Gabriel

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Hello, thanks for viewing.

Right, PC Specs:

Windows XP Pro (Not legit, but set up by someone who knows their shit)
AMD Athlon 64 3000+ (2ghz)
768mb RAM (2 slots, 256mb and 512mb)
40gig Primary (86% full) + 80gig Slave (15% full) HD's
ATI Radeon 9600 Saphire 256mb
SP 2
Norton Anti-Virus 2003 (kept updated and always running)


The problem:

Recently, the PC has been running really slowly at start-up, and when I goto open My Computer, it'll take a while to display the contents, I click on a few folders (this is random as well, it won't always be the same folder) and it'll stop responding, ie: the folder is just white, shows no contents and stops responding, can't End Program because it will shut down Windows itself.

Other programs like Bit Torrent have started freezing and refuse to respond, can't even End Program.

I have been having trouble updating Battlefield 2 - I believe it is having trouble writing to the disk? Or maybe it is just being refused access? All I get is:

Unable to complete patch.


I have restored to previous dates that work, and I still get the same shit.

I thought it may be overheating, but I have opened up the side and put a house fan (small) next to it to keep everything cool in there and it has had no effect at all.


I had installed a stick of 512MB RAM about three or four weeks previously, but unless it has worked, then fucked out I don't think it is that, any good RAM testing tools out there?


It seems to be affecting the Windows system itself more than it affects anything else (although it does affect other programs). I haven't seen any virus alerts, but I do go on some less than safe sites when surfing the net - be it porn or whatever (my browser is Mozilla Firefox, by the way). However I am careful about allowing pop-ups or downloading files I don't like the look of.



Any suggestions?

Any viruses I can check for, or tests I can run?

Could it possibly be the HD? I have a slave so I could master that and partition that and install XP on that one if all other options fail. I don't want to lose the 'larger than 8.69gb' Steam folder I have, or any of the other programs I have on there, but if it has to be done as a last resort, I will.



Please help me, thank you.

davemo2us

take the RAM out and see if it works again.

Jimi

First of all, if you've had any windows updates lately, they've implimented a new plan to stop piracy. They check your PC for the validity of your windows OS.

Also, you checked for malware, trojans, spyware, etc.? Try going to start and run, the msconfig. Look at what programs open on startup. Maybe you're overloading the startup.

davemo2us

trust me it could be a bad stick of ram. went through this with a friends pc.

tuathal

There are thousands of RAM Tests on the Net, Google them and take your pick, however dont rule out Spyware or certain virus's. Download Adaware or someother antispy prog to check for most spyware, also make sure your anti - virus is up to date. If everything is all clear, Defrag your P.C., if this doesnt work, after you make sure its not a RAM prob, you might have to Format & Reload. ( Which means buying a legit copy of XP, which is a complete bollix, i know.)
Check the RAM first though!!!



Have to ask, what part of Europe???

Gabriel

Thanks guys - I have heard of the new update, so it may well be that, but I heard it just prevented you from downloading any new updates?!

As for Virsus protection, Norton is running at all times, it is allowed to update of it's own accord.

I ran ad-aware and got rid of a load of shit, it also dug up a trojan that Norton got rid of.

I ran a 'Housecall' through www.antivirus.com and my PC came back clean as a whistle.

I have a stick of Kingston 256 and a stick of www.novatech.co.uk's homebrand 512.

My HD's are fine, I ran a test using a program linked through another site, erm, I heard RAM tests can take ages, so it may be quicker to just remove the stick and see what happens?

I have a lot of stuff that loads on startup - how do I get rid of it, prevent it from loading on startup etc - is there a way besides reformatting that will allow me to reset XP to 'factory defaults' so to speak, or is a fresh install the only way?

I am from the UK, South.


Thanks again, guys.

tuathal

This might be of some use to you.


Microsoft Windows XP users

Click Start / Programs / Startup
Right click and delete the file you wish to not start automatically.
If you were unable to locate the program automatically loading following the above instructions, attempt to locate this program in the system registry or msconfig.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Autoexec.bat

Note: This section is only applies to Windows 3.x and Windows 95 and 98 users. If you are uncertain which version of Windows you are running, please click here.

After following the above instructions for the Operating System you are running, if the program or TSR is still loading each time you boot your computer, it is possible that program may be loading in your autoexec.bat. Information about the autoexec.bat and how to edit it can be found on our Autoexec.bat / Config.sys page.

Win.ini

Note: This section is only applies to Windows 3.x and Windows 95 and 98 users. If you are uncertain which version of Windows you are running, please click here.

