HP 550 running slow and freezing

[Starbuck]

Thanks Ray

 

It was the temps that i wanted to see.

How long had the system been running when you took those temps?

Can you try them again after the system has been running for awhile.

[Ray1000]

The second temps were after about 30 mins and they remained constant for the next hour.

 

Noticeably on one occasion of it freezing up this afternoon, it had only been on a few minutes.

 

These people don't use the laptop very much, I noticed the last outgoing email had been was back in Feb 2013. It may be best to let them have it back and see how they go on. At least I've been able to copy 1500 photos onto a flash drive and introduce them to the USB socket on the back of the television.

 

If it continues to fail I could later add a GB of RAM and install a fresh copy of Vista,

 

Ray

[Starbuck]

Hi Ray,

 

The second temps were after about 30 mins and they remained constant for the next hour.

 

Noticeably on one occasion of it freezing up this afternoon, it had only been on a few minutes.

This doesn't seem an over heating problem then.

 

There is a couple of things you could do before returning the laptop ..... just to check for a corrupt system file/files or corruption within the hard drive.

 

Step 1

Click Start >> All Programs >> Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator. If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow.

Type the following command, and then press the ENTER key:

sfc /scannow

(the gap is meant to be there between the c and the / )

The sfc /scannow command scans all protected system files and replaces incorrect versions with correct Microsoft versions.

 

 

Step 2

• Click Start >> Computer
  
• Right click on your main drive (usually 'C')
  
• Select Properties
  
• Click on the Tools tab
  
• Under Error Checking.. Click Check Now
  
• Tick the options that you require ( I recommend that you tick both options )
  
• Click Start
  
• On the screen that comes up.. Click Yes then OK
  
• Now restart your computer.

Note: Be patient. Analyzing the drive can be a lengthy process

 

To clean up the system before returning it....

 

Step 3

Restart MBAM.

Click on the Quarantine tab

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v708/starbuck50/malwqua_zps3f437f52.png

 

If there are items in quarantine.....

Make sure everything is selected and then click Delete All.

Close MBAM.

 

 

Step 4

Please uninstall ComboFix by

Clicking on Start ...then run ... and type in combofix /uninstall (don't forget there's is a gap between x and /) Then press Ok

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v708/starbuck50/new/cfu.png

 

This action will uninstall Combofix and also perform a few cleanup measures

 

By default, Windows Vista does not have the "Run" command on the start menu. It's easy to get this back if you need it.

 

1. Open the start menu.

2. Right click on a non-icon area and select "Properties".

3. Press the "Customize" button.

4. Scroll down and find the "Run command" checkbox.

5. Check it and press OK.

6. Press OK.

 

You now have your run command on the start menu.

 

 

Step 5

• Please double-click OTL to run it. Vista/Windows 7/8 users right-click and select Run As Administrator.
  
• You should see a CleanUp! button, press that button,
   
  http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v708/starbuck50/cleanupbutton.png
   
  
• This will cleanup an assortment of tools used during malware removal, plus itself

 

Note:

MBAM will not be removed if installed.

 

 

Speccy can be removed through the Add/Remove.

 

Just post back if you need any further advice.

 

Safe surfing. http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/033/b/3/Computer_addict__by_Sinister_Starfeesh.gif

[Ray1000]

Thank you Pete,

 

I'm just on with your directions this evening but the sfc /scannow froze at 58% ... I'm just going to start again.

 

Ray

[Ray1000]

The scan ran properly the second time around... it seemed to identify and repair one fault and was unable to repair one more ... Windows Notify.wav

 

Thank you very much again for your help, The machine is running a 100 times better than it was before you started.

 

I'll take it back tomorrow.

 

Ray

[Starbuck]

it seemed to identify and repair one fault and was unable to repair one more ... Windows Notify.wav

That is only a sound file, so i wouldn't worry too much about it.

[Ray1000]

Just to round this thread off I returned the laptop still with an intermittent screen freezing problem but a 100 times better than it was.

 

The couple benefited from having 1500 photos transferred onto a new flash drive and an introduction into viewing them on the TV screen.

 

On the occasion of it seizing up they'll simply turn it off, and click "Start Windows Normally" when they next turn it on.

 

If I happen to be there when its making it's way to the dustbin it'll be interesting to see if a fresh copy of Vista will end the freezing problem.

 

Thank you again for all your help.

 

Ray

[Starbuck]

Hi Ray,

 

If I happen to be there when its making it's way to the dustbin it'll be interesting to see if a fresh copy of Vista will end the freezing problem.

