Solved Not responding - now can't open Outlook, check disk

[Hairfallingout]

I just noticed the memory at around 40% recently (I haven't paid too much attention to it because I have a whole lot more memory now than I did with my other computer), and it's when there are just one or a couple of apps going.

 

[x BlueRobot]

I just noticed the memory at around 40% recently (I haven't paid too much attention to it because I have a whole lot more memory now than I did with my other computer), and it's when there are just one or a couple of apps going.

Seems quite normal then, and please follow the two tutorials which I just posted to help you, start with the cleaning up of factory bloatware first.

 

[Hairfallingout]

What happened to my reply? I just recently noticed the memory running about 40% even when I only have one or two applications going. I haven't paid too much attention to it because I have more memory now than I did with my other computer.

As you can see, I have a lot of stuff in startup, so it will take me a while to go through that. For now I'm going to leave a few things (Intel, some Toshiba) on and check them later. The troubleshooting will take a while as well.

Okay, now I see my prior reply and your response. I'm going to take a break.

 

[x BlueRobot]

You only have 4GB RAM, and have many programs starting at boot with applications also running, so to me it seems quite normal.

Thanks for updating your system specifications too, and work with the two tutorials provided and then post back your results; bear in mind a failing hard-drive could still be the issue here.

 

[Hairfallingout]

I tried running the MSE quick scan. I closed it after 5.75 hours with only about 30% done (~1,500 items). I had opened Firefox while it was scanning, and then that did not respond. Windows Explorer also was not responding. It took about an hour to shut down. Start up was a little quicker this time, but Windows Explorer again was not responding. So far Firefox has not opened. I still have 66 processes running, even though I changed the start up items. If I don't restart the computer after making those changes, does it mean they don't go into effect?

If I get a new hard drive, what is involved? At this point, I can't work, and I can't afford not to. I do have my data files backed up. I don't have discs for some of my programs, e.g., Office 2007. Will that be a problem?

I started in Safe Mode, and had no problem opening Firefox or Quickbooks. I'm now starting in Diagnostic mode.

 

[x BlueRobot]

You need to restart for the changes to take effect, and you can get someone to install the hard-drive for you if your unsure about it.

The programs can be downloaded from the internet, but do you still have .exe files for these programs still on your computer? As you could transfer those to the external hard-drive and then reinstall them onto the new hard-drive later.

 

[Hairfallingout]

I'm not sure the hard drive is the problem, so I'm going to continue to troubleshoot. I ran MSE in five minutes this morning while in the diagnostic start up mode. There were no problems. I also tried to do scanpst.exe in diagnostic mode, but I received the same unexpected error suggesting to run a check disk program.

Before I went into the diagnostic mode, it took an hour and 15 minutes to shut down. Is there a way to get internet connection in safe mode or in diagnostic mode? If I could do that, then it would be easier to go through the steps you linked above.

 

[x BlueRobot]

Yes, Safe Mode with Networking;

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/69585-safe-mode.html

Windows keeps suggesting Check Disk, so does seem to pointing to a hard-drive issue if Windows wants you to check your hard-drive for any bad sectors.

Anyway, keep working yourself through those troubleshooting steps.

 

[Hairfallingout]

It's hard to work through the steps when it takes so long to start up and shut down.

I'm in safe mode & networking now. What is the difference between the services that are listed in task manager vs the services in msconfig? I want to start only the services that are on in safe mode and then add services one by one to see what the hang up is with start up.

 

[x BlueRobot]

I wouldn't disable any services within Task Manager or the Services tab of msconfig as these are usually important Windows services which are essential for Windows to boot properly.

 

[Hairfallingout]

All I have selected for start up is my security software, yet it's taking over 10 minutes to start up. I thought that if I reduced some of the services, it would speed up the start up. I guess I don't understand how step #3 on the troubleshooting is supposed to work. I know there are services that I don't need. Should I re-enable the services I disabled?

Would a bad sector cause the whole computer to slow down?

 

[F5ing]

The issues you're encountering may very well be due to hardware. As mentioned earlier by others it could be a failing drive. You could spend many hours trying to fix your software and end up realizing it was a waste of time because your drive was bad (and maybe even aggravating the situation).

As you've already got all your data backed up somewhere else it's a good time to test that drive. If the drive is on its way out you want to minimize access to it (to allow for a chance to recover your apps intact).

Just to be sure, I'd confirm your memory was good. Memory affects everything so it's worthwhile to ensure it's good:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105647-ram-test-memtest86.html

If the memory checks out okay I'd try to make an image of that drive so that I could restore it to a new drive:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html

If you can successfully create an image you've got a way to be able to restore it to a new drive if need be. That way all of your installed apps are restored with the image, complete with all of the licenses/personalized settings/etc, as well as your data.

Then I would test that hard drive with the diagnostics app from the manufacturer (use the download that runs under DOS from a bootdisk):

Software Utilities

 

[x BlueRobot]

Disabling some of the programs within the Startup tab will give you a faster and cleaner boot, and is meant to help diagnose if a program is causing a problem, however, I mostly suggested it to make sure that every part of Windows was tested and to make your computer slightly easier to work with.

Follow F5ing's great suggestion, memory is a very common problem when applications begin to fail or the operating system slows down.

Wish remembered that earlier

 

[Hairfallingout]

You've been very helpful, Blue Robot.

Can I use the software utility to test the hard drive now?

 

[F5ing]

You've been very helpful, Blue Robot.

Can I use the software utility to test the hard drive now?

Blue Robot must've had to go take care of something; he dropped offline about an hour ago.

You can run tests on the hard drive. Just make sure to only run the non-destructive tests that it provides. That way the only harm that can occur will only happen if the drive really is going bad (reducing chances of data recovery -- that's why I mentioned trying to make an image of it first).

 

[Hairfallingout]

Okay, thanks F5ing. I'll run the memtest tonight then the image and then check the hard drive. It's good to know why it's done a certain way.

 

[F5ing]

Okay, thanks F5ing. I'll run the memtest tonight then the image and then check the hard drive. It's good to know why it's done a certain way.

You're welcome.

And you're right about the benefit of knowing why the steps are done in the order specified. It certainly helps me to learn, so I try to provide the same to others.

Let us know how it goes.

 

[x BlueRobot]

Sorry I went to college and keep us informed, hope everything gets sorted soon!

 

[F5ing]

Sorry I went to college and keep us informed, hope everything gets sorted soon!

Geez, and I thought you had something important to do...





Just kidding, of course.

 

[Hairfallingout]

Memtest went okay. No errors in seven passes. On to imaging.

So, do I download Macrium to the disc that I am imaging to? And does that disc need to start with no other files on it? It currently is being used as my backup.