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Question

System still scips/stutters after reset, bad HD?, or ???

Nov 21, 2014 1:34PM PST

My PC stutters and hesitates around every thirty seconds or so, it happens while watching videos, and listening to music, also my courser lags about as often while moving it around the screen. I've tried resetting the system but after restoring from my most recent backup it's doing it again. Is my hard drive going out, or did I reload malware with my back-up? I've scanned it with two different malware programs and come up with nothing. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.
Thanks all in advance

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
Kicked Lately?
Nov 23, 2014 11:14AM PST

Did you by chance drop the thing?
Bad drive spots are automatically relocated on modern drives.
Problem is the thing tries to read a bad spot anywhere from 5-15sec or more for each bad spot and everything stops in the mean time.
Usually happens after a nice kick, slap, pounding, hammer, etc.

Have you ever run msinfo before?
Try running msinfo32 and see your RAM usage {Available Physical Memory is in MB = Sad }, thus its using a swap file instead of RAM for playing videos.

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No drops
Nov 23, 2014 1:17PM PST

This just started about 2 weeks ago, out of nowhere. Haven't dropped it or even moved it in almost two months. In the beginning it was just every now and then, then it started to happen more frequently, now as I stated above it happens around every thirty seconds (from last stutter), for arond 2.5- 3 seconds, and just about an hour ago it happened for almost 5 seconds.
How do I run msinfo? I can't even figure out how to get CHKDSK to run, I tried what some of the other posters have mentioned on it but ???

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Clarify?
Nov 24, 2014 12:35AM PST

Ya know that start button on the menu? Click it and you should see a search box you can type msinfo32 in right there and Win7 will show you a found item. Click that.
The initial summary page will show what your system is. RAM info is at the lower part of that page.

New users also want to load and run lots of stuff. Super stuper browser bar, etc... Even new systems can't handle all those pig headed brown nose intrusions that want the entire system to wait until it can contact its overloaded server with your latest browsing and listening habits.
Go through that list that msinfo32 shows you. Check your startup applications section. Optimally you should have only a dozen.

I think at this point most people are thinking, "Try that factory reset to like brand new" and then don't put your backups back. Run it for a few days to see if it still fouls up. If it does and its still under warranty, send it back.
You do have an anti-virus right?

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How To Run Chkdsk On Win7
Nov 25, 2014 4:37AM PST

First, Chkdsk is the same as the "Error Checking" utility. The easiest way to run it is to double click on "Computer" on the desktop, then RIGHT click on "Local Disk C: Drive" icon, choose "Properties", then choose the "Tools" tab.Once there, select the "Check Now" button, then place a dot/tick in both of the listed boxes in the next little window, then select the "Start" button. It will indicate that you've scheduled the check upon the next restart of the computer, so restart the computer. Upon restart, it will restart into a black screen with text, so allow it to run the Chkdsk utility.. It will take a while and you shouldn't shut it down or change anything. Just let it finish the task and it will restart automatically into Windows, ready for your logon.

Hope this helps.

Grif

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Answer
Issues
Nov 21, 2014 10:30PM PST

Desktop/Laptop? Hook up, hardwire/wireless? System hardware parameters and OS?

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Answer
EDIT
Nov 21, 2014 11:58PM PST

Desk top, Windows 7 64 bit, wired. have been told that resetting and reloading would fix problem but didn't help.In the beginning it only happened occasionally, now its around every thirty seconds. Not too PC intelligent unfortunately.

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More Information Needed
Nov 22, 2014 3:02AM PST

1. What make and model is this computer? Or is it a custom build? With a brand name computer, you can easily use the Recovery Partition or Recovery Discs to wipe the hard drive and reinstall everything back to it's factory state. But with a custom built computer, you'll need to have created a System Disc/Image to reinstall everything back to its original state. Which is it?

