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General discussion

XP running excruciatingly slow please help

by darkaltar Jul 28, 2007 12:30AM PDT

I am running XP home edition on a laptop ive had for a couple years. It has had various problems (problems with the Slimtype DVD-RW drive, windows sockets problems, etc.) finally I find solutions for all those problems and as boot my computer to start plugging away. Windows decides it needs twenty minutes to load. Then, each task, whether opening the start menu, or control panel, or trying to load a program takes around ten minutes, maybe fifteen. It is virtually unusable. I tried various system restore points, used PC Tools Registry Mechanic, updated my bios and chipset drivers, checked my virtual memory allocation via Control Panel\systems\advanced\performance. What else could be the problem? I am about to run a spyware sweep, but not sure on best software, plus, I have a feeling it isn't spyware, I think it is an incorrect hardware configuration but I am out of ideas. Anyone got any?

Discussion is locked

9 Posts
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Let's try a few common things.
by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Jul 28, 2007 12:47AM PDT

1. The XP DMA problem. Here's a link about it -> http://winhlp.com/?q=node/10

2. Now I know you've scanned the machine but please try this one -> http://www.ewido.net/en/onlinescan/

There were no details about the machine but low memory machines do run slow after we install our antivirus and firewall since those eat memory.

Bob

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A couple problems
by darkaltar Jul 28, 2007 2:19AM PDT

The laptop will not connect to the internet due to the windows sockets error, is there any way i can download that scanning service? Also, the .vbs file will only open as a text file and I can not save it.

Brooks

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Sorry to read that.
by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Jul 28, 2007 2:29AM PDT

I would look up WINSOCK fix on google.com since it can push the windows sockets back to stock settings.

The story is not clear why you think the windows sockets error is happening. Also no error message is shared.

Without the internet connection and that we don't have a full Windows CD (no make/model and details noted about this) the only recourse may be to reload the machine.

Bob

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Maintainance.
by Me, Myself and You Jul 28, 2007 11:17AM PDT

The hard drive might be badly fragmented too, or it could be seriously infected with spyware, or not have enough memory. Or it could be all of them.

Scan with Various solutions: Ad-Aware, Ewido, AVG, Spybot. Defragment, Checkisk, and clear out unused junk. Safe mode will probably run faster.

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Windows just needs to be reloaded.
by darkaltar Jul 29, 2007 1:56PM PDT

Unfortunately here is the overall situation. DVD-RW drive, needs to be flashed back into working. Windows sockets wont initialize. I have an XP CD w/ serial. XP runs literally one click per five minutes. I think the easiest solution would be to try to flash the DVD-RW back into existence by transferring a flash program (i know nothing about flashing drives) via memory stick, then reinstalling windows. Any ideas on how to do a drive flash for a DVD-RW?

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At the shop...
by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Jul 29, 2007 10:47PM PDT

We don't flash it back since the charges are more than popping a new drive in. Here the drive is 40 bucks the labor is 1/2 hour or 60 bucks.

You don't have to tell but do you know how the machine got into such a state?

Bob

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not a problem
by darkaltar Jul 30, 2007 12:20PM PDT

1 year of highschool, 2 years of college, and all number of people using it. Plus me not having a good understand of computer upkeep. The thing is, in a laptop getting my DVD-RW replaced ive been quoted like 200

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Laptop is more but not much more. Try 50...
by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator Jul 30, 2007 11:24PM PDT
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Thanks for that link
by darkaltar Jul 31, 2007 3:46PM PDT

Ok so say I buy a new DVD drive, how difficult is self installation in a laptop? I've done tons of work on desktops as far as hardware reconfig, what about in a laptop?

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