Win 7 x32 Ultimate sudden total slowdown in windows performance.

[astro303]

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

 

[Beta]

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

 

[astro303]

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!

 

[Beta]

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.

 

[Corazon]

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...

 

[astro303]

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

 

[gregrocker]

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

 

[astro303]

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

 

[curtiswardwell]

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

 

[Zomby88]

Hard Disk Sentinel is another good tool.

 

[astro303]

It takes me 20 minutes to get the system running, then to do anything other than work on line takes about 20 minutes each for any operation.
Any process takes me at least 20 minutes each! It would take a LONG time to do anything. Taking it to the repair shop option is getting closer for me now. Was a holiday here today, so he is open tomorrow.
Figure it has to be HD, motherboard or memory, however maybe not!
It just takes forever to do any analysis, to do three or four things would take most of a day right now.

 

[gregrocker]

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

This is a good idea and included in the steps given to be run from the DVD Repair console or Repair CD, manually if it isn't automated in Startup Repair.

 

[astro303]

Well problem solved. It was a hard drive failure, however not my main drive, it was my backup. I had been focusing on my primary drive, then suddenly thought maybe it was the secondary. Well, it was, and as soon as I removed it, everything worked fine. Beta was bang on!

 

[Layback Bear]

What were you accessing on you second drive that caused this to happen? The reason I ask is the torrent ITunes may have dropped a virus or such when you were using it. I recommend scanning the drive you are using with this also to be sure.
https://connect.microsoft.com/systemsweeper

 

[mistamontiel]

Layback Bear, iTunes is a BitTorrent client now ?

iSoftware is awful personally, wouldn't and/or won't know