newly installed XP INSANELY slow

katyyy · #1 01-28-2004, 08:22 AM

For starters, my Compaq Presario 700(ew) laptop runs Windows XP home.

Anyway, about two weeks ago my computer froze while I was downloading some music on kazaa-lite, but I was across the room on the phone so I just left it until about an hour later, and pushed the off button. When I attempted to turn it on it got past the little red Compaq logo, brought me to the selection screen for safe mode, "last known blah blah that worked", normal windows or whatever. Anyway, to cut that short, no matter what I picked would load nothing. Safe mode, normal, whatever, it would show a little bar loading up like it normally would, and then either just go blank or stay frozen with the load bar thing on the screen. Of course Compaq couldn't help me over the phone so I tried to use some Compaq "quickrestore" disks which ended up doing nothing but getting rid of Windows all together. IE- "No operating system found" on startup. I found an XP disk(which is not the one that came with my laptop) and installed it to my laptop yesterday(which took 13 hours). Some "Nobilis Windows XP Home Edition" thing. I don't know where I got it.

To get to my main question here, after having installed XP, everything seems to be in working order, as in, I am able to get into the desktop and open programs and what not. The problem is.. it takes nearly 10 minutes to load up to the desktop, and like 50 seconds to get into any folders or programs.. basically anything moves EXTREMELY slow. For reference I have a "nobilis" drivers cd as well. And I have lost all other XP disks and original compaq cds. I also can not get onto the internet because it won't cooperate long enough to install my roadrunner software/modem driver.

It works the same way booted in safe mode.

What could be wrong and what can I do?

TrueRollers · #2 01-28-2004, 02:40 PM

I couldn't tell you exactly what is wrong, but it seems as if your hard drive might be going... try making sure your BIOS settings are correct (Del, F1, or F2 on boot screen). There alot of things it could be making it not work, but that should be a start... If its under any kind of warranty have em' check it out. If not, take it to Best Buy, they are usually good about diagnosing problems like that. (Might cost a little bit, when I worked there it was $30)

katyyy · #3 01-28-2004, 08:40 PM

no warranty anymore, i've already had issues with that, and who the warranty was under.. circuit city or compaq, when i had spilled pepsi on my keyboard. i use an external one now because now i'm under no warranty. it's been fine though. everything was fine up until the one night it froze. and i also have no money, and when i do get a job, i won't have much to spare on personal amusement objects. BIOS settings. tell me, what are those, and what do i make sure of?

thanks, by the way.

Stinger · #4 01-30-2004, 02:00 AM

Oh come on! Can no one help this person?

katyyy · #5 01-30-2004, 03:50 AM

girl!

Stinger · #6 02-02-2004, 02:26 AM

Sorry katyyy, didn't mean to offend. But aren't we all really just pixels behind glass, plasma, or liquid crystal online anyway? For you and because I feel your plight I edited my post.

Getting back to your problem, yes, it does sound like a hard drive malfunction. I'll have to dig up some names but do a search for hard drive diagnostic software. That should let you know if your drive is fragged.

katyyy · #7 02-02-2004, 05:55 AM

hmmmm, thanks. i'll do that.

i hate when a $1,500 piece of electronic equipment won't work/work right.

it makes life seem so pointless!.. especially when computers and the internet are your life!

Stinger · #8 02-03-2004, 05:33 AM

Here, i found some links to some demos or trial versions of diagnostic programs. http://www.ariolic.com/activesmart/ http://www.highergroundsoftware.com/ http://www.ontrack.com/dataadvisor/

Even the trial versions should let you know something. Let us know how it goes!

katyyy · #9 02-03-2004, 07:07 AM

what i wonder is how i run these on my laptop.. when i can't get online on it, since it doesn't run well/long enough to install my internet/modem software.. and yeah, i'm dumb, too.

jombo · #10 02-04-2004, 08:12 AM

sounds sorta like a boot sector trojan to me. but im sure no expert.
and if so i dont think ya will clean it my advice is to make a boot disk and fdisk format then let xp format agin when it installs. just my thoughts like i say no expert here. i dont use ntfs tho so my advice may be wrong for ya.

Play_The_0dds · #11 02-04-2004, 08:56 AM

seen this same problem on three seperate computers this week. jombo is very correct, not sure if it is a virus, and if it is , which one. this i do know, just using fdisk does not work, you can use a boot floppy 100 times, will do no good. you may get the os to reinstall, but it will have problems. you have to do a secure erase that completely wipes the drive, even the mbr. i use the maxtor disk that came with one of thier drives, it works on all brands. there are free ones on the net. after the utility writes zeros i set the disk back up and everything works fine. the link i am going to post has several free programs listed.

http://www.snapfiles.com/freeware/security/fwerase.html

OncleBob · #12 02-04-2004, 10:47 AM

Hello,

Could it be that your system is not beefy enough to run XP or you have faulty harware?

1. video card

- right click on my computer, properties
- advanced tab, click on settings for the performance
- select "adjust for best performance" and see if it makes a difference.
If it does, you need a new video card...

2. hrdwr

a. run your MFG's PC Diagnostic utility.

b. if you have cards and accessories in your expansion slots, or connected to your ports, pull them all out and see if it makes a difference.
If it does, re-install them one at a time to identify the culprit.

c. your problem could be as simple as a faulty HDD cable,
try to substitue a brand new quality cable.

Hope this helps.
Good luck

katyyy · #13 02-04-2004, 11:16 AM

alright, about these wiping programs.. can i simply run them upon starting up my computer.. do what it needs to do.. and reinstall windows or something? ive reinstalled windows twice now and it does the same thing... works amazingly slow.. its near impossible to install software while using XP and i cant get on the internet on it..

also.. one other thing i noticed is that the CPU is at 100% even if i just have like My Documents open..

that isn't normal, is it?

i'm not very good at fixing these complicated things, guys. i need some details instructions.

sorry!

javert · #14 02-04-2004, 04:19 PM

When your CPU is up around 100% press Ctrl+Alt+Del and click on the "Processes Tab." Either list all of the processes listed or at least tell us what is eating up the most of the CPU.

katyyy · #15 02-06-2004, 03:35 AM

Explorer its self takes up the majority of the CPU. it changes quickly and quite a bit. also.. winlogon... i don't know what's going on. i don't see anything strange in there. normally i can spot something that shouldnt be running, besides, i've reinstalled windows twice. blagh. this whole ordeal has me pulling my hair out. i can't even stand to turn the damn thing on. it takes about 10 minutes from pushing the on button to the desktop. i can't install software. it either freezes or takes over 10 minutes to load one simple thing. someone please help meeee.

how can i install software if it freezes? i don't know what to do. i can't take it in anywhere now. i have no money. no warranties.

helpppp!