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Post by tfamok on Oct 12, 2015 12:11:18 GMT
Hi everyone, I hope you are well.
For over a year my computer has been slightly sluggish. Will often get (windows explorer has stopped working) messages when trying to open folders. Some programs take slightly longer to open than they used to. I just presumed my PC was like this because I installed some software I was not 100% sure about when I was at uni. When browsing online some pages take forever to load or just don't load at all. When uni finished in may I factory restored my PC but the issues remain. I cleaned any debris and dust from within my PC but this hast made any difference.
WiFi connections constantly drop within my home although I have phoned my ISP (talk talk) numerous times who assure me they cannot find any faults. They sent me a new up to date router last week which only seems to have made my WiFi problems worse.
I have installed every malware scanner I can think of and carried out many many online free malware/virus scans with no joy. Everything seems to be clean yet my PC is still a bit laggy. I would put it down to my PC being 5/6 years old but then that doesn't explain the really bad browsing experience and WiFi problems. I am at a loss really.
Any help would be very much appreciated.
Thank you in advance for your time.
Teddy
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Post by vikingken on Oct 12, 2015 18:35:27 GMT
Windows will bog itself down after a while and no amount of cleaning up will sort it out. There comes a time when you just have to bite the bullet and wipe the drive and reinstall. Only install the programs you are going to use and if you have programs you might use, dont install them until you have to. Only install one antivirus and one firewall. Install Super AntiSpyware, Malwarebytes Antimalware, Spyware Blaster and C Cleaner. They are all free and should be enough to keep you running smoothly.
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Post by tfamok on Oct 12, 2015 23:22:51 GMT
Thank you very much for the advice vikingken. I have wiped the drive and reinstalled everything. Hasn't made much difference. The security software you mentioned is more or less what I have. I have also tried so many online scanners.
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Post by vikingken on Oct 13, 2015 6:33:40 GMT
Go into Computer Properties and check if you are showing the full amount of RAM. If its low; you will have to try each module in turn in number 1 slot, until you find the low one. The computer might not boot at all if the memory module is completely shot, but often the module will still produce some memory. Buy another module and carry on. If you have 4 slots and only two modules, you could add another two modules and double your RAM. When adding to existing memory, always use exactly the same memory as the existing memory. If you accidently add a slower memory, the whole lot will work at the slower speed.
If the memory is reading the correct amount, take all the modules out and replace in a different order. Damp weather can cause condensation on the modules, moving them can brake the leakage and get them working at full speed again. |
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Post by tfamok on Oct 13, 2015 10:33:49 GMT
Cheers vikingken. If everything checks out I probably will swap the modules over just to rule it out. Wont do any harm.
Thanks again.
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Post by mikkh on Oct 14, 2015 6:48:48 GMT
You don't mention which version of Windows you're using, I'll assume it's either Vista or XP judging by it's age. Factory restoring will invariably add all the manufacturer specific bundled bloatware, you really need a clean OS only reinstall to guarantee full speed. I'll also assume it's a laptop which makes only minor upgrades possible - RAM and HD basically.
Ken's idea is worth trying but I suspect it's more to do with lack of RAM caused by modern software using more - especially browsers. What was once enough is now no longer sufficient - and branded computers had a bad habit of supplying computers with the least amount of RAM they could get away with. Nowadays they tend to go the other way and put too much in! I can't see the justification for more than 8 GB, but I often see modern PC's with 16 or even 32. For an older PC/laptop you should be looking at 2 GB of RAM as a bare minimum
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Post by tfamok on Oct 14, 2015 19:15:15 GMT
Your right mikkh. I didn't give much detail at all. Im using a acer aspire x3400 pc which is a smaller pc. Its running windows and has 6gb installed. Maybe I should add another 2gb or ram.
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Post by mikkh on Oct 14, 2015 21:41:25 GMT
No 6 GB is plenty, the extra 2 will make no real difference - 4 is enough for Windows 7 usually, but I see that model has (very poor) on-board graphics which will be using up to 1/2 GB (or maybe more) of RAM. I would definitely rule that out as part of the problem. Talk talk is pretty poor broadband in my experience, unless you're paying extra for the fibre optic version. That is a very definite probable cause of your problems despite what they say, and with it being more portable than most PC's, you can prove that by hooking it up to a friends (preferably cable) broadband. Though that doesn't explain the all round sluggish behaviour. It's not the best CPU in the World, but it should still be adequate for most tasks. I'm thinking it's the hard drive that is the problem myself and it might be time to consider a SSD drive to boost performance. Something like this one will be enough if you're not a hoarder of large files www.ebuyer.com/695885-samsung-850-evo-120gb-2-5inch-ssd-mz-75e120bwThe 240 GB model is about £20 more |
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Post by tfamok on Oct 15, 2015 13:01:56 GMT
mikkh, right again. Onboard graphics are beyond rubbish. Its a cheap machine but tbh when I first got it it done everything I needed. our also right about talk talk. Still not convinced they are not the cause of my broadband issues. They gave me new router yet my wifi problems and slow internet still persist. They said hey will send an engineer but I refused as they more than likely say its all my fault and charge me.
