OT: What's wrong with my damn computer?

[Maple Leafs]

Over the past week or two, my computer has slowed down to the point that it's borderline unusable half the time. The hard drive is churning constantly, even when no programs are actively running. If I'm trying to run multiple things at once (a few browser windows, poker game, OOTP, e-mail, etc) it just crawls along.

I have up-to-date virus software and I've run spybot and adaware. I ran the basic windows systems tools (defrag, disk compress, etc) and have plenty of hard drive space available, and I killed all the startup programs I didn't want. When I check the task manager it doesn't show anything running that's taking up system resources, even when the hard drive is rumbling away.

Techie folks, any ideas on what's going on?

[Mike D]

How old is your motherboard/cpu/memory and hard-drive?

[Maple Leafs]

The whole system is about two years old.

[Easy Mac]

They recommend reformatting every 6 months. Its tedious, and I haven't done it in the 3-4 years I've had my computer, but lately I've thought about it.

[sachmo71]

Check your virtual memory settings and make sure this didn't get changed to some invalid setting.

Here is a good article on virtual memory in XP (http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.php)

[Maple Leafs]

Check your virtual memory settings and make sure this didn't get changed to some invalid setting.
Is it as simple as just increasing the amount of virtual memory available?

[bbor]

Kerry Fraser.

[duckman]

Gremlins.

[MizzouRah]

It's a fact of life, over time your pc needs reformatted just like Easy Mac has said. Mine is in need as I keep getting random explorer.exe errors, but man is it a pain in the ass.

[duckman]

It's a fact of life, over time your pc needs reformatted just like Easy Mac has said. Mine is in need as I keep getting random explorer.exe errors, but man is it a pain in the ass.

Yup, I just reformatted my hard drive just a couple of weeks ago. Took me 8-9 hours to remove anything I wanted to keep, reformat the hard drive, install Windows including updates, and put back on programs and files. I didn't even had that much stuff to put back on.

[Maple Leafs]

In all honesty, I think I'd rather buy a new computer than go through the hassle of reformatting.

[MizzouRah]

I have a second HD attached, so it's not really as bad... but it's bad. :)

I mean, how can I reinstall TCY helper when I don't have the full file anymore?

[Karim]

I strongly recommend: http://www.ccleaner.com/

[Drake]

Let me second Karim's recommendation. Crap Cleaner is an essential utility for all PC's.

[Pyser]

bump. im actually having very similar problems, and would like to hear more opinions.

[aran]

Start backing your stuff up. Reformat once or twice a year. Get used to it. If it takes you 8 or 9 hours, make a more effective scheme for backing up data. It takes me less than three hours to move everything I need off my computer, reformat, reinstall windows, and be back to comfortably using my computer.

[Maple Leafs]

Start backing your stuff up. Reformat once or twice a year. Get used to it. If it takes you 8 or 9 hours, make a more effective scheme for backing up data. It takes me less than three hours to move everything I need off my computer, reformat, reinstall windows, and be back to comfortably using my computer.
Thank you. This is very helpful for my current situation.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Start backing your stuff up. Reformat once or twice a year. Get used to it. If it takes you 8 or 9 hours, make a more effective scheme for backing up data. It takes me less than three hours to move everything I need off my computer, reformat, reinstall windows, and be back to comfortably using my computer.

What's your "scheme for backing up data" What do you use?

[Skolleck]

Memory problems and drive churning

Your computer should not be "hitting the hard drive" and having memory problems as a rule. First off this assumes that you are running XP with a fairly new system (two years or less).

Symptoms:
Hard Drive light on a lot, or even constant
Hearing the Hard Drive clicking or whirring a lot
Have heating problems
System acts "slow" or even sluggish
Entry into the control panel shows "100%" CPU usage

Reasons:
You are very, very busy - It happens, don't over-react (but it should not be busy ALL the time)
You have a virus - possible don't ever rule it out
You have a a poor Virtual Memory setting - It happens, but unlikely
A program is recording your web movement or personal info - called "spyware", happens all the time
A program is trying to do something over and over and failing - this would be a program that is not working right or is missing something to work right. The result is that the system is busy responding to repeated requests from a program that is not working. Could be either a program or a driver for hardware.

