Windows 7 x64 installs and runs slowly

I am trying to upgrade my wife's computer to Windows 7 x64 from Windows Vista x32. It has run great for the past 3 years using Vista 32bit.



The system shows it should run x64 bit no problems. I've already run the Windows 7 Upgrade adviser that also says I should have no problems. However when I try to install it the setup runs extremely slow. After installation completes it continues to run slow to the point that even the mouse pointer jumps.


I can post the specs here if need be otherwise they are the ones that I have listed.

I am installing with the official Windows 7 x64 SP1 DVD.

I have installed it on the said computer and then took the HDD out and booted to it using my computer which is currently running 7 x64.... No problems it ran like a dream. I then reinstalled it in her comp and still it ran so slow as to be unusable.

The HDD is connected to SATA slot 1. The RAM is installed in the primary RAM slots as per the Motherboard user's guide says. I've tried it with all USB I/O device unplugged as well with no change.

The main reason for the upgrade is to be able to use the full 6 GB of RAM installed.

I would Check your ram.
Memory Diagnostics Tool
Memtest86+ - Advanced Memory Diagnostic Tool
How to use memtest:
RAM - Test with Memtest86+

While I am checking the RAM let me pose this question:

If there was a problem with the RAM wouldn't the issue show up while running Vista 32bit?

Or would the issue not show up b/c with 32bit it does not use the sector of RAM that is corrupted while with 64bit it uses the sector of RAM that is corrupted?

I'd think if the RAM was OK on Vista, it should be OK on Windows 7, but of course it can go bad at any time.

A few questions:

How many hard drives in this PC?

Are you choosing to delete all partitions during the installation process?

Do you currently have 3 sticks of RAM installed?

Are you using the drivers issued by the Win7 installer and quickly updated via optional Windows Updates?

If so you might want to try the factory chipset after setting a restore point, as it may be needed in this case.

I'd also check for any newer drivers in optional Updates.

Also work through these troubleshooting steps to try to gather clues as to the problem.

I hate to say this but just because you install a 64 bit system does not mean it will use all the memory. It`s all about what the motherboard can support. Do you have your motherboard specs and how much memory will it support ?

Motherboard supports up to 24GB of memory with up to 4GB x 6 slots.

I'm not 100% but up to this point I'm pretty sure that memory is not the issue.

Memtest86+ has not given any errors either.

Beowerd said:

I am using the drivers installed by windows 7 with the exception of the newest drivers I have found for individual pieces of hardware each researched especially for use with Windows 7 64bit.

Did you run with the drivers given by installer and optional Updates before changing out drivers to those you "researched?"

This is not XP. Win7 is driver-complete in the installer and via optional Updates. If it doesn't use manufacturer's drivers it may be because these are not optimal for Win7. So it is best to run with what Win7 gives you before changing any out based solely on performance.

The problem happens before I get a chance to install any drivers except the windows 7 drivers. After I had exhausted the windows 7 drivers was when I thought I would try to find other drivers from the manufacturers for WIn7 64bit

I'm going to take today off and try again tomorrow.. sometimes a break from a problem helps me think. :)