Slow as hell after even reformatting

[Reynolds]

3.7 ghz dual core

1 gb ram, tried 2 different combos of 512 chips, same result.

Fresh reformat with clean version of windows xp

SLOWLY installing all the drivers.

So I replaced the hard drive.

Same deal, just as slow.

Mobo probs?

PSU probs?

[styckx]

3.7 ghz dual core

1 gb ram, tried 2 different combos of 512 chips, same result.

Fresh reformat with clean version of windows xp

SLOWLY installing all the drivers.

So I replaced the hard drive.

Same deal, just as slow.

Mobo probs?

PSU probs?

Go to your bios setup. Restore system defaults

Device Manager/IDE ATA-ATAPI controllers - Check each IDE channel and make sure it's in Ultra DMA mode for each controller.

[Reynolds]

Go to your bios setup. Restore system defaults

Device Manager/IDE ATA-ATAPI controllers - Check each IDE channel and make sure it's in Ultra DMA mode for each controller.

All are set to Ultra DMA mode 5

One dvd drive on ide controller 0, after trying 1

Sata port 1 for the hard drive.

Boots up very fast... Windows splash screen with the progress waiting bar does like one - two cycles and windows starts faster than I've normally seen.... Then the windows sluggishness begins.

[styckx]

All are set to Ultra DMA mode 5

One dvd drive on ide controller 0, after trying 1

Sata port 1 for the hard drive.

Boots up very fast... Windows splash screen with the progress waiting bar does like one - two cycles and windows starts faster than I've normally seen.... Then the windows sluggishness begins.

Hmmm. Check your processes, see if something is whoring up CPU or RAM usage. It's gotta be something stupid.

[Reynolds]

Hmmm. Check your processes, see if something is whoring up CPU or RAM usage. It's gotta be something stupid.

Nope... Disabled everything in startup and all non microsoft services...

It's a fresh install of windows, I've only installed the graphics driver, processor driver, ethernet.....

Some chipset drivers installing now if it doesn't freeze up.

Just noticed that it's not detecting any usb devices I plug in either, they light up when I plug them in, but no detection from windows.

Im thinking the mobo is shitting the bed.

[styckx]

Yeah, sounds like you know what you're doing and I gotta agree. Only thing left I can think of is if you're running 512x2. Remove 1 stick of RAM and try. If it's still slow swap sticks.

Other than that.. Out of ideas my friend

[Reynolds]

Yeah, sounds like you know what you're doing and I gotta agree. Only thing left I can think of is if you're running 512x2. Remove 1 stick of RAM and try. If it's still slow swap sticks.

Other than that.. Out of ideas my friend

Appreciate the ideas anyhow, some stuff I hadn't thought of.

I have four memory chips, tried all kinds of different combinations and slots with no luck.

Googled the model "HP A1310N" (FUCK YOU HP)

Many people having problems with power supply not being strong enough (300w)

Ill try swapping that out first.

Thanks again.

[OGC]

isn't 1 gig of ram on the low side for windows XP ?

[Reynolds]

isn't 1 gig of ram on the low side for windows XP ?

no

even if it was, ive used machines with 128 that ran faster than this

[Reynolds]

Messing around with this computer again.

Installed Ubuntu on it, and no problems with anything.

I figured I'd try a different install of Windows and see if it worked.

No, same deal.

Task manager shows that SYSTEM is using 99% of the CPU.

Google for answers, and many have the problem, and 1000's have it, and solved it 1000 different ways.

I figure it has something to do with USB since USB doesn't work either, but I disable everything, and still the problem, even in safe mode.

I'm going to throw this thing out the window

[biggestmexi]

ill take it if you are going to through it out.

[Reynolds]

ill take it if you are going to through it out.

If anything Ill replace the motherboard, or just use Ubuntu on it.

I don't understand why the USB ports would all of the sudden stop working on Windows only.

[biggestmexi]

If anything Ill replace the motherboard, or just use Ubuntu on it.

I don't understand why the USB ports would all of the sudden stop working on Windows only.

you should try the windows 7.

see if that changes anything.

does the computer recognize the USB controller at all? IE device manger?

Have you installed the drivers for the USB controller. Some things require that and some dont.

what is the longest you left the PC run?

Can you get a screen shot of all your processes running?

[Reynolds]

you should try the windows 7.

see if that changes anything.

does the computer recognize the USB controller at all? IE device manger?

Have you installed the drivers for the USB controller. Some things require that and some dont.

what is the longest you left the PC run?

Can you get a screen shot of all your processes running?

I took the RAM out and put it in another computer, so I'm down to just 512mb. That enough to run Windows 7?

It recognizes them in device manager, says they're installed. I downloaded the drivers from the HP website, but when I try to install, it just freezes. Installing any driver freezes, or at least takes longer than 2 hours.

Longest I ever let it run? I dont understand you here.

