kn*ckered computer

Broadback · Aug 25, 2013, 12:36:05

for some days my computer has been diabolical. When I try anything it frequently freezes and needs a reload. I have tried to back up my present system then go to the original one, hopefully I would be able to return to its present setup. However if it is backing up it is doing so painfully slow, and the time left increases steadily with time. I have tried to scan to for nasties but that never finished. Any suggestions please? If I get replies I can only hope that I can log in, which I have not been able to do for a couple of days.

Simon · Aug 25, 2013, 12:59:36

To be honest, with the amount of problems you seem to be having with that machine lately, I'm wondering if a clean Windows install is your best option. Do you have previous backups of all your essential data?

Broadback · Aug 25, 2013, 13:54:25

Not completely, the trouble is I cannot look properly to see. I guess I will have to go back to a clean install. Would it be advisable to format the C disc before hand? The clean install is on D drive?

Simon · Aug 25, 2013, 14:38:23

Well. Windows is usually installed on the C drive. Are you saying yours is on D drive?

Broadback · Aug 25, 2013, 14:59:18

Quote from: Simon on Aug 25, 2013, 14:38:23
Well. Windows is usually installed on the C drive. Are you saying yours is on D drive?

No i is on the C drive, but the clean back-up provided with the machine is on the D drive.

Broadback · Aug 25, 2013, 15:40:28

A little more information. Though my email seems to be basically OK I am getting no updates on replies to my post here. Also I thought I would try deleting all the programs that are not essential. However on going into Control Panel and attempting to delete it does not complete. If I ask it to delete another program it says that it is busy!

Simon · Aug 25, 2013, 15:55:30

It sounds like perhaps something is hogging all your resources. If click Ctrl+Alt+Del to bring up the Task Manager, does that show anything running above 50% in the Processes list?

Broadback · Aug 25, 2013, 16:14:51

No tried that, the biggest user was Skype, which I have now deleted. Also Control Pan;e was running, so I deleted that, but it still tells me it is busy when I try to delete a program.

Steve · Aug 25, 2013, 16:19:38

I don't use Windows much anymore so I'm out of touch, however it sounds like some process is hogging all the resources, it is possible that some software has become corrupt. If you've got backups of all you data and applications it may well save time in the long run just starting from scratch with a fresh install. Does Windows boot into safe mode enabling you to do some housework.

Gary · Aug 25, 2013, 17:02:36

How much space have you got left on the Drives? If you dont have much left that can make any OS run like a dog as it wont have room to defragment.

Broadback · Aug 25, 2013, 17:06:11

Loads

Gary · Aug 25, 2013, 20:47:25

Clean install then

Start from scratch all nice and fresh.

Technical Ben · Aug 25, 2013, 23:18:38

Quote from: Simon on Aug 25, 2013, 12:59:36
To be honest, with the amount of problems you seem to be having with that machine lately, I'm wondering if a clean Windows install is your best option. Do you have previous backups of all your essential data?

Also if possible check to see if the HDD is on it's way out. HDScan is free and if you press "smart" it will tell you if there are any warnings on the drive. Just make sure not to run any read/write tests as these will write over (erase) your data and are only for testing new/blank drives.

Depends on the age of the machine, but if it's not software, an old or broken HDD is the second place I'd look. That is as long as "dust in the fans" has already been ruled out.

Gary · Aug 26, 2013, 07:48:58

Quote from: Technical Ben on Aug 25, 2013, 23:18:38
Also if possible check to see if the HDD is on it's way out. HDScan is free and if you press "smart" it will tell you if there are any warnings on the drive. Just make sure not to run any read/write tests as these will write over (erase) your data and are only for testing new/blank drives.

Depends on the age of the machine, but if it's not software, an old or broken HDD is the second place I'd look. That is as long as "dust in the fans" has already been ruled out.

Would running chkdsk not show errors? That's a bit time consuming but worth it. Cleaning out cooling fans and heatsinks does help, the mess inside can be alarming.

Technical Ben · Aug 26, 2013, 10:17:37

Chkdsk will show file system errors. But if the disk is slow (due to temporary read errors) or has a few bad sectors Chkdsk won't show this. Most modern drives will skip over a bad sector, and give you a new one (they keep a couple spare at the end of the drive for this). But, if you've had a load, it might indicate problems. To see if the drive has done this, you can view it's S.M.A.R.T. record. This sometimes shows at boot, but most pcs skip all that for quicker boot times. So a program like HDScan will just show you it in Windows Desktop for you.

Also some drives show the temps etc, which can also help if the OS is new/clean and it's still struggling. But as said, a new OS is the easiest route, just most time consuming (*Hugs his week/month backups for "rollbacks" when he messes up*).

Broadback · Aug 27, 2013, 14:40:09

Never really found anything wrong, however it has started to behave itself, I am confused! However now it is working OK which is the easiest/best way to create an exact copy on another fixed disc, including boot, so that if necessary I can boot from that.

pctech · Aug 28, 2013, 20:36:02

Not really that straightforward to do to be honest as you would need to set up a separate partition and adjust a file to include the copy in a boot menu.

I had some lockups recently but tracked this down to a buggy display driver, I downgraded this and all ok.

Have you added any new hardware recently.

Gary · Aug 28, 2013, 20:58:55

Did you have a virus or malware attack recently? Cant remember if you posted about it.

Technical Ben · Aug 28, 2013, 22:35:25

A chap at work (though not in the same business thankfully

) has had a slow PC that I'd probably put down to either a buggy Safari plugin or a virus.

cavillas · Sep 01, 2013, 10:08:45

If your clean backup on the D drive is an image of the c drive then just restore that and see what happens, if it is not an image of c but just a backup then a complet rebuild of Windows would be best. This is where Windows 8 scores wher you can do a complete restore of the OS without losing your documents.

Broadback · Sep 01, 2013, 10:46:21

Thanks C, that finally makes up my mind, I will get a replacement PC as soon as, which has Windows 8 on!

pctech · Sep 01, 2013, 18:28:07

Windows 8 is very different to what you have used before.

Steve · Sep 01, 2013, 18:47:23

Someone has to buy it

Gary · Sep 01, 2013, 20:30:23

Quote from: Steve on Sep 01, 2013, 18:47:23
Someone has to buy it

They seem to be trying not to

Steve · Sep 01, 2013, 20:36:28

Funny thing is I might like W8.