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Question

Lag in all functions of XP SP3

Oct 25, 2012 10:49PM PDT

I recently picked up a Dell T5500 as an upgrade to a Dell Optiplex GX620.

The GX has functions related to video editing and desktop publishing. It wasn't running as smoothly as I would like and attributed it to insufficient horsepower.

I upgraded to the T5500 and installed XP SP3 as all of the licensed software I use is not compatable with Windows7.

There is a horrible lag on the T5500 during all tasks: browsing, word processing, video capturing/editing and other functions.

During this lag or "stall", the hard drive light is on stready and as the maching begins to "free up", the hard drive light flickers. When the light is out, the maching becomes responsive.

Any ideas as to what I might look at ?

Thank you,
Marine

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Look at Process Monitor
Oct 25, 2012 11:00PM PDT
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Follow Up
Oct 25, 2012 11:41PM PDT

Ok... I've downloaded it and have it running.

What should I be looking for?

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It shows all disk I/O.
Oct 26, 2012 12:51AM PDT

Then it's your task to analyse it that and find out what processes use the disk when such a lag occurs.

Kees

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Answer
Could be proper.
Oct 26, 2012 1:09AM PDT

As XP (even with SP3) doesn't have the drivers for motherboard and such, it's disk IO could be slower than expected. Or there is HDD issue or your selection of apps has created an issue or it's just what it is.

About what it is. I'm finding old and new users that pick up XP and expect it to work smoothly but forget it's a very OLD OS that has issues. Most have no inkling about the chipset drivers and can't give me the details of the 10 or more drivers that are required after we install the OS.

Then again, this machine could have low RAM.

Nothing seems wrong here as I've seen many XP machines over the years. The OLD XP DMA BUG was never resolved and your PC's symptom is common when that strikes. Maybe it is time for XP to die? That is, why would we expect folk to know all the above?
Bob