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Question

Computer slows down severely, 20 min after each reboot

Jun 21, 2012 7:01AM PDT

Computer is HP Pavilion desktop PC, running WinXP Home Edition, SP 3, with all MS updates installed. Five days ago, the system abruptly exhibited severe delays in response to all input: 15-20 second delay in responding to each mouse movement or click, and to each keyboard input. I have done each of the following:
* Ran AVG 2012 - Result: clean, no viruses found
* Downloaded and ran the latest McAfee AntiVirus - Result: clean, no viruses found
* Ran Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool - Nothing found
* Did a registry clean (Eusing) - removed 3,031 registry problems
* Ran Win95 Disk defrag,
* Executed a Win95 System Restore to a restore point one week before the onset,
* Ran CHKDSK from both Windows and the Command Prompt, with /f /r options, several times (results appear too briefly to read! What happened to the Windows95 CHKDSK that showed an on-screen representation of the sectors and blocks as they were scanned, along with clear results?? That was much more useful.)
* The HD is a 200-GB Seagate, so I ran SeaTools for Windows many times, with every option: DST, SMART test, Generic-Long and Fix All- Long. Every one says "Passed" with no disk problems reported.

At this point, I have to reboot the computer every 20 minutes to use it at all. By 20-30 minutes after boot-up, the performance is so bad that it's unusable. Doesn't matter what applications are run - appears to be a function of time only. What else can I try here?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Wild ideas there.
Jun 21, 2012 7:15AM PDT

I won't comment about your list. I'll let others do that.

Tell me if you replaced all heatsink compounds in the machine and if this is an IDE drive did you try the old XP DMA fix and did you unplug all USB drives and the Optical drives for a test run?

After that I'd like to see your HIJACKTHIS log file.
bob

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PS. There are prior discussions on this topic.
Jun 21, 2012 7:53AM PDT
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Computer slows down severely, 20 min after each reboot
Jun 21, 2012 11:33AM PDT

Yes, that post, "PC slow's down a lot after a period of
time,"<!-- google_ad_section_end -->
seems to describe my problem very well. But the answers given here are all aimed at start-up programs, not thermal issues. They may be barking up the wrong tree on that one.
To clarify, I've never had more than one antivirus program installed at a time. I had AVG 2012 already installed, and when the problem occurred suddenly on Sat. morning (6/16), I ran it several times. It deleted some spyware but found no viruses. So I uninstalled it and installed McAfee Antivirus (free from Time Warner cable), just to get another opinion. It likewise found no viruses (because the real problem here is probably a thermal on).

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Which is why I can't guess this.
Jun 21, 2012 11:39AM PDT

This looks to be the first time you mentioned uninstalling one before the other.

When it comes down to it, I always like to read a HIJACKTHIS log file since it tells all.
Bob

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Computer slows down severely, 20 min after each reboot
Jun 21, 2012 10:51AM PDT

Thanks very much, Bob. You're suggesting it's a thermal problem. . . Why didn't I think of that? Seems obvious now. (That's why you're the one giving advice, not me.) Because -- If I simply boot up and let it sit for 20 minutes, it's already very sluggish as soon as I try to use it -- does not require running any applications to cause the problem. A thermal issue seems highly likely.

To answer your questions,
(1) I haven't replaced any heatsink compounds in the machine -- I don't know how to do that, and would appreciate any instruction you can give. (2) Have not tried the old XP DMA fix either, but I've seen that referred to before, so will look it up. (3) Also have not tried unplugging USB and optical drives. (Do I simply go in the cabinet and unplug the connectors?)
I'll go online, look up these things, and try them out. THANKS!

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Actually I suggested that more than one antivirus
Jun 21, 2012 11:21AM PDT

Can cause odd things too.

For USB drives these are external so no need to go inside. There a lot to do before we go inside.
Bob

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Answer
This was simply a thermal problem...
Jun 22, 2012 1:58AM PDT
The solution was to clean the fan cage and heat sink fins for the microprocessor.
The inside of the cabinet had never been cleaned in the 6.5-year life of the computer, and airflow through the heat sink was severely restricted by dust and dirt buildup.
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Hope you wore a dust mask.
Jun 22, 2012 2:01AM PDT

Who knows what was in that dust.

Good to read it was the usual.
Bob