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Very slow PC and Wireless disconnecting

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by thierry1, 2009/05/31.

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  1. 2009/05/31
    thierry1

    thierry1 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi guys, unfortunately not the first time I've posted on Windows BBS, my PC seems to have piked up a problem with slow performance, for an example a DDS log took over 30 minutes to generate from download to the text files being displayed.

    I also have a problem where my wireless internet disconnects at intervals when I'm using the internet. If I try to 'disable' or 'repair' the problem the screen gets stuck. The wireless cannot be reconnected until the PC is rebooted. A reboot usually takes around 15 minutes and doesn't work properly, the PC needs to be switched off by holding the start button down. It's proving to be very frustrating.

    I have lots of the applications from previous malware problems, like MBAM, but it's not picking up anything malicious, neither is a full Norton and Windows Defender scan, so I'm not sure what's causing the slow performance, and in particular, the wireless network to disconnect.

    I have a second PC which uses the wireless network fine, so it's not a problem with that. The symbol in the system tray in my PC also shows that a signal from the wireless is detected, but when I try using the internet it displays a 'page cannot be found' screen which I can't get round other than with a reboot, it's the same in Firefox as it is in IE.

    Apparently my problem is not malware related, so I'm wondering what it could be: http://www.windowsbbs.com/malware-v...lved-very-slow-pc-wireless-disconnecting.html
     
    thierry1,
    #1
  2. 2009/05/31
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    This could be a hardware problem .....

    As a first step check out your hard with the manufacturer's disk diagnostics .....

    Disk Diagnostic Software ....

    ExcelStore

    Hitachi/IBM

    Samsung

    Seagate, Maxtor, Quantum

    Western Digital

    Secondly remove your memory modules (one at a time) and clean the contacts - down each contact, not across - with a soft pencil eraser, degrease with an alcohol based liquid and refit.
     
    PeteC,
    #2


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  4. 2009/06/01
    thierry1

    thierry1 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi Pate, I believe I have a Toshiba disk but can't find diagnostic software for it - do you have a link please?

    thanks
     
    thierry1,
    #3
  5. 2009/06/01
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    As we found out in another thread Toshiba do not offer such software - a disgrace IMO - and it was suggested that the Hitachi software might work.

    Failing that run chkdsk /r on the drive from a Command prompt - a backup of important data is strongly recommended before proceeding.
     
    PeteC,
    #4
  6. 2009/06/01
    thierry1

    thierry1 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi Pete, tried the Hitachi software, doesn't seem to want to work - it can't find files after setup and won't load.

    I will post back on your next step from command when I have backed up data.

    thanks
     
    thierry1,
    #5
  7. 2009/06/04
    thierry1

    thierry1 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi Pete, I've now backed up my data.

    I ran chkdsk /r which it couldn't do in Windows but did on a reboot. It said C: was 'clean'

    thanks
     
    thierry1,
    #6
  8. 2009/06/04
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Let's check a few other things .....

    Basic system spec from Control Panel > System > General tab

    Hard drive size and reported free space ?

    Task Manager - how many running processes ?
     
    PeteC,
    #7
  9. 2009/06/04
    thierry1

    thierry1 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi Pete:

    System -

    Intel Pentium M740 1.73ghz
    512mb RAM

    80GB HDD
    12GB free on C:
    9GB free on D:

    Quite a few processes running as part of user name 'SYSTEM' including ones with strange letters such as:

    MsMpEng.exe 24,576k
    VzcdbSvc.exe at 14,032k
    VzFw.exe at 8,276k
    and other smaller ones.

    Firefox is currently taking up most memory, with one window open at 73,932k
    explorer.exe is next. I only have Firefox running as an application right now.

    I only tend to have a couple of applications running at any one time, including Outlook, Firefox, Word. It's only Firefox (or IE) that causes problems. Outlook can still retrieve new emails when Firefox is not longer responding, which is odd.
     
    thierry1,
    #8
  10. 2009/06/04
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Little more info please .....

    Size of C: & D: partitions

    The number of processes running in Task Manager - btm left hand corner of TM window.

    FYI ....

    MsMpEng.exe - Windows Defender

    VzcdbSvc.exe - VAIO Entertainment studio

    VzFw.exe - Sony GigaPocket multimedia entertainment center
    Different animals - Firefox is a browser, Outlook an email client. Outlook Express/Outlook do not require a browser to be running, just an internet connection.
     
    PeteC,
    #9
  11. 2009/06/04
    thierry1

    thierry1 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi Pete,

    Total sizes-
    C: 32.6GB
    D:34.9GB

    Number of processes running 55
     
    thierry1,
    #10
  12. 2009/06/04
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    OK - I wanted to check that there was enough free space on C:\ for Windows to run comfortably - 15% min, preferably more - you have ~37% which is fine.

