[JessieDemille89]

hello,

my computer has been getting slower and slower the longer I use it. I have to restart it every few hours for it to stay usable, otherwise I get nothing done. It also has been taking a VERRRRRYY long time to restart. I usual have enough time to water my lawn in the mean time... It's really getting quite ridiculous...

 

My computer friend already came and took a look at it. he had a bunch of discs and stuff and ran tests on it all day. he said the only way to fix my computer was to wipe everything and start over, is that really my only option?

 

please help me

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Formatting the hard drive should be your last option. Usually you get to that point when your computer has a hard time booting up or if you are getting a blue screen (there are ways around that too). It sounds to me that your computer needs a good tune up/clean up to get rid of all the junk that's on it.

Edited by Intalex, 05 September 2014 - 05:38 PM.

[Intalex]

Formatting the hard drive should be your last option. Usually you get to that point when your computer has a hard time booting up or if you are getting a blue screen (there are ways around that too). It sounds to me that your computer needs a good tune up/clean up to get rid of all the junk that's on it.

Edited by Intalex, 05 September 2014 - 05:38 PM.

[phillpower2]

    JessieDemille89

 

Intalex is quite correct as there are others ways of improving the computers performance and you do not need any type of third party or OS disk to do so.

 

Please provide information about your computer, this includes is it a notebook or desktop, is it a custom build or brand name such as Dell or HP, if it is a brand name provide the model name or series number (not serial) providing these details will enable us to better assist you.

 

We should take a look at your hard drive properties to begin with;

 

1.        Click on the Start button and then choose Control Panel.

2.        Click on the System and Security link.

Note: If you're viewing the Large icons or Small iconsview of Control Panel, you won't see this link so just click on the Administrative Tools icon and skip to Step 4.

3.        In the System and Security window, click on the Administrative Tools heading located near the bottom of the window.

4.        In the Administrative Tools window, double-click on the Computer Management icon.

5.        When Computer Management opens, click on Disk Management on the left side of the window, located under Storage.

After a brief loading period, Disk Management should now appear on the right side of the Computer Management window.

Note: If you don't see Disk Management listed, you may need to click on the |> icon to the left of the Storage icon.

 

Do the following to take an expanded screenshot while the above is open and showing on your desktop.

 

Click on the ALT key + PRT SCR key..its on the top row..right hand side..now click on start...all programs...accessories...paint....left click in the white area ...press CTRL + V...click on file...click on save...save it to your desktop...name it something related to the screen your capturing... BE SURE TO SAVE IT AS A .JPG ...otherwise it may be to big to upload... then after typing in any response you have... click on browse...desktop...find the screenshot..select it and click on the upload button...then on the lower left...after it says upload successful...click on add reply like you normally would.
 

Screenshot instructions are provided to assist those that may read this topic but are not yet aware of the “how to”.

 

NB: In order to receive notification of any reply to your topic please click on the Follow this topic tab at the upper right corner of the page. 

[JessieDemille89]

here's the picture you requested.

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[phillpower2]

The HDD looks fine but I also asked the following;

 

Please provide information about your computer, this includes is it a notebook or desktop, is it a custom build or brand name such as Dell or HP, if it is a brand name provide the model name or series number (not serial) providing these details will enable us to better assist you.

 

 

Knowing your computer specs will give us an idea as to how it should be performing, can you also tell us what anti virus protection you have.

[JessieDemille89]

Oh, sorry, I was in a bit of a rush yesterday, I missed that part. My computer was made for me by my computer friend because he said he could make a fast one for cheaper than retail.

 

Here's my system details. My friend showed me how to look at this stuff when he set up my computer.

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[Plastic Nev]

Hi, I am afraid that is perhaps a little too basic, to save Phil a job, can you please download Speccy from Pirriform. this link auto starts the download.

 

http://www.piriform....wnload/standard

 

Once downloaded, install it and open it.

