Windows Vista lag on new machine

Just to clarify, it's not my first computer build, just first one with Vista.

Although I know there's plenty to learn still!

Anyway, here are the specs for the Ram:

Model
Brand G.SKILL
Model F2-6400CL5S-2GBPQ
Type 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM
Tech Spec
Capacity 2GB
Speed DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
Cas Latency 5
Timing 5-5-5-15
Voltage 1.8V - 1.9V
Heat Spreader Yes

According to the the setup, the Voltage for the Ram is 1.950 V, that is also the lowest setting.

What can be removed from the machine for testing?

Is the case cover off for now?

Tell us about the heatsink compound.

The processor uses the stock heatsink, I've never had a problem with AMD's heatsinks, and don't do much overclocking, so I've never felt the need to use a different one.

So the BIOS is the latest too?

What can be removed from the machine for testing?

Is the case cover off for now?

Tell us about the heatsink compound. (this is what conducts the heat from the CPU to the heatsink.)

The heatsink compound is a gray square that was pre-applied to the bottom of the heatsink.

I can remove the ram but it shouldn't be the cause, because initially it was running on 2 gigs of Corsair ram while I waited for two 2 gig G.SKILL Ram to arrive. The problem existed with both Ram sets.

The only other hardware attached to the motherboard is the video card, hard drive, and a CD/DVD drive (and the PCU of course).

Hope that is the answer you were looking for.

I have another computer running on XP that I cam test the hardware with if needed.
At the moment the case cover is on.

Let's say someone put the heatsink on, took it off. You would then need a few drops of fresh compound at the very least to fill in the voids.

Still leaves us with the BIOS question and also adds a new one. Can you tell us the voltage you set the RAM to? And what is the spec on the RAM's voltage?
Bob

To sniff out if some part is feeling too much heat, leave the cover off.

No failures reported.

the firefox error message would be very helpful.

it seems that you are getting stalls (not lockups) while the system waits for something. you said you saw a "listing that such and such task was completed but took longer than expected." what is the "such and such task"?

also, have you used a SMART monitor to check your hard drive?

These are some of the warnings/errors the Event log showed:

Kernel-General

{Registry Hive Recovered} Registry hive (file): '\??\C:\Users\Jessica\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\UsrClass.dat' was corrupted and it has been recovered. Some data might have been lost.

ESENT

Catalog Database (1404) Catalog Database: Error -1811 occurred while opening logfile C:\Windows\system32\CatRoot2\edb0006E.log.

volmgr

Configuring the Page file for crash dump failed. Make sure there is a page file on the boot partition and that is large enough to contain all physical memory.

ESENT

wuaueng.dll (1060) SUS20ClientDataStore: A request to read from the file "C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\DataStore\DataStore.edb" at offset 16883712 (0x000000000101a000) for 4096 (0x00001000) bytes succeeded, but took an abnormally long time (60 seconds) to be serviced by the OS. This problem is likely due to faulty hardware. Please contact your hardware vendor for further assistance diagnosing the problem.

Corrupted files on a hard drive are usually the fault of the drive itself.
Windows Vista does have a learning process that will make the computer seem to be stalled, especially during the first few uses of the new computer. This has to do with drive optimization, registry entries, and drive recovery operations. It will get faster in time.
I would run some drive diagnosis tests downloaded from the drive manufacturer's website, testing the drive. If errors or failures are noted, be prepared to RMA the drive for a new one. Drives are the most commonly defective part on the computer, and these failures will often show up during initial use. Curtis R. Shupe

Visit the Seagate.com website and download Seatools, which probably came on a disk if you bought a retail packaged harddrive.
The tools are excellent, and will exercise the harddrive to expose any defects.
Seagate's RMA process is pretty good, too, if necessary.
Curtis R. Shupe

Is your installation disk in good shape, bright, shinny, no scratches? Hold it up to a light and see if you have pin holes of light shinning through. Did the install go well? were you in a hurry? Did you shut it down for any reason during the OS installation?

Try an Error checking (was disk check/check disk in previous Windows OSs):

This suggestions will not fix those errors. Are those online games your playing? If so most of these appear Internet related. Give your IP a call and have them run tests on your connection. Reset your adapter and run the diagnostics, first. Your connection/adapter might be cutting out. If these are online problems, only.

my suggestions are just a few easy things you can check before you go to the hassle of replacing that Hard drive. Unfortunately for you, Bob is more then likely, right. Those events aren't good.

Last suggestion .... reformat and re-install the OS before you ship it off for a replacement. The OS installation may have gone wrong when you installed it, try it again. You have nothing to loose by re-installing the OS, besides, you might get lucky.

Reinstalling Windows properly, including your software programs, can take hours. I spent more than two days starting up a new computer with Vista and transferring my XP programs and data.
Downloading and running Seatools for that Seagate hard drive will take just a few minutes.
If the tools indicate that the drive is defective, you will save the most time and money by returning it for a replacement. Don't waste your time looking elsewhere until you run that test.
A full virus scan might be appropriate if the drive tests OK.

Since you have the results you've definitively identified the problem so no need to re-install the OS. That wasn't clear when I made my suggestion.

Re-installing just the OS takes only a few minutes and would have provided a test to see if the drive had failed. A complete reboot is not necessary to see if there was an installation failure/problem. After you installed the OS if it worked correctly you would then have known if this item could be marked off the list of possible causes. Much of this is done through a process of illumination. Seldom does anyone find the problem with their first hunch. As you've seen here.

Good luck to you.

This post untracked

Proper installation of Windows Vista takes hours. You also risk corrupting your current installation if you reinstall; wiping the drive and reinstalling Vista properly takes hours. Have you done it?
The drive test takes only minutes.
Curtis R. Shupe

I did not say a complete installation just the initial OS install some updates will install but you needn't do them all to check if the hard drive is working correctly. I did this to check one not three months ago after a hard drive failure. It confirmed that it was bad. WD doesn't not have test software for Vista so this method was not an option another route had to found to test the drive. This can be done by just re-installing the OS and little else. It is advised that you back everything up first.

I thought I had this post untracked. Seems I didn't do it fast enough. AHs

you might have saved yourself about 10-1/2 hours...
Curtis R. Shupe

By the way, AMD makes many cpu's that are compatible with your motherboard.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010340343%2050001028&name=AMD and look for 90 watts or below.

Should you update your bios to the latest (beta) version available on their website, you should be able to run a Phenom quad-core in your board.
The cpu you have is 90nm die size; you need any of a number of the newer 65nm processors. AMD makes a 65nm version of the 6000+ x2, and it is rated at 89 watts. It would also work fine.
Any chance you could exchange your cpu for one that is compatible with your motherboard? A little artic silver, and you'd be good to go.
Curtis R. Shupe