A format resolves all of the above problems (except being busy) until you load or install the original problem program/virus/spyware.

Some people have programs installed that they have forgotten about and is taking up resources that they need.

If you need more help, let me know and I maybe able to direct you to more specific fixes.

Thanks,
Scott Kolleck

[stevew]

My main problem with my PC arises when my daughter plays some flash games on it, or even when I play a PC game on it. The fan/pc noise is normally low, but after she/I get done with it, it gets very loud, like the computer is running in "full blast" mode. I can't seem to figure out how to get it down to a normal volume levels, except to reboot.

[Maple Leafs]

Thanks Scott...

The odd thing is that the hard drive will churn even when nothing else is going on. There aren't any applications (actively) running, and I'm not online.

When I get the task manager up (which can take a few minutes because everything is crawling), I don't see any applications taking up CPU memory. I do see some that I don't recognize, although I've been googling them and they all seem like harmless system processes.

[Draft Dodger]

Kerry Fraser.

:)

[Skolleck]

My main problem with my PC arises when my daughter plays some flash games on it, or even when I play a PC game on it. The fan/pc noise is normally low, but after she/I get done with it, it gets very loud, like the computer is running in "full blast" mode. I can't seem to figure out how to get it down to a normal volume levels, except to reboot.


There are two major heat sources in your PC, three if you count the power supply. The first is your CPU and it should have a heatsink (passive) or fan (active) on it. Active cooling is always better than passive.

The second major heat source is your video graphic processor or GPU. This is the part of your system that is overheating and creating the "slowdown", since the system has used it's graphics more than with more windows, or e-mail type use.

You can add a heatsink, by placing a small fan over the GPU or CPU (as needed) or employ many methiods to bring down the heat. I am typing this on a laptop (desktop replacement), that is sitting on a wire cookie rack, with a fan blowing on the entire unit (below it, With this setup the unit will run without lockups for days, and without it will lock in about 3 hours.)

Most laptops have similar problems because they stuff so many heat sources in a small space. Your desktop should be cooled well, unless you have upgraded the processor or video card and did not upgrade the cooling.

Let me know if you need more help.
Scott Kolleck

[Skolleck]

Thanks Scott...

The odd thing is that the hard drive will churn even when nothing else is going on. There aren't any applications (actively) running, and I'm not online.

When I get the task manager up (which can take a few minutes because everything is crawling), I don't see any applications taking up CPU memory. I do see some that I don't recognize, although I've been googling them and they all seem like harmless system processes.

You either have an infection or a "broken" program. A format is very good advice, and at this point without a full inspection of the running programs and registry it may not be worth saving the O/S (meaning reformat). If you can't format then you can inspect each any every program, service, and process running. One at a time.

Depends on your point of view, some feel it is worth the extra time with the churning, versus the several solid hours it will take to reformat.

Good Luck,
Scott Kolleck

[Maple Leafs]

My concern with reformating is the pain of re-installing/re-copying all the files and programs I have now. I feel like if I'm going to go through that pain I might as well drop a few bucks on an all-together new system.

If I wanted to look for a broken program, how would I do it? Do I just check the active processes running in task manager? How do I know when/if I've found the culprit?

[stevew]

There are two major heat sources in your PC, three if you count the power supply. The first is your CPU and it should have a heatsink (passive) or fan (active) on it. Active cooling is always better than passive.

The second major heat source is your video graphic processor or GPU. This is the part of your system that is overheating and creating the "slowdown", since the system has used it's graphics more than with more windows, or e-mail type use.

You can add a heatsink, by placing a small fan over the GPU or CPU (as needed) or employ many methiods to bring down the heat. I am typing this on a laptop (desktop replacement), that is sitting on a wire cookie rack, with a fan blowing on the entire unit (below it, With this setup the unit will run without lockups for days, and without it will lock in about 3 hours.)

