Recent start-up issues...

g3b · Oct 6, 2009, 11:42 PM

Hello guys, my parents just started having start-up issues with their pc. It is athlon 3000xp, windows xp service pk 3, 1gig of ram & a x1650 pro ati agp 512 mb card. Problem- The computer boots up and it takes almost 10-15min. to be usable. I get low virtual memory messages & the windows task mgr. goes crazy I try once or twice to bring it up & I get 10-15 in the task mgr. application when it finally comes up. Services.exe has approx 2,036,000K in Virtual memory size. That is when I finally get the task mgr. open, then page file settles down to around 350. I have run malaware bytes, spybot, antivira & online armor so do not think it is a spyware issue. Have also ran hd tune & everything seems to be fine? Oh the harddrive is 80 gig / 60gig full. One more thing when using Mydefrag to optimize & defrag I get this message --- Memory full while running MyDefrag in function 'TreeNewNode' in source!\Tree.cpp' on Line 48.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.
g3b

MitchRapp · Oct 9, 2009, 08:50 PM

sorry to say this, but you may have to just scrap it and start fresh with a new install.
That is, unless you know your way around a computer and can get the hard drive out, plug it via USB (using a USB docking station or an enclosure) and then cleaning up temp files, scanning for viruses AGAIN (deep scan) and eliminating the fragmentation as well....

IvanV · Oct 10, 2009, 02:44 AM

Unless you get lucky with System Restore or uninstalling recently added software, I'm with pipeman, backup data, format the drive and perform a clean install. Apart from giving you a spot clean system, it may well turn out less time consuming than discovering where the problem lies and solving it.

**kris23** · Oct 10, 2009, 04:11 AM

reformatting time man...... back up anything to a new hard drive and give that system the complete clean out.......
it needs it...

g3b · Oct 11, 2009, 09:45 AM

Thanks guys, will give it a go...
g3b

MitchRapp · Oct 13, 2009, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IvanV

Unless you get lucky with System Restore or uninstalling recently added software, I'm with pipeman, backup data, format the drive and perform a clean install. Apart from giving you a spot clean system, it may well turn out less time consuming than discovering where the problem lies and solving it.

pipeman haha ... nice one :P
is there a way to change my nickname btw? that damn name... I chose it as my first hotmail account 15 years ago....

IvanV · Oct 14, 2009, 12:22 AM

Sorry, mate.

Takaharu · Oct 14, 2009, 12:46 AM

Just as one last thing to try before reformatting, I'd recommend running through Yamicsoft XP Manager and - this is the key thing to try - get a can of compressed air and blast the dust out of the case.
Often computers get left alone for years without a good clean out. Fans don't much like dust so you're not unlikely to get a performance decrease due to over-clogging quantities of dust.
It's not guaranteed and it won't speed up your PC a hundred fold but it's worth trying before a reformat.

Also, you might want to consider upgrading one or two components; an Athlon 3000 isn't what you might call the cream of the crop, even for running XP. It works and works well, no question, but crank that up to a slightly more modern, second-hand processor and you'll see a good difference without breaking the bank. Old hard drives can also slow you down quite substantially - a fast dual-core processor with high-speed DDR2 can't compensate for an old hard drive.

SeraphicSorcerer · Oct 15, 2009, 02:45 PM

That and the mechanical bearings on the hard drive could no longer be fluid/worn etc leading to a decrease in access performance. I've seen functioning hard drives that just get slower but no data loss. Especially the one that don't use double fluid cemeric bearings or whatever they call em.

g3b · Dec 7, 2009, 10:11 PM

Hi Guys, Thanks for all of your advise & comments. I tried one thing before I re-installed the operating system --- and it worked like a charm. I ran the Comodo system cleaner on it, rebooted & it has worked fine since then. Still probably need to upgrade the HD on it to a bigger drive.

