Computer run too slow

Hi helpers out there…. My computer has run too slow especially during windows start up and when i open an aplication. Although this not so frequent but whenit happend it can cause my system to freeze. It can happend even when i open windows explorer. This problem has occur when i reformat my computer. Here is my computer hardware and software spec: 1) Hardware System: Intel® Pentium 4 (supppose HT but not shown in my system profiles as it is before the problem occur) CPU 3.00GHZ, 2.99GHZ RAM 512MB 2) Software System: Windows XP (home edition) Version 2002 Service Pack 2. I hope anybody can help me to solve this problem as it going to be worsening over time. Thanks for anyone that can help this to me.

Hi Azrin, Since you've re-formatted, your hard disk probably has no malware or excess junk files, and has plenty of room for the operating system. If you've filled it back up with DATA/Media/files, then you may be restricting it again. The Hard Drive that you have your Operating System on should have between 25% and 50% Free space. I'm wondering about the Re-installation. (I'm presuming XP) ?? Here's the steps recommended for reinstalling after a format: Install XP Install DirectX 9.0c Install MotherBoard Chipset Drivers (from the Computer manufacturer, or Motherboard website) Install other Drivers: Video Card, NIC/modem, Sound Install peripheral drivers: Printer/scanner Install Software Applications Did you follow all of those steps, in that order? If not, repeat the steps (including re-format) in that listed sequence/order. Doing so may correct your problem. ______________________________ If all is good regarding the above suggestions, go on to the following: Next, I'm wondering what provoked you to reformat/reinstall in the first place. If you were having slow performance or crashes, you may have a Hardware/Heat/Hard Drive/RAM memory type of problem that is still in existance and wouldn't have been helped with a format/install. Open up the Tower case to blow out the dust bunnies and check the seating/connections. Please give us some additional information about what prompted your efforts so far. Best Regards

Hi Dough, I've follow the step regarding reinstallation as your suggestion. I've reformat my system because its run too slow before but after I reformat my hard drive I realise my system is overheating and i had already clean the system from the dust and teh overheating problem is solved. But the problem regarding slow performance is still continue. I would like to know how I could check for my hardware status like processor, hard drive, or maybe ram. And by the way I've post my system report from Intel® Active Monitor: I N T E L ® A C T I V E M O N I T O R System Information Report 02/09/2006 8:28:11 AM *************************************************************************** General Information *************************************************************************** Product name Intel® Desktop Board D865PERL based system Board model Genuine Intel® D865PERL system board OS version Windows* XP version 5.1 Service Pack 2 build 2600 OS memory 522,928 KB RAM *************************************************************************** Processor *************************************************************************** Processor Intel® Pentium® 4 CPU 3.00GHz Bus speed 800 MHz L1 cache Data Cache 8KB, Execution Trace Cache 12K Micro-ops L2 cache Advanced Transfer Cache 1024 KB Form factor Socket 478 Stepping 3 *************************************************************************** System *************************************************************************** Physical memory 512 MB RAM Memory speed DDR400 Memory type DDR, Synchronous Form factor DIMM BIOS date 04/02/2004 BIOS size 512 KB BIOS version P15 (RL86510A.86A.0075.P15.0404021333) *************************************************************************** Sensors *************************************************************************** Sensor Name System Fan 1 Current Value 2873 Upper Threshold not applicable Lower Threshold not applicable Sensor Name Processor Zone Current Value 46 Upper Threshold 69 Lower Threshold not applicable Sensor Name System Zone 1 Current Value 36 Upper Threshold 50 Lower Threshold not applicable Sensor Name System Zone 2 Current Value 39 Upper Threshold 50 Lower Threshold not applicable Sensor Name +12 V Nominal Value 12.000 Current Value 12.000 Upper Threshold 13.200 Lower Threshold 10.800 Sensor Name +5 V Nominal Value 5.000 Current Value 5.026 Upper Threshold 6.000 Lower Threshold 4.000 Sensor Name +3.3 V Nominal Value 3.300 Current Value 2.991 Upper Threshold 4.300 Lower Threshold 2.300 Sensor Name CPU Core Nominal Value not applicable Current Value 1.341 Upper Threshold 1.800 Lower Threshold 0.638 Sensor Name CPU I/O (+1.5 V) Nominal Value 1.500 Current Value 1.315 Upper Threshold 2.300 Lower Threshold 0.700 *************************************************************************** End of Report *************************************************************************** *Third-party brands and names are the property of their respective owners. P/S: By the way Dough, I do back my data before i reformat my Hard Disk, is there any problem with that?

Very good practice to backup important information periodically.

P/S: By the way Dough, I do back my data before i reformat my Hard Disk, is there any problem with that?

I sure wish more people took responsibility to do so, as you have.
My comment was about the "amount/volume" files and folders, with the precaution to save 25% - 50% of the Hard Drive for Free Space.

Also good that you had already cleaned out the machine.
Particularly sensitive are the CPU HeatSinKFan "fins", the Video card and heatsink, the power supply box, and the openins at the front of the machine which should be drawing in cooling air.

Would you ming running an additional utility for Temps and Voltages?

Everest 2.20
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

Will you please Copy and Paste the Results page of Voltages and Temperatures?

Gotta run to an appointment right now and will be back regarding other diagnostic utilities.
In the meantime, you could go to your Hard Drive manufacturer's Website and download/run their Hard Drive Diagnostic tool.

