system slow even in safe mode

working on a dimension 4600 that client reported to be really slow. to me that usually indicates spyware and being this is a teenagers machine thought it would be an easy fix. normally i run my spyware apps. in safe mode and this time even safe mode is slower than the old 286 machines from decades ago. normal mode is unbelievable slow oh no spyware were detected.

ran dells diagnostic cd on an individual basis all passed but when i run the processor test they all fail on L1 cache, L2 cache and I/O apic. gives me the same message " 0700:0120 msg no cache detected. cache might be disabled defective or not present ".

when i run pc diagnostic pro on the same cpu all pass except when it gets to the mmx register and that fails.

have checked the net but not finding anything definitive but the way it is responding and being there are no bugs found either the memory is bad which test indicate its not or i have a bad cpu.

im leaning toward the cpu - am i on the right track ???

 

See if the kid altered any of the Bios settings. He may have tried a misguided attempt at overclocking.

 

whiskeyman

i dont see that as an option in the dell bios. actually i dont even see a function to reset back to defaults not like other bios's.

 

Once you're in the Bios (F2) press Alt+F to reset to defaults.

 

whiskeyman

okay i gotta ask where the heck did you find the alt f to reset the bios ??? i have looked i thought everywhere even removed the battery but that didnt work.

so is it fair to say that this teenager tried to overclock this machine ??? not much up on overclocking never seen a need for it myself. kid is a gamer and maybe this was his way of getting his mom to buy him a new machine. sneaky.

oh, thank you so very much. if you lived nearer i would buy you a couple drinks. whiskey i presume.

 

I Googled Dell Dimension 4600 access Bios and found that reference to enabling the default settings. Kids can be very sneaky especially if they are gamers and can't stand the proprietary computers their parents buy. I am always seeing these kids ask how to mess up these types of computers, so their parents will buy a better one, at other forums.

The only drink I could accept would be a diet ginger ale. I underwent liver transplantation 4 years ago. No more Jack Daniels for me. Thanks anyhow.

 

whiskeyman

sorry to hear about your transplant. hope you are doing well now. not much of a googler i usually use yahoo. i owe you the ginger ale. i love ginger ale myself always have a frigerator full of them.

again thanks....greg