2. How much RAM and processor speed is installed on the computer. What kind of graphics card is installed? You mentioned videos and music causing stuttering problems. Does the stuttering happen during normal operations such as when simply surfing the internet or when creating documents? Videos and music require lots of RAM and processing power from the computer and its video card. Lack of those items will cause stuttering.

3. What kind of "reset" are you referring to? A simply "System Restore" only takes the computer back to an earlier time in the registry and if the operating system installation, or malware is still there, then it won't do much to help. On the other hand, if you've used your backups to wipe the drive and reinstall the operating system, the drivers, and all software, then that's a different story.

Hope this helps and let us know more.

Grif

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info
Nov 22, 2014 4:18AM PST

Gateway, sx2801, pentium dual core e5700 @3.00 GHz, RAM 6.00 GB, 1 TB HD.
Graphics Intel G43 Express Chipset.
Tried a full reset to factory, and reloaded most recent backup. Stopped skipping/ stuttering for a couple of hours, then it started again.
Stuttering does happen during normal operations such as when simply surfing the internet.

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Issues
Nov 23, 2014 12:16AM PST

This sounds as if it might be a component (hardware) issue...possibly heat related...unless you have, yank the side case(s) run it that way and see if that makes a difference...and also make sure that fan(s) onboard are functional...I am also thinking it COULD be video related....not that it may not be a software issue but I am still leaning toward a component issue. The slim towers are a bit more prone to heating problems than are standard towers. Just a thought..Good luck!

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edit
Nov 22, 2014 4:19AM PST

Windows 7 64Bit

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Just Some Thoughts...
Nov 22, 2014 10:05AM PST

Your computer is a fairly budget minded computer but No computer should stutter like that with its default factory programs after a reformat and reinstall.

1. First, I would visit the Gateway website and see if there are any new drivers listed for your computer model. Sometimes, a motherboard/chipset driver or graphics driver has been updated because of problems in the various models. Update the driver if you find one that is newer than the one already installed in Control Panel-Device Manager.

2. Next, try uninstalling some of the unnecessary programs on your computer. Most brand name computers have a lot of junk running in the background that isn't necessary and such programs can cause a drain on the computer. In addition, even though the program may be necessary on the computer, it may have stuff running in the background that doesn't need to be. Open a "run" line and type: "msconfig", then UNCHECK some of those unnecessary programs, then the computer will ask to be restarted. It should run smoother when you're done.

In addition, if YOU have installed any secondary programs which run in the background, try uninstalling them as well. For example: Many folks install two antivirus programs which can cause conflicts and problems with normal performance.

3. If you haven't already, run the free malware removal tools at the link below.

http://forums.cnet.com/7726-6122_102-5509131.html?tag=posts;msg5518840

Hope this helps.

Grif

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Already did most
Nov 23, 2014 3:09AM PST

Thanks for the input, thing is I already tried most of these. Now its done the blue screen shut down once, or twice. Starting to think its my HD.

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Lots of Possibilities
Nov 23, 2014 4:17AM PST

Before replacing a hard drive, we make sure we've run Chkdsk, to see if the computer can repair any bad sectors that are repairable.

We also use compressed air to blow out all the dust and junk from inside, just to make sure the problem isn't related to overheating.

After that, then you move on to hardware.. Yep, the hard drive is a possibility, as is the actual processor and motherboard.. Your idea about replacing the HDD is probably a good next step.

Hope this helps.

Grif

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5 year old computer
Dec 1, 2014 3:08AM PST
http://www.cnet.com/products/gateway-sx2801-01e/

has it ever been cleaned? Sounds like CPU acting up to me, either heat or a core not working at the same speed anymore. Single core were easier to diagnose, it just freeze or blue screen, but the multicore pick up at times when one is lagging, but it also means some info passed may come through the CPU just a wee bit slower, causing the problem.

Clean the inside first, especially the CPU fan and the heatsink. If you don't know how to replace thermal paste, take it in for cleaning and have them do it.