[Snowdiver]

Hello,
Mt computer is a Gateway Model GT5244E, Intel Celeron D 352, 3.2 Ghz, 512 MB DDR2. When I power it up the first screen stays for five minutes. Then the subsequent screens take a long time as well as the windows blue screen which takes forever. When my desktop finally loads there is a bubble message saying "found new hardware".

I'm at a loss finding the problem and any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Gary

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I tried the procedure listed in this post

http://www.geekstogo...ot-t138828.html

When I got to the defrag part here,
disc defragmenter
----------------------
runbox command
- press the keyboard buttons: winkey + r
- paste in the slot: dfrg.msc
- press enter

The computer could not find it, maybe that is what's wrong?

Thanks

[Snowdiver]

I tried the procedure listed in this post

http://www.geekstogo...ot-t138828.html

When I got to the defrag part here,
disc defragmenter
----------------------
runbox command
- press the keyboard buttons: winkey + r
- paste in the slot: dfrg.msc
- press enter

The computer could not find it, maybe that is what's wrong?

Thanks

[happyrock]

can you boot into safe mode....

try system restore...

still slow...try this
To re-enable the typical, or faster UDMA transfer mode for an affected drive...
right click my computer... and then click properties...hardware tab
then click Device Manager....
click on the + beside IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers....
Double-click the controller for which you want to restore the typical DMA transfer mode. this is normally the C: drive
Click the Driver tab.
Click Uninstall.
restart your computer. When Windows restarts, the hard disk controller is reset and the transfer mode is reset to the default value for each device that is connected to the controller.

[Snowdiver]

Well,
I did everything suggested and it still booted slow. I bit the bullet and reloaded the OS. It still loads slow. It stays on the initial Gateway window for 5 minutes. It takes 7-8 minutes total to start. Any other suggestion would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Gary

[happyrock]

if its taking that long to load then the drive must have errors...and then it drops to PIO mode instead o DMA..go here for instructions to check and reset the transfer mode if necessary
no joy...

you should run chkdsk...
still no joy

change the hard drive cable then... must be 40 pin 80 WIRE...

[Snowdiver]

This same thing started popping up before I reloaded the OS and now it still is there.

Found new hardware, Video Controller (VGA Compatible) then the Found New Hardware Wizard pops up.

I didn't add any new hardware?

[happyrock]

you will have to install all of your drivers after the new install of the OS...start with your chipset drivers then the video driver if you have a video card...use the device manager to see what drivers are missing...

[Snowdiver]

So, in Device Mgr. it shows a Video Controller(VGA Compatible) and a USB Mass Storage Device. Both have yellow question marks. I can't get rid of them? What do I do? I uninstalled both, is that right?

on edit...
Uninstalling did not work, the next boot they were back, I can't make them work?

Thanks,
Gary

Edited by Snowdiver, 05 May 2008 - 01:07 AM.

[happyrock]

go to the website of your computer manufacture...their support section...find your make and model drivers section...download the drivers you need and install them...I suggest you get them all and burn them to a cd in case you need them in the future..

[Snowdiver]

I was able to get the drivers sorted out. It still takes forever to boot. Someone said it might be:

1) Failed Hard drive or
2) Dead motherboard battery or
3) Failed motherboard.

I guess this is my next avenue of attack. Any other suggestions please?

Thanks,
Gary


edit for spelling

Edited by Snowdiver, 05 May 2008 - 10:30 PM.

[happyrock]

did you check and reset the transfer mode like I asked in post # 5...

go to START..RUN...type in MSCONFIG...then click on OK or press ENTER..
click on START UP TAB...uncheck everything EXCEPT your AV and firewall...if its a laptop you have to be careful about what you uncheck or your touch pad and wireless and things like that will not function for you..
google each start up item to decide if you need it to load with windows...unchecking them does not remove them ..they are still available to use...

the next thing we are going to do is turn off indexing ....its a resource hog and if you aren't searching for things on your computer 10 times a day it will only slow down your system....

click on start...my computer...right click on C: drive....properties...on the general tab..uncheck ...allow indexing on this drive....if you do not have the box on your system...

then START...RUN...type in SERVICES.MSC...then OK...scroll down until you find INDEXING SERVICE...click on it and in the general tab set it to DISABLED...then exit

To clean your temp folder, recycle bin, index.dat etc..please download this free tool...