Best Regards

To Test your RAM
http://www.memtest86.com/
Download and create a Floppy, or Download the ISO and create a CD (either is just fine)

Download and Run you Hard Drive Manufacturer's Drive Diagnostic or Drive Fitness utility


Post the Voltage and Temperature information from Everest 2.20

Relate the findings from MemTest86 and your Drive Fitness utility

Besst Regards

Hi Dough, It's quiet someimes I dont reply You and I'm sorry for that. Here is the report from my Everest 2.20 regarding voltage and temperature information: Field Value Sensor Properties Sensor Type SMSC EMC6D102 (SMBus 2Eh) Motherboard Name Intel D845EBT / D845GEBV2 / D845PEBT2 / D845PESV / D848PMB / D865PERL / D875PBZ Temperatures Motherboard 38 °C (100 °F) CPU 56 °C (133 °F) Aux 43 °C (109 °F) Seagate ST380011A 37 °C (99 °F) Cooling Fans CPU 3108 RPM Voltage Values CPU Core 1.32 V +1.5 V 1.31 V +3.3 V 2.97 V +5 V 5.03 V +12 V 11.88 V Debug Info F C9 06 FF FF FF FF FF FF Debug Info T 38 26 2B 81 Debug Info V 65 70 AD C1 BE One more thing that i've also use Intel® Active Monitor to monitor my System Temperature and voltage, and recently the system has warn me that the voltage has gone out of range but after that its back to normal. the report from Active Alert is: 09/05/06 21:34:20 A voltage (+3.3 V) has returned to its recommended range. 09/05/06 21:34:19 A voltage (+3.3 V) has gone outside of its recommended range. Bad Voltage Value: 4.383 volts What this report are actually meant? I've also realise that my system is going to slow not all the time but it will happend only during start up and in random time. During its slow time it can hang all the process accept the mouse pointer. My keyboard is sometime will also hang when this happend. Can you explain on this problem. I also want to know how to read the 'benchmark' in the Everest 2.20. Could you also explain to me how to use memtest86? Thanks and I like to hear from you soon.

I'd say that you "have not" completely solved the heat situation, though your machine will probably "survive" those values. Fluctuating voltages can cause stress on particular portions of the machine, which then forces other parts of the machine to "work harder" to keep up or stay in balance. Is your home/office electrical wiring also experiencing electrical problems, or is it generally stable? Are you using surge protection? You may benefit from a new Power Supply. All other systems depend on it. Does your machine have a Floppy Disk Drive? if so, download Memtest86, unzip and create the Floppy Disk test disk. Run it for maybe 3 full cycles. Some folks will run it longer (overnight) but any problems should show up sooner. Did you get the Drive Fitness/Diagnostic utility from your Hard Drive manufacturer. Let us know what it indicates. As to the Everest "Benchmark" function. It provides known comparisons of your machine to other machines. It is not useful in the same way that Memtest86 and Drive Fitness testing is. These tests run your machine through stress test to detect errors/bad sectors in actual operation. Let us know what you learn from MemTest86 and your Manufacturer's Hard Drive Diagnostic. Best Regards

Hello Dough, When I unzip the download memtest files there is 2 executeable files: 1. install.bat 2.rawrite.exe which one that i must use. I've also use surge protector but the surge problem is also occur, what should I do. And also the problem of surge power supply is also rare in my house. Where can i get my Manufacturer's Hard Drive Diagnostic. thank you.

Hi Azrin,

Get started Creating your MemTest86 Floppy by clicking on the "install.bat", further instructions, below:

Memtest86 is a stand alone program that cannot be executed under windows and must
be loaded from a floppy disk.

To install Memtest86:
- Extract the files from the zip archive
- Open the directory where the files were extracted and click on "install.bat".
- The install program will prompt you for the floppy drive and also prompt you to
insert a blank floppy.
- To run Memtest86 leave the floppy in the drive and reboot.

NOTE: After the boot floppy has been created you will not be able to read the floppy
from windows. This is normal.

When you wish to Run Memtest86, simply insert the Floppy and reboot. Your machine will then Run Memtest86 prior to the machine fully booting to Windows.

When you are finished with MemTest86, Exit Memtest86 - remove the Floppy - reboot computer normally.

To get the Manufacturer's Hard Drive Diagnostic, you can follow the "link" found in Everest 2.20.

Open Everest 2.20
Select - Storage - ATA
Down at the bottom of that screen, your Hard Drive will be listed along with a "link" to the manufacturer's Website.
Click on the Link
Once at the Website, look around for the words: Diagnostic, Drive Fitness, or similar
(each manufacturer presents and names their diagnostic utility differently so take a look around to find it)

Surge Protection is a consideration for all of us, even those of us fortunate enough to live in neighborhoods with relatively stable electric utility supply.

Surge Protectors often "fail" after having served their purpose "just once". That means that if your circuitry has experienced a "surge", and the surge protector did its job, it may have "burned out" its protective devices in protection of your machine. After that surge, your surge protector may be nothing more than a relatively expensive "extension cord". Sure it still transmits electric current. Sure the little light and on-off switch still works, but the actual protective qualities of the surge protector may have been "used up."

Therefore, it is a good idea to replace surge protectors about once a year, or immediately after a major surge/brown-out/power-failure.

Is there a way to "test" a surge protector to see if it is still good? No. Any such test would burn it out too.

Best Regards

Edit: Almost forgot to mention: Ken545 has posted a reply to you over in HJT Forum.
Following his instructions and cleaning up the malware that he has identified, will very likely resolve a huge portion of the difficulties that you are addressing here in this thread.