Windows 7: Severe HDD bottleneck on laptop

According to a benchmark I ran on my laptop, the HDD is only getting a read speed of 1 MBps... that is literally a third of my internet download speed... The laptop is also VERY slow to boot up, and load anything off the HDD...

Specs of laptop:

8 GB 1333 MHz DDR3
500 GB 7200 RPM HDD 16MB cache SATA2
Intel Core i7 740 QM
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650 1 GB
Windows 7 x64 Ultimate Edition SP1



Is there anything I can do about this aside from replacing the HDD (definitely going for an SSD if I have to though)?

Hi,

Have you checked for disk fragmentation? Have you tried to run a chkdsk?

Regards,
Golden

First run chkdsk from an elevated command prompt.
run chkdsk on ALL "drives"

2nd. Using the Windows Defragmenter, defragment your drives.

General advice:
When running a disk check program or
when running a defragmenter program,
then
Do nothing else. Just sit back and wait. Watch a ballgame or whatever.

Go To an Elevated Command Prompt


Elevated command prompt = Run CMD.EXE as administrator

WIN | type CMD.EXE | do not hit Enter |
in the PROGRAMS list, right-click on CMD.EXE |
choose "Run as administrator" |
Click on the YES button (if such appears)

WIN key = key with Microsoft log on top

for the guru:
WIN | type CMD.EXE | CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER key combo | ALT+Y keycombo
========================================

This is the chkdsk command you need:
CHKDSK X: /R
where you substitute your actual "drive" letter of X

======================================
To run win 7 defragmenter:
WIN | type Disk Defrag | ENTER
WIN = key with Microsoft logo on top

Let us know when you have completed both of these.

Check the smart status of the disk with Crystal Disk Info

OldMX,

Another way of checking the S.M.A.R.T status is with SPECCY. Since many people already have Speccy installed, then I'm fond of using Speccy.

SPECCY | expand Hard Drive

Here is an example of the use:

Nice, I wasnt aware of speccy being that complete, thanks Karl!