CCleaner

Don't install any Toolbars, or other programs, should it ask you...Just
uncheck the option of installing the Yahoo toolbar....if you get
the slim version it does not have the toolbar
thats the one I recommend...
It will put a shortcut on your Desktop.

Click on CCleaner to start it....
Before first use...
Select Options then Advanced.
UNCHECK "Only delete files in Windows Temp folder older than 48 hours"
The rest of the standard settings are fine...

Then click "Run Cleaner"

DO NOT USE ANY OF THE OTHER TOOLS...RUNNING THEM MAY CAUSE OTHER PROBLEMS

next get diskeeper lite here...

after installing it...click on the icon...close the "nag" screen...click on your c drive to select it ...then down towards the bottom ...click on defragment now...first time you use it it may take 15 to 30 minutes to complete...do it about every two weeks and it will complete in about 7 minutes...
reboot and tell me hows its running...


you do not have to defrag in safe mode with diskeeper lite and its 10 times as fast than the defragger that comes with windows

no joy ...

Chkdsk is a utility designed to check the integrity of the data on a computer's hard disk drive as well as find and fix errors which could corrupt such data.

Running chkdsk on your Windows XP or 2000 system can repair minor Windows problems

There are several different methods that can be used to run chkdsk

proceed to one of the next options...read them both first

1. Click the Start button then... Run
2. In the Run window's Open box... type in ... cmd
3. Click OK and an MS-DOS-style black screen will appear in a new window
4. Run chkdsk by typing one of the the following commands where the cursor is blinking...
chkdsk c: /f /r and then press ...ENTER...

typing chkdsk c: /f /r will both fix errors and recover lost data. Running chkdsk with both the /f and /r options can often take a considerable amount of time depending upon the size of your hard drive and the amount of data stored on it

OR
chkdsk c: /f and then press ...ENTER...

Typing chkdsk c: /f will only fix errors that are encountered but its much faster


5. With either command, a message will appear that says...chkdsk cannot run because the volume is in use by another process. Would you like to schedule this volume to be checked the next time the system restarts? <y/n>"
6. Type y (for "yes") and then press ...ENTER...
7. A message will appear that will say...This volume will be checked the next time the system restarts
8. Type exit and then press ...ENTER...
9. Reboot the computer as you normally would and chkdsk will automatically begin running after your reboot... While chkdsk is running you will see a light blue window with a dark blue band at the top and bottom. Chkdsk will display the specific stage it is checking as well as the percentage of completion of the stage.
You cannot do anything else on your computer while chkdsk is running. When chkdsk is finished, it will automatically reboot your computer.

NOTE...it may appear to hang or even backup some...let it run

Edited by happyrck, 06 May 2008 - 06:31 AM.

[Snowdiver]

I did check the transfer mode they were at 5 and 2 DMA. I ran chkdsk three different times. I ran CCleaner yesterday evening. ???

[happyrock]

I did check the transfer mode they were at 5 and 2 DMA. I ran chkdsk three different times. I ran CCleaner yesterday evening. ???

how was I to know that...you never told us what you have done or tried...

did you replace the drive cable...did you defrag....did you do as I asked in msconfig...

Edited by happyrck, 06 May 2008 - 08:25 AM.

[Snowdiver]

Sorry. I did defrag and did the msconfig procedure. I did not replace the cable.

on edit....
I disconnected the hard drive and booted, still five minute wait pre BIOS screen. I replaced the mother board battery, same thing The BIOS is Phoenix Technologies, LTD W7248AG2 1.06

Edited by Snowdiver, 06 May 2008 - 04:58 PM.

[happyrock]

once it finally boots ...does it run as fast as normal...or is everything slow...
I'm starting to suspect somethings amiss in the bios OR the power supply is failing...

Edited by happyrck, 07 May 2008 - 01:25 PM.