Slow W7 on a Dell

[mij]

My wife's Dell running W7 is awfully slow. Apparently we had problems with it some 2/3 years ago. It crashed so she bought a W7 OS disk and loaded it into the Dell. It wasn't until I was fault finding something else that I noticed how awfully slow it was.

jim.

[KenB]

Hi Jim

 

Try running it in Safe Mode [ just to see if there is an improvement ]

 

Switch on and immediately start tapping F8

The Advanced Options screen will appear.

Select Safe Mode from there.

 

The screen will look odd due to minimal drivers but let me know if the machine runs faster.

[mij]

Thank you KenB for coming back to me on this.

 

Yes it is faster, not as fast as mine but definitely faster than it was.

Jim.

[KenB]

Hi Jim

 

Is yours a higher spec machine ?

 

How much RAM is there in your wife's computer?

Right click on "Computer" > Properties

 

Is it 32 Bit or 64 Bit ?

[mij]

Thanks for the attention.

We are both running W7 Home Premium, 64 bit systems with service pack one. Mine is AMD FX 413 quad core processor 3.8 GHz. RAM 8.00 GB .

My wife's Dell is running an Intel ® core DUO CPU E7500 @ 2.9 GHz 3.00 GB Ram.

Is this the info you need?

Jim.

[KenB]

Hi Jim - yes thanks for the info.

 

Your machine will obviously run faster as it is a higher spec.

 

3GB should be OK for Win7 on a 64 bit system - OK means just that though. :(

 

Right click on C: > Properties

How much free space is showing on the hard disk ?

Is it nearly full ?

What size is the hard disk ?

 

I would like to see 15% or more free space.

 

Right click on C: > Properties

[mij]

Thanks KenB, I have just done that.

Size of disk =465GB

Used space = 173GB

Free space =292GB

which is enough I think. Neither of us play games on the computers.

Jim.

[KenB]

Hi Jim,

The Free Space is fine.

The amount of RAM is fine too.

 

When you booted up in Safe Mode - did it run significantly faster ?

 

The problem machine probably has 2 RAM modules.

Are you happy to access them?

[not sure if you have a laptop or desktop ?]

Some laptops are awkward to get at the RAM.

 

If you can access the RAM try running on just 1 module.

If still a problem - swap them over and run on the other.

 

If the machine runs OK on just one module then the other module could be faulty.

 

Obviously put both back if the problem persists.

[Starbuck]

My wife's Dell is running an Intel ® core ™ DUO CPU E7500 @ 2.9 GHz 3.00 GB Ram.

Duo core and 2GB Ram is the bare minimum to run Win7.

Although it will run on 2GB ram ( just) the recommended is 4GB.

3GB is a bit odd though..... normally the ram is in even numbers.

Are the ram chips, matched? (meaning are they both the same amount )

[mij]

Hi Starbuck.

The 3 GB of RAM sounds unusual.

The unit is a Dell where all the gubbins is in the screen - even the cd/dvd unit.

My wife uses a wireless key board and mouse with it.

Is there a timed session which is comparable

Jim.

[Starbuck]

Hi Jim,

 

So this is an 'All in One' system?

[KenB]

3 GB of RAM sounds unusual.

I agree - RAM is usually even numbers.

 

Try this for me.....

Start > type in .....command .... click on command prompt that appears.

 

At the prompt [ black screen ] type ....

wmic MemoryChip get BankLabel, Capacity ...........then hit Enter [ take care to get the spaces and comma correct ]

 

You should see something like this ....

 

The capacity is a bit confusing ............ mine shows 8 Gig

BANK is the slot that the module is in.

I have one 8Gig RAM module.

 

The results will tell us if you have 2 modules and what size.

[Rustys]

Sorry to interrupt I have a Gateway NE56R10u that came with only 3 GB DDR3 Memory and even states that on the system sticker.

[KenB]

We just said it was unusual :)

[mij]

Replying to KenB's post.......thanks for the instructions. I got.....

ERROR:

Description = Invalid Query

 

I wrote........

Wmic MemoryChip get BasketLabel, Capacity

Oh! D********, just saw my error!!!

Ok got it right.

BankLabel Capacity

2147483648

1073741824

Jim.

[KenB]

Hi Jim

It is showing that you have 2 modules - one 2GB and the other 1GB

Which confirms what you said.

 

If, as Starbuck suggested, you have an all-in-one it is difficult to access the RAM so what I suggested earlier may not be possible. :(

[mij]

Thanks KenB for your help in all this. In this case I might advise her to a change of machine. My wife has always threatened to go the Apple Mac way so perhaps it's time :).

Jim.

[KenB]

Back to my original question ......

When you booted up in safe Mode - did it run significantly faster ?

 

If so it could be something running in the background slowing the system down.

[mij]

Thanks KenB, I'll get around to trying that one later. I did try it when you said but was unable to relate the outcome to the problem. We do have family around today so maybe later than I'd like but will definitely set to it with a time-peace to compare.

Jim.

[KenB]

Let me know how it goes Jim :)

[Starbuck]

Another thing to try would be a 'clean boot' .....

Clean booting is a process which will disable non-windows services and start-up programs that may not be needed. If you clean boot your computer, you will usually have a reduced boot time and less load on the CPU.

 

Hold down the Windows key on your keyboard and press the R key.

With the Run dialogue window open, type in msconfig and click the OK button.

 

You should now be looking at the System Configuration window. Click on the Services tab.

 

On the Services tab, you'll notice a long list of services available on your PC

First, check the box labeled Hide All Microsoft Services. <<<<<<<<<<< Important

Next, click the Disable All button

 

By performing these two steps, you have effectively turned off all services from third-party software developers.

All Microsoft services remain intact and will be ready to load when you reboot Windows.

 

Finally, click the OK button and reboot the system

 

When you reboot, you may get messages that certain hardware and software are not unavailable. This is normal.

 

Just be sure to hide all Microsoft services before you use the Disable All button. Otherwise, you may encounter boot up errors when you reboot your PC.

 

Remember, running Windows like this is just temporary.

 

 

 

To restore Windows to a normal start up functionality:

• Start the System Configuration Utility again (MSCONFIG)
  
• On the "General" tab:
  
• Click to select "Normal Startup"
  
• Click "OK"
  
• Choose the "Exit with Restart" option to restart your computer.
  

[KenB]

Another thing to try would be a 'clean boot'

I was heading in that direction Starbuck - just wanted to know the results of Safe Mode.

 

Nice to know we are on the same wavelength :)

[Starbuck]

[mij]

Thanks KenB. I clocked the opening times of three sites as well as W7 itself.

 

Opening W7 normal...58 seconds.....safe mode....27 seconds

site a......................"...........7 seconds..............".................7seconds

site b......................"...........7 seconds..............."................3 seconds

Opening google "..........63 seconds............".................35 seconds

 

There seems to be little difference between the sites but W7 and Google are wide apart.

Jim.

[KenB]

Hi Jim

You would expect to see a difference in boot-up times - Safe Mode should be quicker.

35 seconds is still a long time to wait for Google to open.

 

Can you try some software - Word or one of the other programs you have installed.

This then excludes the internet and associated problems.

Safe Mode and normal boot up.

Try the software a few times to get an average.

Make a note of the times.

 

Pete suggested a clean boot a few posts back.

Give this a go and let us know how you get on.

Does this make any difference to the software / internet times ?