Computer Slows then Freezes, Have to Restart

johnhoh · 25 Jan 2019

I would start with figuring out what to delete on the H drive. You may have tons of image backups you no longer need and who knows what else. Good free tools are Spacesniffer and CloneSpy, the first one maps your drive visually making it easy to see what is hogging up the space and the second one finds files that have duplicates on the same drive.

An SSD is faster and more reliable. An HDD is a mechanically spinning magnetized platter that is prone to mechanical wear and tear and its speed is proportional to how fast it spins. An SSD has no moving parts so wears out way more slowly and its speed is not dependent on physical movement so its faster. You can use macrium to clone your existing HDD onto an SSD. Imo the only reason not to get an SSD is if you plan to toss your old machine altogether and get a new one.

As to the question of do you need both an SSD and an HDD, it depends on how much backup space you really need. My entire world of computing including backups takes up 100GB out of a single 256GB SSD. I don't technically have a backup drive because I have two identical machines that are clones of each other so they are each other's daily backup. But some people have tons of video, music, or games which takes up TB+ of space. Whatever you decide, you DO want a place for backup that is not your boot drive. Chances are you have way, way more stuff on your H drive than you really need and you can just keep using it that as your backup drive once you trim it down.

Megahertz07 · 25 Jan 2019

The H: drive that you use as a backup probably has so many versions of backups that is full. You should manually clean it.
I have only two disk images: a basic disk image (just after a clean install with updates) and a updated image.
You should not keep the backup drive connected as a malware could attack both disks. I attach the power cable of the backup disk only once a week to make the backup.

A SSD is about six times faster than a HDD but it is still much expensive (per M byte) than a HDD.
To have the speed of a SSD and the space of a HDD at low cost, you can have a small SSD for Windows and programs and a big HDD for data.
In your case, you only use less than 256G on the C: drive, so you can replace the HDD with one 512G SSD (~US$70)

thinkbig · 31 Jan 2019

Thanks again everyone.

I will order the ssd and hopefully that will take care of the problems.

Disconnecting the H Drive definitely helped!
I will read up on the best ways to use it for backup.

I would like to keep this thread open until I get the ssd,
install it and move everything over. I have never done
anything like this and am sure I am going to need some
assistance.

Megahertz07 · 05 Feb 2019

If you buy a 512G SSD you should clone the whole disk 0 to it.
Use Macrium Software | Macrium Reflect Free

thinkbig · 06 Feb 2019

Can you please point me to a good 512 SSD on either newegg or amazon? I have been reading up on them and have just got myself confused (-:

I will order it ASAP.

Thanks!

johnhoh · 06 Feb 2019

The samsung EVO line has been the dominant ssd for a couple years now. The 860 is the current model.

Amazon.com: Samsung 860 EVO 500GB 2.5 Inch SATA III Internal SSD (MZ-76E500B/AM): Computers & Accessories

Megahertz07 · 06 Feb 2019

Samsung is the best and also the most expensive SSD.

I have two of them but now I buy any (from known brand) that has Max Sequential Read bigger than 500 MB/s Max Sequential Write bigger than 350 MB/s.

Your computer is old so I don't even know if it has SATA 3 (600) or SATA 2 (300) so don't spend too much money on it.

SATA III, 480GB, 500GB, 512GB, 2.5", Internal SSDs, SSDs, Components - Newegg.com

I have one of these PNY CS900 480GB 2.5" SATA III INTERNAL Solid State Drive (SSD) - SSD7CS900-480-RB - Newegg.com . So far so good.

Please edit your profile specs with all your hardware details.

thinkbig · 06 Feb 2019

I purchased the 860 EVO on Amazon before I saw the last post by Megahertz07.

I might as well go with the best one, I use my computer quite a bit!

It will be here Friday.

I'll download Macrium and see what needs to be done.

Thanks!

thinkbig · 07 Feb 2019

The SSD will be here tomorrow. I've ordered a cable (both straight and 90 degrees) and a bracket. (if anything isn't needed I can send it back to Amazon). The cables wont be here until Saturday.

I am wondering about the memory? Would adding more memory be a good idea, or not?

Here are the specs of my system (below).
Is there anything else I can upgrade to get it working better?

If there is anything here that shouldn't be posted, please let me know and I will delete.

OS Name Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
Version 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1 Build 7601
Other OS Description Not Available
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name HOWIE-PC
System Manufacturer Dell Inc.
System Model Inspiron 560
System Type x64-based PC
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E7600 @ 3.06GHz, 3066 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 2 Logical Processor(s)
BIOS Version/Date Dell Inc. A02, 2/26/2010
SMBIOS Version 2.6
Windows Directory C:\Windows
System Directory C:\Windows\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume3
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "6.1.7601.17514"
User Name Howie-PC\Howie
Time Zone US Mountain Standard Time
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB
Total Physical Memory 3.96 GB
Available Physical Memory 822 MB
Total Virtual Memory 7.93 GB
Available Virtual Memory 2.51 GB
Page File Space 3.96 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

I'm excited to get this fixed. I would like to keep this PC for a few more years before throwing in the towel and getting a new one.

Thanks to all who are helping!!

Now that I think about it, I remember adding memory several years ago. Is there any way to tell without opening it up. I'm going to have to disconnect everything to get inside it so I only want to do it once.

Megahertz07 · 07 Feb 2019

4G is enough and perfect for Win 7 32 bits.
As your win 7 is 64 bits, you should add 4G more. How many memory sticks you have (1x4G or 2x2G)?
Don't mix memory or you may have many problems.
Download Free Download HWiNFO Sofware | Installer & Portable for Windows, DOS
Extract and run (don't need to install)
On the memory section you will find all info about your memory.