen minutes! And google chrome doesn't even load without crashing. Also somehow now Microsoft word (which I bought as a legit copy when I bought the laptop) isn't working either. It's now asking for the confirmation code, which of course I don't have right now.
My friend says I should format it but I still have some documents on there that I haven't backed up recently and I can't afford to lose them. What should I do? :( IMO really at my wits' end.

I've also run MacAfee scans and they didn't find anything, and I haven't downloading anything recently, just the Tune Up app.

Answer 1

You can do a chkdsk (check disk) and see if it improves, although I don't know if it can be done via Safe Mode but give it a try. Your incidence has probably happened because you may not regularly clean your computer out of unwanted and used stuff/junk by doing a disk clean-up (different to check disk) and disk defrag.



I have very little data etc.on my computer and it takes about an hour but if you have lots of stuff on your computer it will take longer. Here is the definition of chkdsk and I will give you the instructions below, based on a Windows 7 OS. It is most important that once you have started the procedure, it cannot be stopped or you will get the Blue Screen of Death and lose everything on your computer. If you are using a battery, make sure it is fully charged, even keep your power adapter plugged in as well. This is a procedure that should be done every month or two (after installing your monthly windows updates would be the best time).



chkdsk

Web definitions



CHKDSK (short for "check disk") is a system tool in DOS, OS/2 and Windows. It verifies the file system integrity on hard disks or floppy disk and fixes logical file system errors. It is similar to the fsck command in Unix.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CHKDSK



Instructions:

1. Click on Start, then click on Computer

2. Right click on OS(C:)

3. Click on Properties

4. Click on Tools

5. Click on Check Now, in the first (top) option where it says error-checking

6. A small window will appear. Make sure both boxes are ticked (for a thorough check), Click Start

7. A message will appear "Windows can't check the disk while it's in use ...", click on Schedule disk check, then OK, then restart computer. This is when chkdsk will start checking your computer.



Remember NOT TO TURN IT OFF while its doing the check. Let it complete the process entirely.

Answer 2

first of all, please press Windows Key R

write cmd and run

write ipconfig /all

hit enter

see how many there are



there is a known problem from people who travel a lot that ip configurations gets "bugged" and try to load 400-500 different settings for "tunnel adapter Local Area connection"



if there are, then download this and let it start (it may take several hours depending on how much connections there are) http://blog.brimur.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/6to4.zip



and then disable the service that does that http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_vista-networking/remove-tunnel-adapter-from-ipconfig/8f5102af-988d-426d-814c-01be498b4bcd



if not, then please after pressing Windows R , and msconfig, then go to startup tab, and take screenshots of it (or photos with a camera)



also, the other most common couse could be just dust inside, if its that you should take your laptop and have it cleanead



also, you woul maybe want to use the trial version of TuneUp to clean and configure your pc http://www.tuneup.es/download/



Write back to see how to fix it

Answer 3

sounds like you already had problems, and never addressed them



and tell your friend to hush up.



your main problem is, you aren't properly housekeeping the machine, hence the black screen and the slow starting



I visited a friend, I needed to borrow a computer to fix his, I got their daughters, the screen was multicolors and all kinds of effed up, she had so much junk on it, I'm surprised it ran at all.....about an hour later I had it like new.



if you can get advanced system care, free from download dot com on a flash and install it to your computer, it should fix most of your issues and speed it up as well....



start there



bestwishes