If the program continues to load and you have checked the startup folder and the autoexec.bat for this program or file, it is also possible for this program to load in the win.ini file. To check this file, follow the below steps.

Windows 3.x users click the File menu and click Exit to get to a MS-DOS prompt.
Windows 9x users click Start / Shutdown and restart the computer in MS-DOS prompt.
Once at the MS-DOS prompt, type:
cd\windows <press enter>
edit win.ini <press enter>
In the win.ini file you should have several lines of text, locate the line that reads:
LOAD=

or

RUN=

Verify that these lines are just LOAD= or RUN= If text is following either of these statements it is possible that this may be the program loading each time your computer boots.
To temporarily disable these lines, you can place a semicolon in front of these lines, as shown in the following example:

;RUN=

To save this file, choose File (ALT + F) and then Exit and save changes on exit.
System Registry

Note: This section is only for Windows 95 and 98 users, Windows ME users, Windows 2000 Users, and Windows XP users. If you are uncertain which version of Windows you are running, please click here.

Windows 98 users should attempt to disable startup programs through the System Configuration before doing the system Registry.

If the program continues to load after rebooting your computer and you have verified that the program does not exist in your startup, autoexec.bat or win.ini, the last and only other location that this program or TSR may be loading is the system registry. Before attempting to edit or change the system registry, it is important you read our registry page to understand the potential risks of editing the registry.

Once you have familiarized yourself with the system registry, open the following registry key to see if the program or TSR is loading in the system registry.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT...
\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\RUN]

If you locate the program that is loading, simply delete this program from the above key (do not delete any other files from any other keys).

System Configuration

Note: This section is only for Windows 98 and Windows ME users. If you are uncertain which version of Windows you are running, please click here.

To disable startup programs through the System Configuration, follow the below instructions.

Click Start / Programs / Accessories / System Tools / System Information
In the System Information Window, click the Tools drop down menu and select the System Configuration Utility
Select the Startup tab and uncheck the programs you wish to not load up automatically.
System Configuration Utility also known as msconfig

Note: This section is only for Windows XP users. If you are uncertain which version of Windows you are running, please click here.

To disable programs from automatically loading, follow the below instructions.

Click Start / Run / Type msconfig and press enter.
This will open the "System Configuration Utility" window.
Within this window click the "Startup", uncheck each of the startup tasks you no longer wish to load. If you are uncertain what startup programs are causing your issues, try un-checking all of the items and then slowly start checking each of the items until you determine the source of your issue.

Gabriel

Thanks - it doesn't list many things at all. I deleted all the stuff from there except shit I want to start up.

I have tried the RAM, and that is a no go, I don't think it is RAM related.

tuathal

Have a go at defragging the p.c., it wont do any harm anyway. Might be worth your while downloading a registry cleaner/mechanic off the net aswell.

Gabriel

Good idea.

I found out my Primary HD had less than 2gig free space. SO I've deleted, uninstalled and removed a lot of shit, and only managed to get it down to just over 6gig free space.

And it's still giving me a whole load of shit.


I'll have a go at cleaning the reg. Any particular reccomendations for safe programs?

tuathal

Registry Mechanic ( pctools software ) and Registryfix are both fairly good, trouble is ya have to Register and pay about $30 for a years use. However, you can still download them and use them to see if there are problems on your P.C. If there isnt, you wont have to pay.
Have you installed any new programs lately, that might be causing conflicts with other xp programs. Unlikely i suppose, if you've already tried restoring.

davemo2us

You really need to look at what he is saying and even if it is trivial it may cause a problem. At this point you know it's not your HD or mem, so it is likely software.

Commador

For viruses, Clamwin, its free and easy to use. Much more through than norton or any other virus scanning program I've ever seen. Google Clamwin to find out more.

Gabriel

Ok I am sure it is software now - but I've tried removing a lot of shit, and I can't think of anything that I put on just before it started going nuts, which is why I assumed it was a virus.

By the way, removing a lot of programs has made it run a lot better, it seems I had just under 2gig free space on the primary HD - I now have 6gig free, but I've had to remove a lot of stuff that was working fine before.

It feels like it is just running out of steam, it goes for a bit and eventually just loses it's momentum. I can't have too many windows open for instance, it doesn't like that - whereas before ewould have MSN, IRC, Hammer, Steam, Ventrillo and WMP all running at the same time and it didn't so much as blink.


I am again out of ideas apart from a fresh install of XP. But that, unfortunately, will take time.