I'd get a screen shot, but I just formatted it again and installed Ubuntu on the entire disk drive. I don't really feel like going through the 6 hour process of installing windows on this thing again right now.

Every process was using 0% on a fresh install of windows with nothing installed except SYSTEM which was using 99%. The graph tab in task manager never goes under 100% cpu usage

[biggestmexi]

I took the RAM out and put it in another computer, so I'm down to just 512mb. That enough to run Windows 7?

It recognizes them in device manager, says they're installed. I downloaded the drivers from the HP website, but when I try to install, it just freezes. Installing any driver freezes, or at least takes longer than 2 hours.

Longest I ever let it run? I dont understand you here.

I'd get a screen shot, but I just formatted it again and installed Ubuntu on the entire disk drive. I don't really feel like going through the 6 hour process of installing windows on this thing again right now.

Every process was using 0% on a fresh install of windows with nothing installed except SYSTEM which was using 99%. The graph tab in task manager never goes under 100% cpu usage

i believe "7" will require more than that. 1 gb is recommended.

System should NOT be at 99%. seems like thats the problem.

a couple interesting reads by searching this.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&hs=eN4&q=Microsoft+SYSTEM+running+at+100%25&aq=f&oq=&aqi=

especially the toms hardware one.

[Reynolds]

Not sure how it could be a virus, since I have already tried two different installs of XP home, and XP professional.

Read somewhere that it could be the CMOS battery, but I don't know why Linux would run fine.

Fucking Microsoft.

[styckx]

I love how when a PC runs fine for ages and when it starts to take a shit, even after formats and reinstalls it's Microsofts fault.

Could be any number of factors but I 100% can say it's not Microsofts problem

[boosterp]

If u are running 99% and you have noticed a big slow down doing everyday tasks there are 3 possibilities after a fresh install.

1)processor is damaged (heat main culprit). Processors can die a slow death from heat which will cause a huge performance lag.

2) Memory. You can never have enough. You can have a bad memory controller on the main, you can have any number of issues.

3) Mobo, which is unlikely that anything physically is wrong unless the north or south bridge over heated and now facing a slow death. Flash your BIOS see if that helps.

It would not be your PS, these do not die slow and it worked for however long you owned the compy. Otherwise save your dough and build a new one.

[Reynolds]

If u are running 99% and you have noticed a big slow down doing everyday tasks there are 3 possibilities after a fresh install.

1)processor is damaged (heat main culprit). Processors can die a slow death from heat which will cause a huge performance lag.

2) Memory. You can never have enough. You can have a bad memory controller on the main, you can have any number of issues.

3) Mobo, which is unlikely that anything physically is wrong unless the north or south bridge over heated and now facing a slow death. Flash your BIOS see if that helps.

It would not be your PS, these do not die slow and it worked for however long you owned the compy. Otherwise save your dough and build a new one.

Thanks. It's not that old of a computer, its an Athlon 3800.

It had 2 gb of Ram when the problem started, which is what I tried first, trying one at a time, same problem no matter how much was in there.

THe stupid bios update runs in windows, and I can't do anything in Windows.

If it was the processor or the mobo, why would Linux run fine?

USB ports are fine in linux, dont work at all in windows.

[styckx]

So.. Windows boots up normally just once in Windows it runs like dog shit..

Have you ctrl-alt-del and look at the processes tab? Is there one taking up an insane about of CPU usage?

[Goatweed]

have you tried using a different Drive and/or copy of Windows?

[Snoogans]

have you tried buying a new computer?

[ToiletCrusher]

have you tried buying a new computer?

too easy.

[Reynolds]

have you tried using a different Drive and/or copy of Windows?

Yes, three different copies now, this is the second HD

have you tried buying a new computer?

Do you think that'd work? I have a few computers here, but this is a spare that I wanted to give to my dad since he never had/used one.

So.. Windows boots up normally just once in Windows it runs like dog shit..

Have you ctrl-alt-del and look at the processes tab? Is there one taking up an insane about of CPU usage?

Yes... I said earlier in the thread a few times SYSTEM is using 98-99% of the CPU at all times.

[styckx]

I'm gonna take a wild guess here after doing some brief research


Download process explorer (shows more then the task manager will)

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx

See if you see any hardware interrupts or DPC's in the process list.

If you do. Yep hardware problem. Which in turn will make the system process send hardware signals on an infinite loop then they pile up and cause a unstable slow system.

Could be something as simple as a cooling fan stopped working.

[boosterp]

If it was the processor or the mobo, why would Linux run fine?

USB ports are fine in linux, dont work at all in windows.

Linux is a different monster.

This sounds like a complex issue with regards to drivers and a hardware issue.

Did you and if so where did you get the drivers for the mobo?

BIOS is still updatability outside of Windows GUI, just search for your particular version, etc. and flash it from a floppy.

Linux uses less resources, etc so you could still have a hardware failure.