When all else fails.... try a reinstall.

If that doesn't sort it, it must be hardware related.

 

Take care.

[Ray1000]

Recap ...

 

A neighbours HP 550 laptop running slow and freezing.

 

With your help ...

Ran Malwarebytes and OTL ... Logs posted ... Items removed

Ran ComboFix

Ran Speccy ... Temperatures OK

Ran sfc /scannow ... Only found a faulty sound file.

 

The couple bought an iPad Air in the meantime and I have the laptop back to remove their details and have another go at solving the mystery.

 

On start up it was running slow but didn’t freeze.

Reinstalled fresh copy of Windows Vista ... Installed the drivers ...now running at normal speed.

 

Tried it for the first time without the mains cable ... Battery at 98%

Two minutes later it shut down ... wouldn’t start.

 

Connected mains cable ... started up ... battery indicator showing zero ... Charged for an hour or so ... Indicator showing 100%

 

Removed mains cable ... 2 minutes later screen goes off ... orange light flashing indicating lack of power ... 1 minute later shuts down ... battery seemingly flat.

 

Tried this sequence several times with the same result, while the battery seems to fully charge it won't hold it for longer than a few minutes.

 

Q. I wonder if it needs a new battery ... Battery P/N NBP6A96 HP LI-ON Date 2008

 

Q. Are there any other checks I could carry out?

 

Ray

 

HP 550 Notebook PC

Vista Home Basic 32bit

1GB DDR2 RAM

Celeron 550@2.00GHz

[Starbuck]

Hi Ray,

 

Tried it for the first time without the mains cable ... Battery at 98%

Two minutes later it shut down ... wouldn’t start.

 

Connected mains cable ... started up ... battery indicator showing zero ... Charged for an hour or so ... Indicator showing 100%

 

Removed mains cable ... 2 minutes later screen goes off ... orange light flashing indicating lack of power ... 1 minute later shuts down ... battery seemingly flat.

Sounds typical of laptops.

The battery is the weakest part.

I've fixed 8 laptops for friends over the last 12 months...... 5 of these had the same problem.

I had to run them with the charger connected all the time.

I think a new battery is the way to go.

 

I did see in the email notification that you was thinking of upgrading the Ram memory....

Best to check the amount of Ram that the motherboard can handle.

 

Go to http://www.crucial.com/uk/systemscanner/index.aspx

 

1. First, agree to the terms and conditions.

2. Click the "download the scanner" button, and choose "Save File" when prompted.

3. Save the file to your desktop, or anywhere you prefer.

4. Navigate to this saved CrucialScan.exe file and open. If you get a security warning, click "Run" to allow the download.

5. It will take several moments while your browser is updated with your scan results.

 

When the report comes up it will tell you how much Ram memory is installed, how many modules,how many slots are used, how many are available, how much Ram memory can be installed and what type of memory you can install.

Crucial will also give you a price for any recommended Ram upgrades, but you don't have to accept this.

You are free to use their scanner and then buy your Ram chips from wherever you want.

[Ray1000]

Thank you Pete,

 

I'll have a look for a new battery.

 

I'll also double check the memory requirement on the link ... according to the HP website it will take 4GB. Only one of the two slots are in use at present.

 

Just one more thing ...

 

When I loaded the fresh copy of Vista – to get rid of the HP software – I still ended up with a 10GB partition (D) containing “HP Recovery” and a copy of Windows dot old (On C)

 

Presumably the Windows.old can simply be deleted but what about the recovery partition?

 

Should I have chosen “Format” from the options during installation ... I don’t mind doing it again if needs be.

 

I’m working on the assumption that the HP Recovery is no longer appropriate to the HP free windows.

 

Ray

[Starbuck]

Hi Ray,

 

I’m working on the assumption that the HP Recovery is no longer appropriate to the HP free windows.

The recovery partition contains a copy of the OS that came installed originally.

A lot of companies don't issue copies of the OS on disc..... all the info needed for a reinstall is on the recovery partition.

Depending on the company concerned, you may need a 3rd party program to remove it.

Sometimes this partition is protected.

 

Presumably the Windows.old can simply be deleted

Yes the windows.old folder can be deleted if not required.

The windows.old folder will contain all the files/documents/pics etc that was on the old system before you did the reinstall.If this isn't applicable to you.... it can be deleted to give you back that extra hard drive space.

[Ray1000]

Thank you Pete

 

Ray