[ClickRight]

You need to pay attention, ClickRight. This is a different machine than the first instance and it has not reset to PIO...at this point the HDD appears to be fine. The HDTune (free version) you suggest will check far less than the free utility from his HDD manufacturer's website.

Some additional cleanup may be needed and, perhaps, some additional RAM, but we won't know that until MahatmaGandi replies with the information.

wannabe1,

Just read the thread over again, and it appears MahatmaGandi machine reverted to PIO mode as well. My reason for checking with HDTune is to get an idea of the SMART values of the drive (for example, reallocated or pending sectors.) This may give us some insight to his computer's slowness. It would not be a good idea to run certain manufacturer's tests on a drive that is approaching it's limit of bad sectors. However, if the SMART values are OK, it may be a good idea to run the manufacturer's test, but only after a backup has been done of the data.

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Neither of these machines has "reverted" to PIO. They've been set to PIO because there was a problem somewhere in the data transfer modes, but that does not mean the HDD is going bad. If either one of these machines does revert to PIO after once being reset, then I agree, it may be the HDD going bad.

I'm on a machine right now that set itself to PIO mode once...I reset it and have used it without a problem for nearly two years. I've seen bad memory cause this issue as well as bad optical drives. Even a weak PSU can cause it if the 5v or 3.3v rails are weak.

It's user choice whether or not to run HDD diagnostics, I'll not recommend against it as it's a good troubleshooting step whether I feel it's necessary or not. It would be better, in my opinion, to run the manufacturer's utility in any case.

[wannabe1]

Neither of these machines has "reverted" to PIO. They've been set to PIO because there was a problem somewhere in the data transfer modes, but that does not mean the HDD is going bad. If either one of these machines does revert to PIO after once being reset, then I agree, it may be the HDD going bad.

I'm on a machine right now that set itself to PIO mode once...I reset it and have used it without a problem for nearly two years. I've seen bad memory cause this issue as well as bad optical drives. Even a weak PSU can cause it if the 5v or 3.3v rails are weak.

It's user choice whether or not to run HDD diagnostics, I'll not recommend against it as it's a good troubleshooting step whether I feel it's necessary or not. It would be better, in my opinion, to run the manufacturer's utility in any case.

[cmpm]

Any kind of suspected problems with the computer, the hard drives are usually backed down to PIO for diagnosis purposes.

It is a safeguard so that you can still access your computer.

It may be the hard drive reallocating bad blocks.
Which it is designed to do.
But it can be reset to Dma and retain that setting since the block is isolated.

That is why all hard drives have extra space on them.
ie-a 250 gig is really 230 something
i think it has like 8 gigs per 100 for reallocating bad blocks in the hard drive

So even if this or another problem occurs that tells windows to change to pio.
That does not mean it is the hard drive.

Many, many programs and hardware trigger this action without notifying the user.

[MahatmaGandi]

For the sake of the argument i did everything

and nothing did the trick!

here is the HDD tune health report





ID Current Worst ThresholdData Status
(03) Spin Up Time 229 226 63 9540 Ok
(04) Start/Stop Count 252 252 0 2243 Ok
(05) Reallocated Sector Count 251 170 63 25 Ok
(06) Read Channel Margin 253 253 100 0 Ok
(07) Seek Error Rate 253 252 0 0 Ok
(08) Seek Time Performance 250 239 187 50085 Ok
(09) Power On Hours Count 168 168 0 63560 Ok
(0A) Spin Retry Count 253 252 157 0 Ok
(0B) Calibration Retry Count 253 252 223 0 Ok
(0C) Power Cycle Count 253 253 0 305 Ok
(C0) Power Off Retract Count 253 253 0 0 Ok
(C1) Load Cycle Count 253 253 0 0 Ok
(C2) Temperature 253 253 0 40 Ok
(C3) Hardware ECC Recovered 253 252 0 21588 Ok
(C4) Reallocated Event Count 1 1 0 817 Ok
(C5) Current Pending Sector 253 171 0 0 Ok
(C6) Offline Uncorrectable 1 1 0 8895 Ok
(C7) Ultra DMA CRC Error Count 199 199 0 0 Ok
(C8) Write Error Rate 253 252 0 0 Ok
(C9) TA Counter Detected 253 250 0 14 Ok
(CA) TA Counter Increased 253 1 0 0 Ok
(CB) Run Out Cancel 253 252 180 11 Ok
(CC) Soft ECC Correction 253 242 0 0 Ok
(CD) Thermal Asperity Rate 253 252 0 0 Ok
(CF) Spin High Current 253 252 0 0 Ok
(D0) Spin Buzz 253 252 0 0 Ok
(D1) Offline Seek Performance 191 191 0 0 Ok
(63) (unknown attribute) 253 253 0 0 Ok
(64) (unknown attribute) 253 253 0 0 Ok
(65) (unknown attribute) 253 253 0 0 Ok

Power On Time : 63560
Health Status : Ok

[MahatmaGandi]

if any hardware can trigger this could it be the sound card

because i have some issues with that to!

when i run any programs that play sound with any other program
the sound gets distorted or even slows down.


i have 768 MB of RAM but i dont think that maters
because it worked fine till now.

[cmpm]

turn off computer
and pull the sound card
see how it does then

Here's some more programs to clean your computer

http://www.geekstogo...amp;showfile=21

http://www.filehippo...nload_ccleaner/

with 768 of ram, that sounds like a pentium3

Right click 'my computer'
click properties
click advanced tab
performance-settings
advanced
change
click 'system managed size
click set(or it won't work)
click apply and ok

while still in performance
under visual effects
click adjust for best performance
then check
show shadows under mouse curser
smoothedges of screen fonts
and check the last three boxes
click apply and ok till your out of there

Edited by cmpm, 16 July 2008 - 10:30 PM.

[MahatmaGandi]

i used every program so my computer is probably the cleanest one around right now

as for the other settings!
i dont think they mater
because like i pointed out it worked fine before


and the sound card?
i tuck it out and the result was the same
but i did get this message ( after i put it back in and it worked fine for a while )



[b]The currently selected audio driver is not available. Another application may be using the same driver or the device may not be properly connected and powered.
You can select a new driver using the Audio Hardware Setup option. !!!!!!!!!


but the device is properly connected and powered and i tried old and new drivers....
so im stuck...


i just simply have no idea whats wrong

[cmpm]

Check the computers maker website for updates for sound or anything else.

That wouldn't be a dell would it?

What's the name brand and model, i can help find some things perhaps.

[The Skeptic]

This is a typical case in which one poster steps into an existing thread, creating confusion. MahatmaGandi, please start your own topic. The original one was resolved with the help of wannabe1. Write down, in an orderly manner, what problems you have with your computer and we will do our best to help you in a systematic and logical manner.


Kind Regards

The Skeptic

[MahatmaGandi]

im sorry if i created confusion for some
that was not my intention

but i thin im still holding true to the original post Slowness...killing me.
and i think anyone who has a similar problem will find these posts helpful.

i appreciate all of your help but i dont think this is going anywhere!

probably i should start thinking about baying a new computer or at least some parts of it!

Kind Regards

MahatmaGandi

[The Skeptic]

There is so much that can be done, why replace your computer? We deal with these problems on a daily basis. Obviously it's easier when you have the computer in front of you but even here many of the topics are related to low computer performance.

Please start a new topic, write down all the symptoms and what was done so far. Add your computer make and model and what operating system and service pack you have installed.

I can assure you that someone will come to your help, even people that took part on this thread.


Kind Regards

The Skeptic