Dell/XP: Unresolved browser issue, then stumped by System restore

[asmoeone]

Hello,

 

It's a beautiful sunny day here. Unfortunately I've spent most of it unsuccessfully trying to fix my father's Dell Dimension 3000 (Win XP), which has gradually become unusably slow for web browsing. I've tried most of the things I can think of to speed it up (see below), without any success. Finally I've tried and failed to restore the machine to factory state using the Dell PC Restore process. I would really appreciate some advice with either -

1. fixing the slow internet issue directly, and/or

2. restoring the machine to factory status

 

--------

Actions/Observations/Clues:

 

All browsers are running slow on this PC. Other apps seem fine.

Another PC using the same modem/router and internet connection runs fine.

I tried running Firefox with all add-ons disabled.

I reinstalled Firefox

I checked Windows is up to date

I uninstalled extraneous software

I installed and ran CCleaner, (removed unused files, cleaned registry, disabled unrequired startup processes)

I ran disk defrag

I uninstalled McAfee security software (using their own uninstaller, not without issue) and replaced with MS Security Essentials

I noted in Device manager that there are still several entries for McAfee Core NDIS Intermediate Filter Miniports with status disabled.

I installed MBAM and ran full scan

I updated the network adapter driver

I upgraded RAM from 512 to 1Gb, since available physical memory showed only around 15-20%. This sped up PC, but not browser.

I uninstalled all AOL software (7 programs!)

 

Finally, I tried to access Dell PC Restore via Ctrl+F11 on Dell startup screen.

I noted no such Dell startup screen is displayed, but managed to access it anyway. Received message that restore could not be done because of a system change. I found a useful resource here that seems to explain this as being caused by changes having been made to the hard disk partitions (changes apparently made ages ago by some passing acquaintance of my Dad's e.g. setting up extended partition with swap and temp drives etc.).

 

I looked at partitions in Explorer. I noticed there is a "Ghost" partition (seemingly empty), some Norton Ghost 2003 files (seemingly only installation files), and no entry for Ghost in add/remove programs, so it doesn't appear to me that Ghost2003 is active.

I looked at partitions in Windows Disk management. The partition in position 4 shows as FAT32, 2.75Gb, 30%free, whilst the same partition shows in PartitionMagic as Local Disk, CP/M, Concurrent DOS, CTOS, 2.8Gb, unused=0

I don't understand what this partition is. I hope it contains the image for the Dell PC Restore, but I don't know how to confirm this and it would be good to know that's what it is before I embark on trying to get the Dell PC Restore working again, if that's even a good idea.

 

Thanks for taking the time,

John

[Plastic Nev]

Hi John, it may just be better to get in touch with DELL and obtain a disk from them for a system restore, by what you say the hard drive partitions have been seriously messed up, so the only way out would be with a disk and a complete reformat of the hard drive. Hopefully the DELL service tag will be available as you will need to quote that to obtain the disk or disks.

Before doing this make sure all important data is backed up and copied to either an external drive or DVD disks if no drive available.

Nev.

[RandyL]

I agree with Plastic Nev. Backup then try to get the restore disks from Dell and start completely over.

 

For the record Norton Ghost is old school technology but some old Dells used Norton backup utility. Ghost basically used drive overlay technology which could make it appear as a seperate drive although small. Outdated since System Restore was introduced with Windows Millenium.

 

FAT32 file systems were DOS based unlike newer versions of Windows that use the NTFS file system which is what XP is usually set up as. However a secondary drive or partion of a drive may be set up as FAT. Sometimes a restore partion will be FAT if I'm not mistaken.

 

Either way it sounds like a real mess if you can't access the Dell recovery and have 4 partitions.

[asmoeone]

Thanks guys. I don't fancy trying to sort out the partitioning/restore, so I'm tracking down some disks. In the meantime I've discovered an apparent issue with performance on the router's LAN ports. I might well be back...