Help needed regarding PC Speed

[chrisk61]

Firstly Im sorry if this is the wrong section to post this but i wasnt sure what the problem is with my computer so I thought this will be the best section.

 

I recently had a few errors on my computer which caused me to reformat. I eventually managed to do this, the PC crashed and restarted several times before I eventually managed to install Windows Vista. But i finally managed to get it installed.

 

I tried to download the Vista Updates but they wasnt downloading for some reason and the same problems kept occuring (a blue screen saying an erorr withs ome txt but restarts the PC before I can read it)

 

I eventually managed to download all the important updates and this stopped the errors. i downlaoded a few things such as my graphics driver software, AVG anti virus and iTunes. The AVG was downloaded last and once i restarted my computer just became EXTREMELY SLOW. I uninstalled the AVG because it became slow after this was installed but the problem still occurs.

 

I Have an oldish processor think its an AMD Athlon 3000+ and 1.5gb of RAM but it shouldnt be running THIS SLOW!

 

Any help will be greatly appreciated, it feels like theres only 500MB of RAM or something but it says it has 1.5gb.

 

Please help anyone

 

thanks

 

chris

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Have you installed Vista on a box that was originally designed for XP Chris?

[Dalo Harkin]

Also when you install Vista - you then need the GPU driver and MAKE SURE its the right one.

and all the windows updates - do you have SP1 on the Vista disk or did you try and DL it?

[Tootech]

Do you have the drivers installed for your motherboard. It does make a difference.

 

Normally this would be a chipset driver, video driver (for card or board), and network driver.

 

BTW, I've had Vista running on an Athlon 3700+, 1.5GB RAM, and it wasn't so slow.

[BeeCeeBee]

Hi Crisk,

 

Since uninformed advice is often worse then none at all a few things need clarifying.

 

Before I ask I am assuming that you have copied all of your drivers to disc and if you have not please do not forget to do so.

 

Now for the questions.

What was the original problem that cause you to reformat? What issues needed to be resolved.

 

What version of Vista are you using? Is it an OEM disc, store bought or an upgrade?

 

You indicted that there were a number of attempts to install Vista that failed. What exactly happened on those occaisions.

 

If we can sort out the process you are using and the chain of events we may be able to get to the bottom of your current problem.

Edited November 18, 2008 by BeeCeeBee

[Seth]

In most instances, you shouldn't need any drivers as a Vista reinstall contains such when installed from the original recovery disks or hidden partition.

 

What is the make and model of the PC, and what exactly does it say on the Vista DVD you used to reinstall?

[chrisk61]

thanks for the response, il try to answer everything you guys said in one post

 

My Computer is a Packard Bell iMedia 1601 (i think that was it)

iv added a new grahpics card (Radeon X1650) and a 1GB RAM stick.

and a 160GB Hardrive

 

Now Iv had the computer for about 4 or 5 years. Iv started to have a lot of problems on the PC, One was i hadnt been downloading the correct driver for my graphics card. When i bought the graphics card i had the original hard drive and i had XP. I bought vista and the disc that came with the graphics card didnt seem to work on vista, just kept freezing, so i eventualyl managed to download the correct driver. I had problems since, bought a new hard drive, but that wasnt really the start of my problems.

 

I added a new case fan to the pc and every so often the fan would sound to cut out and then the screen would go black as if the screen has just been switched off but it obviously crashed.

 

now i am looking to buy a new computer as im now older and would look after it better. But i dont really want to shell out round £400+ at one go for the pc. i also dont wanna pay monthly for it coz i pay monthly for a phone and a car. So i was thinking about building my own computer so i could realistically buy it monthly without all the interested but im wary about problems with hardware.

 

A year ago i became "addicted" to reformatting, if i had a virus i couldnt get rid of id reformat, or an error, reformat! i had a true problem a week ago, i cant remember the ins and outs but like i said iv had a lot of problems with this computer and i kinda just need a fix until i can build or buy my new one.

 

I have a feeling that the motherboard may be the problem coz when i tried to install windows (tried on a few hard drives) the same problems occured.

