Almost no response from windows 7..angry wife

[masplin]

Hi

I "upgraded" my wife's pc from vista to Windows 7 64 bit with 4 GB RAM as she was always complaining of her pc hanging etc. At the same time I bought myself a new build windows 7 64 bit. Bad news is mine works like a dream and her's is now even worse than before and I think divorce is on the cards !!!

Essentailly whenever she clicks on anything it may not respond for up to 30 seconds. I tried to shut it down, clicked on start, waited 15 seconds and then the start button just reappeared without ever producing a menu. In task manger she has nothing significant running, CPU usage 0% memory usage 25%. Sometime she is getting warnings she has run out of memory and needs to close things and yet may only have open firefox and Outlook. The only application she ever uses are Firefox, office 2003 apps, itunes, Kapersky internet security, Blackberry desktop and a photobook editing package. She is a very light user so this has me completely baffled. I run all the same except office 2007 and more.

On reboot CPU usage is near 0% and memory 30%. Everything works absolutely fine for a few hours then grinds to a half. The only other odd thing is I noticed her overnight backup was creating a full version every day. I beleive in other threads this has been related to indexing of some kind. Could there be some indexing process running that is slowing everything down?


So far I have defragmented drives including boot with perfectdisc. Please can someone help me as it's all getting a bit heated (my pc working perfectly isn't helping!!!!).


Thanks

Mike

 

[richc46]

Welcome, If you are using the term upgraded, correctly, that is the problem; you must clean install. If you need help just ask.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html?filter[2]=General Tips

 

[masplin]

Sorry it was a clean install. Formatted hardrive

 

[squall leonhart]

Kaspersky you say?

time to upgrade from your single core system mate.

 

[masplin]

Sorry I dont understand that comment squall leonhart? Do you mean use something instead of Kapersky? I'm using the same on mine no problem.

 

[richc46]

This may diagnose the problem, report back
How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista or in Windows 7

If you are still not working properly after the above, try safe mode. Lets see how your drivers are doing.

Also go to device manager, from search. Make sure there are no warning markers and that all drivers are up to date.

 

[masplin]

Hi Richc43. OK I'll try that. Before I get shouted at are there any services that are highest priority to try first that will stop my wife doing normal tasks if they aren't started?

 

[richc46]

You may want to try safe mode first. This can be a driver problem. Then use the safe boot, just follow the instructions. I wish you luck. I know what you are going through and not just with the computer. Good luck my friend.

The computer will not be working too well during the test, cannot assign it to one in high priority

Safe mode has a good chance of success, I am leaning toward a driver, right now. Also a chance that it is hardware, since you had the problem before.

 

[masplin]

Ok so I click safe boot in msconfig - is this the same as starting in safe mode using F8? Can I use the network option or should I start at minimal? Problem being that without network connection the pc is almost useless (as all our files are stored on a networked pc) so wont can normal use. Given this takes several hours to manifest what will she have lost while in this mode? Better to warn her!!! Will she have access to internet, network printer, be able to sync her blackberry and ipod?

I'm assuming safe boot disables all the non-essential drivers and start up items. If safe boot works fine I assume I need to reable drivers one by one, but where do I do that?

thanks again

Mike

 

[richc46]

I would check for problem drivers its easy. Go to search, type, device manager. Then just look for any yellow warning markers indicating that a driver is bad.

To access safe mode. You boot the computer, as it boots you qucikly and rapidly hit f8. You will get to the safe mode screen. It will look pretty bad, but if the problem does not persisit, it gives us a lead. Start minimal.

I think that there will be some down time. When you see safe mode, you will know what I mean.

If you already know about msconfig, you can try selective start up, too.

Rather than plan too much a head, try this:
Go to device manger, from search. Look for any yellow posters telling of driver problem.
Try safe mode.
Then try clean boot

This is the only way that I know to keep downtime at a minimum.

 

[masplin]

Ok well device manger looks fine no errors

So is safe mode F8 the same as safe boot via msconfig?

Thanks for your advice

 

[TVeblen]

Since the computer was having problems with hanging while running Vista, and since you did a clean install of W7, and the computer still exhibits issues, then that raises the possibility that there is a hardware problem.

Did the Computer ever run correctly under Vista?

It would help us to look at this possibility if you filled out your "My System Specs" for the problem computer.

 

[richc46]

You may want to try safe mode first. This can be a driver problem. Then use the safe boot, just follow the instructions. I wish you luck. I know what you are going through and not just with the computer. Good luck my friend.

The computer will not be working too well during the test, cannot assign it to one in high priority

Safe mode has a good chance of success, I am leaning toward a driver, right now. Also a chance that it is hardware, since you had the problem before.

As I mentioned in an earlier post and now mentioned again by TVeblen it may be hardware. Follow instrucions and fill out specs.

 

[masplin]

Actuallly what I did was take my old vista pc and do a clean install of windows 7 and give it to my wife while buying myself a new shiny one. You can see how i'm not very popular!! So in fact the pc she has is theo ne I ran under vista with I think no more issues than anyone else running vista. Godo thought though.

 

[masplin]

will fill in system specs

 

[richc46]

I think that if you have read and acted on all the advice that was given in the previous posts, overnight, take the memory diagnostic test.

Just type that in search. It may be a memory problem.

In addition, when it happens, type event viewer in search and see what is marked as errors.

 

[masplin]

have filled in specs but not sure it is detailed enough

 

[richc46]

Very good with specs. Take the memory diagnostic test, tonight as mentioned.

 

[Max Peck]

Actuallly what I did was take my old vista pc and do a clean install of windows 7 and give it to my wife while buying myself a new shiny one. You can see how i'm not very popular!! So in fact the pc she has is theo ne I ran under vista with I think no more issues than anyone else running vista. Godo thought though.

Oh, NOW we get the REAL story! You gave the wife the hand-me-down (that wasn't working well under Vista), tried to throw a quick spot-o-paint on the thing and make her happy!

Bad idea mate.

I think you would be better off to just bite the bullet and go buy HER a new machine. My wife's computer was getting long-in-the-tooth so I went out and bought her a brand new Inspiron just like mine (only hers is red and mine blue) with Win7/64 on it. She is happy as a clam. She's got the newest machine in the house instead of the oldest. The cost to replace was far less than the aggravation you're going through.

Quit trying to turn a sow's ear into a silk purse and just get her a new one! They just ain't that expensive any more!

Think, mate, think!

-Max (Marriage Counseling Central)

 

[masplin]

ran the memory diagnostic while wife not looking. It has restarted and gone to login page so does that mean it found no errors or is there a log somewhere? Thanks