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Twisted · Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 10:57 am Post subject: Computer Techies Needed

Ok, got my computer, all set up and lovely, but....

Every so often, it chugs massively..I mean taking a minute real time to respond to a click.

Now, I've checked as much as I can...Drivers are all updated, CPU isn't being crushed, Over a gig memory is free, network isn't being touched, aI have Watchdog, Anti-virus and Firewall active, all the processes are ones I recognise although Firefox is gobbling 50,000 K + and takes an age to load.

DirectX is up, Windows XP running and it's only intermittent.

Any ideas?
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I-KP · Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 3770 Location: Iddheim

A few things to try out:

- CPU/GPU overheating. Check the temps (I think all mobos these day of onboard thermal sensors).

- Download Process Exporer and see if it is a software issue. You will have to keep it running so you can look at it the next time your machine borks.

- Check the setting on your RAM in the BIOS. Look up the modules you have on the net to find out what their Safe and Optimum settings are first.
* If the settings are good, and you have dual modules, try: reseating them both / taking one out / taking the other out.
* Run a full memtest program. This will take hours but should point out if something is wobbly.
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Twisted · Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 12:07 pm Post subject:

Temps low 40's: Supercooler going, but will look into the others. Ta.

It seems to happen only at certain times, and then for a brief period of time.
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Twisted · Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 3:01 pm Post subject:

Still happening. Process explorer isn't showing anything. The thing I'm most confused about is that it's only intermittent. Played TF2 for a good hour on full before there was a sudden glitch and slow down to turtle speed.
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I-KP · Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 3770 Location: Iddheim

Did you check the RAM settings in the BIOS (to the manufacturer standard - not factory default)? Reseat, try without one module for a while then without the other?
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Elements of the past and future combining to make something not quite as good as either.

dave · Joined: 05 Oct 2003 Posts: 820 Location: Niflheim

SteveBurge · Joined: 09 Oct 2003 Posts: 307 Location: Radishland

Quick question - if you're playing mp3's, do they still play ok? I remember getting massive lag on-screen once, butmp3's etc. were fine. It turned out to be the GFX card overheating, so I had to move some cards around so it had a bit more space around it.

Steve

I-KP · Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 3770 Location: Iddheim

Twisted · Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 11:06 pm Post subject:

Checked the RAM BIOS, nothing.

Pagefile is 3 Gigs kept safe from the main store.
This is before and during. I've had Performance/Process Manager watching whilst it's happened and they only jumped slightly.

HD buzzes away like normal and then gives a loud chug before it releases a burst of processor speed back to me. Locks work fine, CAD doesn't, mouse and rollovers still work.

Scotty the Internet Watchdog, AVG and PC Tools Spyware Doctor. All work in tandem fine on my old machine.

Like I'd let bloody Norton near my machine.

The strange thing is that both Safari and Exploder boot faster the FF by a long way. It actually seems that opening a program and especially altering the front display causes the most problems.

Saying that, I've been running since 8pm and only had one slow down point.

Scotty lets me see what Startups and Current programs are running.

When the glitch hits, it's like there's a total stop to all major processes, Network, Internet, Window movement, CAD all stop but mouse movement/rollover continues (though rollovers are at a much slower rate), as well as MP3's.

It also buffers mouse clicks during it, but not CAD's.

It glitched so badly earlier that it knocked out Explorer and Dr. Watson, but left Firefox and Safari standing.
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I-KP · Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 3770 Location: Iddheim

Have you tried turning your RAM timings down in the BIOS?
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Elements of the past and future combining to make something not quite as good as either.

dave · Joined: 05 Oct 2003 Posts: 820 Location: Niflheim

El_Cid · Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 38

Have you tried booting in safe mode and running chkdsk ?(file table corruption/bad sectors etc.)

Twisted · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 7:10 pm Post subject:

BOOM....and it's back to the laptop...

Won't even enter setup now, just hangs on the Motherboard screen.

Someone hates me.
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El_Cid · Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 38

Reset the bios (pull the cmos battery/toggle switch)
pull all but one stick of memory (rinse and repeat)

Twisted · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 7:40 pm Post subject:

Hrrmm...we have boot...ta for that; will keep you updated.
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