Most laptops have similar problems because they stuff so many heat sources in a small space. Your desktop should be cooled well, unless you have upgraded the processor or video card and did not upgrade the cooling.

Let me know if you need more help.
Scott Kolleck

If I had to wager a guess, it does sound like it would be the graphics card that is the problem. It doesn't have its own cooling. I may buy a PCI fan and see what happens.

[aran]

What's your "scheme for backing up data" What do you use?

Download the synctoy from microsoft. Use that in conjunction with an extra hard drive to archive you documents and other important stuff that you never want to lose. This includes your bookmarks for IE/Firefox/Opera/etc.

Once a month or once every few months, take the most valuable 5ish GB of data you have and put it on a DVD. DVDs last longer than harddrives. Also, "Nothing exists unless it exists in three places".

For programs that you commonly use that have reasonably small install files, just back those up onto some type of external media. It becomes very easy, then, to just copy install files over and run them right in order, not having to bumble around the internet wondering where that cool and essential utility is hiding.

For media that doesn't change often, put it on DVDs or CDs and put them into some type of CD storage book. You can copy that stuff off your external media whenever you want to use it. If you aren't going to use it often, you can most of the time just play it right off of the DVD or CD.

Remember: "It doesn't exist unless it exists in three places".

I have all my important documents currently backed up 5 times.

Main Internal HD
Slave (mainly for media storage) Internal HD
USB flash memory stick
External HD
Mozy (online file archiving solution that gives you 1 GB of free space to which it automatically backs of files on a schedule that you set)

[Pyser]

just a big thanks to everyone who helped out in this thread.

i reformatted over the weekend after backing everything up (man, ipods: is there anything they cant do??)

it was still a pretty big pain....mainly reinstalling the correct drivers. but the 4 year old comp is running like its right out of the box, and i was able to get rid of a whole bunch of programs i no longer needed.

so you basically, you guys saved me at least $800, cuz now i dont need to buy a new pc. so thank you.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Maple Leafs, before you go reformatting anything, I would suggest checking out forums.spywareinfo.com and reading their "New Here?" link near the top of the page. Follow their steps and see if that can help get you into a better spot. It can be a little time-consuming, but it's worth a try.

Good luck.

[Maple Leafs]

Yeah, the update from my side is that I used the computer three times over the last few days. Twice it worked fine, with no churn at all. The other time was as bad as ever.

I'll check out that forum, Pumpy, thanks.

[Godzilla Blitz]

I really should do a reformat as well. Does anyone know of a website that has a checklist of things to store, things to remember, and things you'll need for install?

I've done a couple of reformats on other computers, but I always am afraid I'll delete something that I can never get back, or that I won't have something on reinstall that will screw the process up. The actual process doesn't take long for me; it's the rethinking and confirming that I'm remembering everything that takes me the longest.

[Pumpy Tudors]

My problem with reformatting is that I've misplaced tons of CD keys since I moved to Pennsylvania, and I'll be unable to play some of my games if I try to reinstall them. That's the only thing holding me back from a reformat.

[terpkristin]

One other thing I didn't think I saw mentioned here was to defragment your drive. That can ease up a lot of issues, if you haven't done it lately (ever).

And I third the recommendation for Crap Cleaner..

/tk

[MizzouRah]

just a big thanks to everyone who helped out in this thread.

i reformatted over the weekend after backing everything up (man, ipods: is there anything they cant do??)

it was still a pretty big pain....mainly reinstalling the correct drivers. but the 4 year old comp is running like its right out of the box, and i was able to get rid of a whole bunch of programs i no longer needed.

so you basically, you guys saved me at least $800, cuz now i dont need to buy a new pc. so thank you.

Yeah, at work when I re-image a user's pc and they get it back, they always say, WOW.. I didn't know this pc could be so much faster. ;)