    55 processes is not excessive, but could probably be trimmed down - later.

    I'm guessing that this is a laptop - another check please .....

    Control Panel > System > Hardware tab - Device Manager ....

    Expand IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers, right click on Primary IDE controller > Properties - Advanced Settings tab .....

    Transfer mode and current transfer mode, please.
     
    PeteC,
    #11
  13. 2009/06/04
    thierry1

    thierry1 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi Pete, yes it's a laptop.

    Device 0
    Transfer mode: DMA if available
    Current transfer mode: Ultra DMA Mode 5

    Device 1
    Transfer mode: DMA if available
    Current transfer mode: Ultra DMA Mode 2

    thanks
     
    thierry1,
    #12
  14. 2009/06/05
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    That's fine - PIO mode would slow things down.

    You know it's notoriously difficult to pinpoint a sudden slowdown in performance - the possibility of malware has been discounted, the basic system checks out OK so far. Although the slowdown is recent just bear in mind that a 1.7 Ghz system with 512 Mb RAM will never go supersonic :)

    Although you have more than sufficient free space on the hard drive a cleanup would not go amiss - but don't hold your breath for a dramatic performance boost :) .....

    Empty temporary Internet files and set the hard drive space available for TIF's to 50 Mb - more than enough.

    In IE under Tools > Internet Options > Advanced scroll down and check ' Emppty tif's when browser closed'.

    Start > Run > %temp% > Enter - all files shown are safe to delete - one or two may be in use and cannot be deleted.

    Empty C:\Windows\Temp - same comment as above

    Set a fixed pagefile .....

    Control Panel > System > Advanced - Performance - Settings button > Advanced .....

    Check under Program Settings that Programs is selected in both options, then under Virtual Memory - Change highlight the C:\ drive - click custom size and enter 800 max, 800 min (= ~1.5x installed RAM) and OK out - a reboot will be required.

    With regard to your wireless problem - not an area in which I am comfortable - rarely use the facility - I suggest removing the wirless device in Device Manager and rebooting to let Windows redetect it and reload the drivers. You could also check for updated drivers.

    If you continue to have problems start a thread in the Networking forum.

    Check out your Startup items - rather than use msconfig which is not really suited to controlling startups download Starter. This will enable you to see what starts up on boot and it is straightforward to disable/enable. Concentrate on third party apps and leave anything MS based alone.
     
    PeteC,
    #13
  15. 2009/06/05
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    One further check ....

    Download SIW and go to Hardware > Sensors ......

    Are the voltages listed for 3.3, 5 & 12v all close to the required value - close being not > or< 0.2v?

    What is the CPU temp?

    Hard drive temp?
     
    PeteC,
    #14
  16. 2009/06/05
    thierry1

    thierry1 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi Pete, I followed your steps for cleaning.

    Driver - when updating the wireless driver (right click wireless, properties, configure, driver, update driver) the application freezes and can only be closed through task manager.

    SIW - Not sure where I can find voltages... but CPU temp is 51 degrees c and HDD is 33 degrees c
     
    thierry1,
    #15
  17. 2009/06/05
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    My bad - was looking on the desktop - checked the laptop and they are not shown.

    My suggestion was to uninstall the wireless device through Device Manager ......
    Go to the manufacturer's web site.
     
    PeteC,
    #16
  18. 2009/06/05
    thierry1

    thierry1 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi Pete, I've already tried updating the driver on Intel's website but the website's check of hardware says I don't have an Intel device installed!

    With the driver not updating properl, I wouldn't want to unistall it and then not be able to re-install it - is there a way around this?

    thanks
     
    thierry1,
    #17
  19. 2009/06/05
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    How does Device Manager describe the wireless device?
     
    PeteC,
    #18
  20. 2009/06/05
    3zzi32008

    3zzi32008 Inactive

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    Hi Thierry1, in regards to your driver. If you click on Start > right click on My Computer and go into properties > click on the Hardware tab > then click Device Manager > then under network adapter, find the driver for your wireless connection, click on it and hit delete on your keyboard and then click on the icon 'scan for hardware changes' and this should re-install the driver for you, hopefully without crashing your machine.

    Like pete said, it may be worth checking for more up to date drivers for download.

    Regards
     
    3zzi32008,
    #19
  21. 2009/06/05
    thierry1

    thierry1 Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi there, the following network adapters are on my laptop:

    1394 Net Adapter
    Intel Pro/100 VE Network Connection
    Intel Pro/Wireless 220BG Network Connection

    I tried to install the driver for the first one and there was nothing available

    For the other two when I click on update driver it keeps searching but doesn't respond after several minutes of waiting. I then terminate it through task manager.

    Which of these three do I need to delete and scan for?

    thanks
     
    thierry1,
    #20
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