 

As for the vista disc, i had a genuine purchased copy, it got scratched, a lot and then that wouldnt work. i took it to Game to see if they do the disc cleaning on the disc (were they burn it to remove scratches) but it just made the disc worse. I ordered a new copy (because i had a genuine copy they replaced it) but with 5 different discs as well as a service pack 1 update.

 

When i put the newly installed vista on, when i had the problems i couldnt install service pack 1 but them problems have seemed to go so i may try to install that. The fan in the case DOESNT now go on and off, i took a lot of things out my computer, cleaned it and replaced it all but now like the problem is, its just going really really slow.

 

Another thing, i dont think it needs the disc defrag because its a newly installed copy, but im not an expert

[RandyL]

Hi chris. Have you tried running it with just one stick of RAM or switching slots?

[BeeCeeBee]

Well I have heard of many addictions but this is a new one.

 

Since you seem to go into the hardare pretty heavily and following up on Randy's point. One of the most common causes of hardware related problems is a failure to properly seat or reseat the dimms. (memory sticks)

 

Often they look ok to the naked eye. I would suggest that while you are trying out Randy's auggestion you at least remove and reseat the dimms applying equal pressure when you do.

[Tootech]

Your motherboard was not designed for Vista, but looking at the chipset, KM400a, Viaarena.com suggests it is Vista compatible.

 

It is a good bet that it is still the problem, and perhaps the best way to check it without spending any money at this point would be to run the Microsoft Upgrade Advisor whilst you have XP running.

 

If you have a copy of XP, reinstall it, download and run the Upgrade Advisor and post the results.

 

Get Windows Vista: Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor

[chrisk61]

appreciate the replys. i did run vista advisor a while back in it came up with vista business :S

 

il try the RAM stick switcharoo!

[Guest Wolfeymole]

I find it strange, simply because you have not mentioned it before, that you chose to install the Business edition of Vista.

 

Would there be any reason for doing so?

[chrisk61]

oh no, it didnt install vista business. the advisor suggested Business i installed premium.

 

I took off the vista sidebar, seems to have got faster the PC but not to what it should be I think. switching the RAM slots didnt change anything

[thetylerhayes]

Chris,

 

You don't need to defrag, unless somehow you have a 1TB primary drive that somehow fragments to Hell and back when you format (a little excessive, but you get the point). Even if you did a "quick format," you'd want to defrag before adding to many files to the system; but, it's not critical.

 

I don't recall Chris actually saying which version of Vista he had. Chris, could you tell us if you actually did install Vista Business, or if it's a different version?

 

Bottom Line: Do you need Vista? If you have such a formatting addiction, why not just format and go back to XP? That way, as well, you'd know if this system slow-down is a result of Vista or if it's truly your hardware. It's only another 20-30 minutes of your time, and would benefit you greatly at this point, it sounds like.

[thetylerhayes]

Looks like Chris and I posted around the same time, sorry for asking the question after you'd answered it!

 

Anyway, Chris, open up your Task Manager and click the Processes tab. Click the "CPU" column so that it sorts tasks by CPU usage. Are there any taking more than 03-05 (meaning 3-5% of your CPU)? Keep in mind, many processes will jump around from 05-15 or so, and fairly quickly. You're looking for anything that is consistently over 10-20.

[chrisk61]

hey thetylerhayes

 

on my CPU percentage it was between 8/13% i noticed though when i maximized the internet explorer window it shot up to around 80%

[thetylerhayes]

Chris,

 

When opening/minimizing/maximizing new programs, it's normal for the CPU to spike. If it's hovering around 8-13%, then you're CPU is in the clear.

 

This time, open your Task Manager -> select the View menu -> select "Select Columns". Put a check mark in 2 options: 1) "Memory - Working Set" and 2) "Memory - Private Working Set". Then sort those columns like you did with the CPU column, and post the top 5 highest stats for each column.

 

A few other things:

- When you say "extremely slow," how slow do you mean? For example, how long does it take to start the computer? How long to log in? How long before all the applications in the taskbar are loaded? How long to open your web browser? How long to open this website?

- Is it just as slow in safe mode?