Win 2k Pro major slow down

I have Win 2K Pro, and every since I got pro, the computer's been getting slower by days... Time to time, the window crashes without warning or reason and as it restarts it does that scan thing. When it's done, it creates folders with name like "Found.000 ", "Found.001" and so on. Ever since the first crash, the computer has been SLOOOOW as hell... Is it okay for me to delete those folders with files in them? How do I make it faster, I've already tried defrag and scan.

Also when I look at the Window Task Manager and look at the processes that are on, there are a lot more things that seems to be on that I don't even know about...

 

Hi Nanashi
Correcting Problems by Using Chkdsk:

Chkdsk cannot correct found errors when there are open files on the volume because Chkdsk cannot lock the volume. In this case, Chkdsk offers to check the volume automatically the next time the computer is started. This is typical behavior for the boot volume. When the boot volume is checked, the computer is automatically restarted after the volume check is completed.

Because some repairs, such as correcting lost clusters (also knows as allocation units) or cross-linked files, change a volume's file allocation table and can cause data loss, Chkdsk first prompts you with a confirmation message similar to the following:

10 lost allocation units found in 3 chains.

Convert lost chains to files?

If you press N, Windows 2000 fixes the errors on the volume but does not save the contents of the lost clusters. If you press Y, Windows 2000 attempts to identify the folder to which they belong. If the folder is identified, the lost cluster chains are saved there as files. If the folder cannot be identified or if the folder does not exist, it saves each chain of lost clusters in a folder called Found.xxx, where xxx is a sequential number starting with 000. If no folder Found.000 exists, one is created at the root. If one or more sequential folders called Found.xxx (starting at 000) exists, one using the next number in the sequence is created.

After the storage folder has been identified or created, one or more files with a name in the format Filennnn.chk (the first saved file is named File0000.chk, the second is named File0001.chk, and so on in sequence) are saved. When Chkdsk finishes, you can examine the contents of these files with a text editor to see whether they contain any needed data (if the converted chains came from corrupted binary files, they are of no value). You can delete the CHK files after you have saved any useful data.



Note

Be careful to delete only files using the file name extension CHK from the Found.xxx folders. Other programs might create and use files with that extension.

Some useful info here about Found.000

Daizy

 

Nanashi - the behavior you are describing is such that I would place it in the "This is NOT a good thing" category.

The problem will be to figure out the cause and get it fixed.

1. The things running as services (shown by Task Manager) that you don't recognize are probably normal system services - some will be required for your PC to operate, some for specific programs to operate, and some for occasional system services to work properly. Probably not a great idea to just stop any of them without a reason.

2. The files in your Found.xxx folders are files your system couldn't identify or associate with any program. "Lost chains" is the usual non-helpful description but it basically means the computer is saying "I don't have a clue what this thing is ". Maybe a file damaged beyond repair or maybe just one the FAT tables (sort of "system locator" files) have lost track of. In either case, useless to you as is.

My approach to these is pretty simple. I just delete them. I figure if they were critical system files, my PC wouldn't run. If they were program related files (.exe, .dll, etc.) the program that needed them wouldn't work. In either case, some reinstall is needed. If they are data files of some sort, I can restore from a backup.

If you want to be a little more agressive, you can get software from MjM Data Recovery Ltd or some similar company that can scan the files and usually figure out what they are (like .doc if word processing, .xls if spreadsheets, etc.). Then if the proper extension is put on the file, it will open in the proper application and you can see if the file is really damaged.

3. You really will need to find out what is causing the problem if possible.
a. Check the event logs (application, security, system) for the time leading up to and just after the crash to see if any interesting entries are in there. I'd suggest setting a filter to cut out success audit and informational messages if you have lots of events.
b. See if you have on-going damage. Rename any of the "found" folders to something like found.it or something so you can tell if you are getting new damage. Then open a DOS window and force the system to do a full disk check including surface. The checks may take a while but are worth it at this point. To make this happen, type in
chkdsk /r for each hard drive you have and press ENTER. (easiest is to path to the drive and do the chkdsk then path to the next and do it again).
You should be told it can't be done and ask if you want the check at next reboot. Answer yes and then reboot after you have called for a chkdsk on all your drives. You will get a full file/security/etc. scan including a surface check of the hard drive.
c. Check your device manager and see if any hardware is marked with the yellow ! symbol which means it isn't identified or working properly.

4. If your speed issues aren't fixed by any of the above, and if you are on a network, rule out network connection issues by booting up locally. If speed is normal then but not with a network (domain or workgroup) boot, post back and we'll step thru some more checks.

 

There are some tweaks that can improve performance in win2k, you might like to check out the following http://www.3dspotlight.com/tweaks/win2k_services/
However as the previous two posts have indicated you will need to address the "found " issues before you plow in, this site can help you in understanding more about how to do this. And please if they tell you to backup do so, or you will regret it -experience talking.

 

Processes

This page http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q263201 in Microsoft Knowledge Base indicates the processes running by default.

I have the same problem, reduced by reverting to earlier image. I found that I cannot even schedule a chkdsk, I get the same "some process is running and has exclusive use of part of the disk" message at boot-up. I think some process is overstepping its bounds. I am guessing that perhaps if I start canceling processes and then trying to run chkdsk that I should then do a hard reboot rather than close down normally, since the process will not be able to save info, but I don't know.

I tried to access chkdsk through Norton. It had worked before. I could not find an icon for DOS in my W2k Pro. I can create these. What is the dos program name?

I was able to run chkdsk from start/run. However when using /f it still says locked by another process.

 

Tom - you don't have DOS with any of the NT systems. Just a command window. Looks like DOS but is a process running under NT rather than the underlying OS as with 9X systems.

Try this - start~run~cmd

At the prompt and from the drive you want to work on
chkdsk /r (which is more intensive than /f). If it is a data drive, it will probably just proceed to fix it. If the system disk (or one with a page file on it or something) it will ask about doing it at next reboot. Say "yes ". Then reboot and the process should run long before the majority of the OS loads. Let it fix any errors and don't opt to save any trash it finds. Or, if you'd prefer, shut down rather than reboot and then after a few seconds (10 at least with IDE drive and 30 seconds at least with SCSI) turn the PC back on.

 

Newt ... Where did you get to be so smart? I really enjoy reading your responses... keep it up, my friend!
Top Dog

 

Thanks for that Top Dog.

Just been doing this stuff so long and started with so little possibility of help other than a manual that some stuff has sunk in.

And my IQ went up at least 50 points when Google developed such a great search engine.

I started on computers in the early 60s with punch cards and write your own programs.

In 1979 or '80 the Coast Guard bought their "standard workstation" which was a system from folks called Convergent Technologies. It used CTOS (convergent technologies operating system). I was running a medical clinic at the time. One day they delivered me 6 computers and 7.2 linear feet of manuals (I measured) with instructions to "start using them ". I called our main computer guy and found out he had gotten his the same day and had the same amount of training. None. He had been appointed our Sys Admin the day before because he was the Finance Officer and they used calculating machines.

Great system. Client/Server long before the term came into use. Server and 5 workstations with the appropriate OS and a "standard software suite" loaded. Just wire em together and they were good to go. Book #1 had the "how to wire and how to turn on" instructions.