concerned about programs slowing your PC down?
YOu should download HijackThis for free. Install it and run. This program is not for average users. Becareful before you remove anything in the list. Research each item in the list. Eventually you should be able to clean up that computer of all unwanted programs. Also run other Spyware detectors such as Adaware 6.0. Make sure that your PC is behind a firewall at all times. Also disconect from the Internet when you are not using your PC.
Just a FWIW SanDisk USB & WindowsXP
Probably totally unrelated to anything mentioned here, but ...
on my WindowsXP system, leaving the SanDisk CompactFlash card reader plugged into the USB without any memory card in it causes the system to stall for 5 to 10 minutes on bootup.
If there's a card in it it's OK.
I leave the thing unplugged now until I actually need it.
Re: Slooooooooow XP Startup
I've seen this under 2000.
I'd like to bet you are networked.
Disconect the XP PC then boot it.
If I'm right it'll boot much much much quicker.
Re: Slooooooooow XP Startup
its not a networked PC is it??
wish i could swap my problem with yours?
my PC seems freeze or reboot itself, had a large fan blowing on the motherboard this weekend never crashed
its a 1.7 celeron and AS Rock motherboard, with latest bios, AS Rock said this could be a Memory problem??
Re: Slooooooooow XP Startup
Re: Slooooooooow XP Startup
You say you've done all the standard software tests and if it is true that
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robbo
its not a networked PC
logicly it sounds like a hardware problem.
Still sounds like a network auth issue / registary job. These are well documented issues to do with some dumb as hell settings from NT technology.
Do not try to do what I say next unless you have at least AV scanned with latest update, Adaware Scan with latest update, Norton WinDoctor (or other recognised PC tune up tool).
Check your BIOS settings are as you would expect them to be. If you find you are unsure leave them alone, I don't want to hear that your PC is dead because you did something rash over what I said (I'd feel bad).
I would find out what the power rating on the PSU is an if it is up to the job.
Then this is what I would do: (With baby steps for the inexpirenced)
(You will need some screwdrivers, lots of room, a few hours, some anti-static bags.)
Get the Dog, Wife, Kids, Alien and beer out of the room.
Now (carefully) open the PC up. (It would help if you were well grounded via a wrist strap but it is not essensial.) Be carefull there are some flippin shap corners inside a case and blood is not a good addative for PCs.
Give the air inside a good snif.
Smell lots of ozone: Hmm dodgy sign...
Smell burning: worse sign - search for burn marks.
How's the PSU? it should smell at best dusty.
Don't breath too deaply or you'll sneaze and splutter in all that dust. If you have an unuswed blusher brush (as wife) and a pipe attachment for the vacume cleaner you might want to think about a gental clean of the inside of the case.
Note any strong odours, blackened areas smashed bits or parts hanging loose.
You may wish to come back here if you find any of the above.
Keep fingures away from the CPU (which should smell hot and dusty) as modern ones have very warm/hot coolent towers on them sometimes.
Remove the sound card (if it is not an onboard), place it on the antistatic bag and check everything else is securely in place.
When removing cards each one should have a screw that holds them to the case edge. Remove this first or you'll break it.
boot.
Listen for problems (beeps) and see what happens. If it gets to XP it may give you a few odd messages don't worry. click next it's just windows adapting to the change.
shut down.
Repeat with each card (although the graphics card should stay for now).
Repeate with each stick of RAM makeing sure you have a stick in slot 0(!)
Reomove the IDE cable and power (just unplug) from your CD/DVD etc drives, secondary HDD etc (NOT THE PRIMARY HDD) there is no need to physicly remove these devices unplugging them should do.
Keep going untill you have nothing left to remove.
Swap in a spare graphics card.
At some point you should have found an improvment (please allow for slower actions under the lower RAM spec). If this is the case start putting things back one by one booting in between. As soon as the fix stops working remove the offending part. Continue untill you have a working PC and a pile of dodgy parts.
If it does not improve with all the hard ware stripped the next test involoves borrowing a basic HDD with enough room for a clean install of something even 98 (but XP would be best).*
If that does not fix the problem then it is your mother board. Reseat the bios if you can.
Still a problem? Get to a service shop as the rest of the diagnostic tools are expensive.**
*The HDD test can be done first if you suspect it is a software issue.
**You can get cards that plug into a slot on the mother board and analyse the thing and tell you all it's hang-up and issues (if any).
Re: Slooooooooow XP Startup
im thinking the problem must be the fan on the heat sink, its spinning however was gonna put another on blowing on the heat sink, remove my large fan and see if that does the trick???