Is the SSD drive for storage only? I already have a tb. Sorry for being daft im just not sure how an SSD drive is utilised. Would it just be in conjunction with my current hard drive? I might also get thrown out of C.I.T just for asking this next question, but is it internal or external?
Im not in the financial position just yet but a new machine might be the answer although it would be a shame as I don't need my machine for heavy duty stuff.
Thank you mikkh.
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Post by mikkh on Oct 15, 2015 15:46:44 GMT
It's an internal drive replacement, I suggested the SSD because they're much faster than normal hard drives You could try a direct replacement of a normal hard drive if funds are tight - like this for £25 www.web-systems.co.uk/?page=Products&pid=7825You'd need to use the image backup option in Windows 7 first though via an external drive and the creation of a boot DVD - unless you were supplied with a Windows 7 DVD originally. Another option would be to try 'readyboost' with a USB thumb drive. Windows is pretty choosy about which ones it will accept though, so that's a bit hit and miss. Insert one and choose 'readyboost' from the options which should pop up when you insert it. You can get a new (16 GB) reputable brand one for less than a tenner, if you don't already have one to try |
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Post by vikingken on Oct 15, 2015 21:10:45 GMT
These companies advertise their new routers as having the fastest wireless connections in the world. A million GB per second wireless, wont do you a lot of good if the wire to the wall is only 3 Mb per second. The external connection is the one that counts, but a lot of people are fooled by these fantastic WiFi claims.
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Post by tfamok on Oct 16, 2015 9:24:19 GMT
Thanks very much for the help. I think I will try the Samsung ssd. Ive exhausted all other avenues so for £50ish its worth a try before I need to buy a new machine. Ive got the 3 backup dvd's created after I bought the computer so im good to go.
Once again, thank you very much for your expert advice and time. Its really appreciated.
Teddy.
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Post by tfamok on Oct 20, 2015 14:38:23 GMT
I havent taken any steps to fix my problem PC as of yet. Yesterday I was running the built in function (mdsched.exe) to test my computers ram and everything checked out ok. However, once the test was finished and I entered my logon password etc to get back into the desktop it was just stuck at the windows welcome sign for approx. 45 mins before I had to switch my pc of at the mains. Once I restarted my computer etc I was backing up a dvd which I have done many times without problem and whilst burning the dvd the drive was making a very loud clunking noise. Did not sound too happy with itself and it was slow to start. Had a few coasters which I don't usually get and once the dvd was finally backed up when trying to play the dvd in the dvd drive (I only have one dvd/cd drive) the disk was just constantly whirring and clunking and the computer was unresponsive.
My question is, does this seem indicative of pc hard drive failure as suggested by mikkh? Im still paranoid its a virus although I have factory restored my computer a few times and run every scanner known to man.
Thank you very much once more for your time and knowledge/feedback.
Teddy
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Post by mikkh on Oct 22, 2015 5:42:16 GMT
A virus can't survive a factory restore. The optical drive (DVD) sounds (literally) in a bad way though - those noises are it attempting to read the DVD and failing. Unless you're in the habit of leaving a DVD or CD constantly in the drive, that seems like an additional problem, rather than the cause of previous problems. It appears to take a standard size DVD, so that can be replaced for £10 - £15 or if you want to take a chance this refurbished one for £6 from Ebay www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BLACK-DVD-RW-SH-S223-SAMSUNG-SATA-SERIAL-ATA-TESTED-WARRANTY-SATA-CABLE-INCLUDED-/231554719800?hash=item35e9bca038:g:X5gAAOSwd0BV6rKIwith free 'click and collect' from your local Argos. You should test this first by unplugging the power and data lead from the DVD (with it switched off of course) to see if it makes a difference |
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Post by tfamok on Oct 22, 2015 13:58:35 GMT
Think I will just replace the dvd drive with new one mikkh although in all honesty it sounds as if my pc in general is giving up the ghost. Maybe somehow or another I might get a new pc.
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