Thanks again
g3b

Oct 6, 2009, 11:42 PM	#1
g3b HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 21 Rep Power: 0	Recent start-up issues... Hello guys, my parents just started having start-up issues with their pc. It is athlon 3000xp, windows xp service pk 3, 1gig of ram & a x1650 pro ati agp 512 mb card. Problem- The computer boots up and it takes almost 10-15min. to be usable. I get low virtual memory messages & the windows task mgr. goes crazy I try once or twice to bring it up & I get 10-15 in the task mgr. application when it finally comes up. Services.exe has approx 2,036,000K in Virtual memory size. That is when I finally get the task mgr. open, then page file settles down to around 350. I have run malaware bytes, spybot, antivira & online armor so do not think it is a spyware issue. Have also ran hd tune & everything seems to be fine? Oh the harddrive is 80 gig / 60gig full. One more thing when using Mydefrag to optimize & defrag I get this message --- Memory full while running MyDefrag in function 'TreeNewNode' in source!\Tree.cpp' on Line 48. Any thoughts would be appreciated. g3b

Oct 9, 2009, 08:50 PM	#2
MitchRapp a.k.a. pepiman Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Montreal Posts: 998 Rep Power: 51 System Specs	Re: Recent start-up issues... sorry to say this, but you may have to just scrap it and start fresh with a new install. That is, unless you know your way around a computer and can get the hard drive out, plug it via USB (using a USB docking station or an enclosure) and then cleaning up temp files, scanning for viruses AGAIN (deep scan) and eliminating the fragmentation as well....

Oct 10, 2009, 02:44 AM	#3
IvanV HH Assassin Guild Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 5,911 Rep Power: 333 System Specs	Re: Recent start-up issues... Unless you get lucky with System Restore or uninstalling recently added software, I'm with pipeman, backup data, format the drive and perform a clean install. Apart from giving you a spot clean system, it may well turn out less time consuming than discovering where the problem lies and solving it. __________________ If anyone has Portal 2 and hasn't played the co-op and wants to do me a favour, let me know (PM me or whatever).

Oct 10, 2009, 04:11 AM	#4
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,017 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	Re: Recent start-up issues... reformatting time man...... back up anything to a new hard drive and give that system the complete clean out....... it needs it... __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Oct 11, 2009, 09:45 AM	Thread Starter #5
g3b HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 21 Rep Power: 0	Re: Recent start-up issues... Thanks guys, will give it a go... g3b

Oct 14, 2009, 12:22 AM	#7
IvanV HH Assassin Guild Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 5,911 Rep Power: 333 System Specs	Re: Recent start-up issues... Sorry, mate. __________________ If anyone has Portal 2 and hasn't played the co-op and wants to do me a favour, let me know (PM me or whatever).

Oct 14, 2009, 12:46 AM	#8
Takaharu I can fart in 7 languages Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: England, UK Posts: 1,844 Rep Power: 110 System Specs	Re: Recent start-up issues... Just as one last thing to try before reformatting, I'd recommend running through Yamicsoft XP Manager and - this is the key thing to try - get a can of compressed air and blast the dust out of the case. Often computers get left alone for years without a good clean out. Fans don't much like dust so you're not unlikely to get a performance decrease due to over-clogging quantities of dust. It's not guaranteed and it won't speed up your PC a hundred fold but it's worth trying before a reformat. Also, you might want to consider upgrading one or two components; an Athlon 3000 isn't what you might call the cream of the crop, even for running XP. It works and works well, no question, but crank that up to a slightly more modern, second-hand processor and you'll see a good difference without breaking the bank. Old hard drives can also slow you down quite substantially - a fast dual-core processor with high-speed DDR2 can't compensate for an old hard drive. __________________ I don't get paid to know the answer, therefore I'm far more likely to give you a straight and honest answer. Mods Rig, Box Mods Rig, Folding details

Oct 15, 2009, 02:45 PM	#9
SeraphicSorcerer HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 2,295 Rep Power: 156 System Specs	Re: Recent start-up issues... That and the mechanical bearings on the hard drive could no longer be fluid/worn etc leading to a decrease in access performance. I've seen functioning hard drives that just get slower but no data loss. Especially the one that don't use double fluid cemeric bearings or whatever they call em. __________________

Dec 7, 2009, 10:11 PM	Thread Starter #10
g3b HardwareHeaven Junior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 21 Rep Power: 0	Re: Recent start-up issues... Hi Guys, Thanks for all of your advise & comments. I tried one thing before I re-installed the operating system --- and it worked like a charm. I ran the Comodo system cleaner on it, rebooted & it has worked fine since then. Still probably need to upgrade the HD on it to a bigger drive. Thanks again g3b