Win 7 x32 Ultimate sudden total slowdown in windows performance.

This afternoon while deleting a movie from iTunes, the computer suddenly froze. I did a hard shutdown and then went to reboot. It took 15 minutes and then literally everything took forever to open. No pre-warning, it just started. No new software added today.
Anything I tried to do in Windows took forever (opening a folder, other drive). If I waited long enough I could get on the internet and wireless, but the mouse seemed to pulsate, stopping every 10 seconds. When it stopped it just went stationary on the screen for 2 seconds. Anything I was typing at that time didn't work. It seemed like it was a Windows pause rather than a mouse pause.
I tried to repair computer with my install dvd, but it tales well over an hour to get to the repair page, and I am still waiting to get the next step to show and try repair.
When I do get it running, memory and cpu use is normal, no unusual processes or applications are running, its just like I have no or very very little memory..
Trying to get in to safe mode, it gets to the point of showing all the folder/files in the list, then just stops. After 30 mins its still there. I think if I kept waiting it would eventually open.
It seems like its a memory problem of some kind. The way it takes forever to do anything.
Everything in all the folders is still on the c drive, but larger folders take forever to open. My secondary drive is impossible to open, takes forever.
Interesting, when I did one reboot, did a HD diagnosis and drive 0 came back as fail code 7 and the secondary showed fail code 5
I find it hard to believe either have failed and even more both at the same time. has to be something else.
I have been reading on my other computer, but have not found anything that resolves things yet. Have been using 7 for a year now and have never had anything like this on any OS never mind 7.
I did a reformat a few days ago, but everything has been perfect until this afternoon.
Could iTunes be the guilty party her somehow?
Anyway, any ideas would be very welcome. If I cant resolve by Tuesday its going to the repair shop for a complete diagnosis.
Overall I would say I am almost frozen, but not quite, just very very slow.
Thanks

Your Hard Drive is dead. You might be able to pull some files off of it by using a ubuntu live cd.

Could both be dead at the same time!!?? One is only a few months old!
Guess I will be in to the repair shop Tuesday if this is the case!

No, if the main hard drive that has you OS fail of the secondary drive will slow down to. That is why the second drive is so slow to open since the OS handles what you are looking at.

What do fail codes 7 and 5 mean? Which software did you use for the diagnosis?
No offense Beta, but I think proclaiming the primary HD as dead is just a bit premature as of yet...

I have been doing more work on this. Still have not figured out the issue, however I have narrowed it down to where I think the issues lay. 1) HD in which something is wrong. 2) memory failure or 3) mother board issues.
I have cleaned everything, every thing seems ok looking at it.
I cant get anything to go at anything other than a snails pace, however if I leave it to start normally, it will open and I can get on the net and see everything as its supposed to be. The mouse still pulsates (not really the mouse, its the OS)
Computer is a Dell Dimension 3200 with 4gb ram. HD is a Samsung 250gb.
If I cant get anywhere today then its off to a computer repair shop in Town for more detailed diagnosis.

The diagnosis was on one of the black and white start up screens I arrived at, and it gave an option of computer diagnosis. Codes for the 2 drives came up as fail 7 and 5

Let's test the hardware before pronouncing it dead or the cause here:

Run Dell diagnostics using the F key prompt given on first boot screen, or reboot from from All PRograms menu.

Boot and run the maker's diagnostics/repair extended CD scan: HD Diagnostic
Hard Drive Diagnostics Tools and Utilities (Storage) - TACKtech Corp

Next boot CD to test RAM - Test with Memtest86+

Next boot the DVD Repair console or Repair CD to run a few passes of Startup Repair which should automate System Restore, SFC and Disk check but if not click through to Recovery Tools list to run them manually, including from Command Line run Disk Check and SFC -SCANNOW Run in Command Prompt at Boot.
System Repair Disc - Create

Next work through these troubleshooting steps
while will familiarize you with the logs and system resources, last resort Repair Install and possible reinstall from Factory Recovery or using a Win7 installation DVD for cleanest possible reinstall: Reinstalling Windows 7
Dell Restoring Your Computer´s Software to the Factory Settings

Great information greg, many thanks, will go through this.

Jsut a question, why not try to use a restore point to a previous date, or is this not an option.

Still learning, Learning still

Curtis

Hard Disk Sentinel is another good tool.