 

Once it has opened and analysed the system, click on "File" top left, then select "Publish snapshot", that will give a unique link, if you can post that link here we can see what is what from that.

 

Nev.

[phillpower2]

Thanks Nev 

[JessieDemille89]

http://speccy.pirifo...BRtgTHpNjhrHo54

[phillpower2]

Two things of note in Speccy are 1: you are using Norton AV which is a hog on system resources and slows down your machine, if it is a paid for product make a note of the licence key and then uninstall it using the correct removal tool from here and then download Avast free from here 2: your power readings are anomalous and need to be checked out, see below;

 

Download Speedfan and install it.  Once it's installed, run the program and post here the information it shows.  The information I want you to post is the stuff that is circled in the example picture I have attached.

If you are running on a vista machine, please go to where you installed the program and run the program as administrator.

 

 (this is a screenshot from a vista machine)

 

 Download then run HWMonitor and post a screenshot so that we have a comparison to the Speedfan results, details from here

 

To capture and post a screenshot;

 

Click on the ALT key + PRT SCR key..its on the top row..right hand side..now click on start...all programs...accessories...paint....left click in the white area ...press CTRL + V...click on file...click on save...save it to your desktop...name it something related to the screen your capturing... BE SURE TO SAVE IT AS A .JPG ...otherwise it may be to big to upload... then after typing in any response you have... click on browse...desktop...find the screenshot..select it and click on the upload button...then on the lower left...after it says upload successful...click on add reply like you normally would.

 

Screenshot instructions are provided to assist those that may read this topic but are not yet aware of the “how to”.

 

Once the above has been checked and if found to be ok we will look at tidying up the HDD and speeding up the boot times.

[JessieDemille89]

I just renewed my Norton Subscription recently. I still have 296 days left. I'm not changing until then.

 

Anyway, here are the pictures you wanted. The "Speedfan" didnt have all of the information though. the bottom circle is blank on my computer for some reason, is that a problem with my computer?

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[phillpower2]

RE Norton;

if it is a paid for product make a note of the licence key 

 

 

The reason why I suggested the above was so that you could reinstall it after testing, 100% your decision if you do not wish to temporarily uninstall it.

 

The PSU readings are inconclusive but that is most likely the MBs own monitoring software locking Speedfan and HWMonitor out, you can check the +3.3V, +5V and +12V readings in the BIOS, compare them to the table below and let us know if they are the same or at least within tolerance;

 

[JessieDemille89]

Ok, It took me a while to find it, but here are the numbers I have:

Vcore:      1.212V

DDR15V:  1.524V

+12V:       12.073V

Vcc3:       3.383V

Vtt:          1.046V

[phillpower2]

The above readings are ok but some are missing + the computer is under the least amount of load when you are in the BIOS so again the readings are inconclusive.

 

The next suggestion is to tidy up the data on your HDD, please follow the directions provided below starting with Autoruns http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902

 

1: Extract the Autoruns Zip file contents to a folder.

2: Double-click the "Autoruns.exe".

3: Click on the Filter out Microsoft & Windows results.

4: Go to File then to Export As or Save in some versions.

5: Save AutoRuns.txt file to known location like your Desktop.

6: Attach it to your next reply.

Autoruns Tutorial

 

2nd: Download and run TFC from http://www.geekstogo...er-by-oldtimer/ the computer should automatically re-boot on completion but if not do it manually.

 

3rd: Defrag your HDD http://www.auslogics.com/en/software/disk-defrag/  a tidy drive is a faster drive, please note that I am not suggesting that you use any other product or service at the link.

 

To speed up your boot times find any unnecessary programs linked to start up "how to" below;

 

Go to Start  -> Run

type MSCONFIG in the Run/Search field box then click OK

 

Click on the start-up Tab

 

Look at each line that has a check in the box, these are start-up items, with the exception of Windows programs and your AV software uncheck the ones you do not want to run at start-up.