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Windows running slow after HDD transfer
Windows is currently running like molasses, yet taskmgr doesn't show much activity. The most demanding process is a svchost. I think I have corrupt files, and this is why . . .
I had my main HDD in my laptop start reporting bad sectors two or so weeks ago. I immediately ordered a replacement HDD.
Apparently I have terrible luck because the data damaged appeared to be mostly Windows files. Long story short, Windows stopped starting up and I had to do a lot of work to get it running again, including a repair install. Once Windows appeared to be working again, I followed the instructions in this thread: Best method/tool for cloning a failing HDD for Data Recovery? to clone the HDD from the failing drive to the new drive. I did hook up the new HDD to my desktop to do an extended SMART test before I did this and it passed.
The cloning operation went well, and Windows started up (albeit extraordinarily slowly), everything appeared to be as it should be. I needed some Windows updates, I installed them and restarted. I then ran sfc and it told me it found corrupt files but repaired them. I thought maybe I was in the clear, but then it brought up 5 more Windows updates to install. I tried to install them, and it didn't work. Meanwhile, I started transferring some data off the main drive in preparation for a backup image, and Windows Explorer was responding very slowly. It occurred to me that I should try an extended disk cleanup, so I tried to do that and it got stuck. Everything completely locked up and no response from ctrl+alt+del or win+r after 7 minutes so I manually shut it down. Nothing was open except Windows explorer windows for file transfer, disk cleanup, and Windows Update. Normally that wouldn't lock up my system.
After all this explanation I guess my question is:
Should I run a repair install again? I didn't run it on the new HDD but I did it on the old one right before cloning. It's a long process (well, the updates afterwards are) and if it's not going to help I don't really want to do it. Or is a clean install in order, maybe? I have both a retail Win 7 SP1 DVD and my factory default DVDs, which should also be SP1. I'm guessing there's some leftover corruption somewhere and pinpointing it might be impossible. Would running chkdsk /f be a possibility?
I'm also worried, though, that if I do a clean install and then restore from a system image that it will bring things back to this point again. Is that a valid concern? Can you just restore from user file backup without using a system image?
I'm not on my laptop atm because I think it wouldn't like running IE at this point since running Explorer seems to be too much, so I can't get my exact system specs mostly because I'm lazy. Here's what I can recite from memory:
Lenovo Ideapad Y580 (manufactured 2012)
Core i7
8 GB RAM (2x 4 GB)
1 TB HDD
Win 7 Home Premium SP1
I can un-lazy myself and get other specs if deemed necessary. Thanks, sorry that I'm so longwinded >.<