Almost no response from windows 7..angry wife

[gregrocker]

Not sure if this is important. In checking the virtual memory as requested it says 4029Mb. However I notice that there is no paging file. i thikn i might have removed this when I defraged the drive so that I could partition it and forgot to turn it back on. Could this be a contributor to slow performance?

You need a paging file. I would turn it back on and not mess with it.

 

[masplin]

What I mean is could the lack of paging file explain all the issues she's been having? Quite frequently she gets low on memory messages despite only having one app open. Often she has to close apps to make firefox function.

 

[gregrocker]

Paging file can make some difference.

Have you tried running only IE8? They have reallly perfected it in Win7, rock solid stable with not a single issue in 100+ installs here. I like the features better, too, like the rightclick Accelerators where I can highlight any text and Search, Define, Translate or Map with Google accelerators I preset. And the History can be sorted to get back to any site quickly.

 

[masplin]

Will give that a try

 

[MoInSTL]

I don't know why I didn't think of this earlier...

From the command prompt as admin type, perfmon /report
The command opens Resource and Performance Monitor directly in reporting mode. Opens a window. All you need to see is if the buttons are all green as there is a ton of info included. Can be saved as an html file too.

 

[masplin]

The good news lasted about 24 hours. without Bonjour and paging file reinstated machine has turned ot treacle overnight. Each click takes 30 seconds to elicit a repsonse. Task Manager says 39% memory, but can't actually get resource monitor open to see what is going on.

 

[masplin]

trying to switch to admin I get "windows Explorer has stopped responding"

 

[masplin]

Ran perfmon /report and all lights are green. any thing else to look for? I'm going to try a repair install assuming it runs from the upgrade disc. also will get her using IE8

 

[masplin]

small hitch with the repair install! Due to advice I received possibly form this forum I created a seperate partion for User data when i upgraded to Win7. I now can't perform a repair install as the user data and OS are on different partitions. I woudl seem to be in the situation that the only way to reinstall the OS is to format the drive, reinstall Vista 32 bit from the Dell disk, do a clean install upgrade of Win7 64 bit and then reinstall every progrma and all the data etc etc. At this point I might just buy a new pc!!!

The removal of Bonjour and reimplementing page file do not seem to have had the desired effect. i have got IE8 up and running so we will try that for a while. If that doesn't work we seem to have run out of options short of completely rebuilding pc as was suggested!

 

[TVeblen]

Whoa! A few things:

First, a Windows install is not usually dependent on User Data, unless you installed programs to the partition your user data is on. When people say to separate your User Data from the OS that does not include Installed programs like MS Office.

Second, Upgrade installs are notoriously buggy. It is always best to do a clean install rather than an upgrade.
If you decide to start over, read this tutorial first: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html?filter[2]=General%20Tips

Third: If you uninstall Apple products it becomes very important to clean up the system afterward. This is the condition I ran into with the XP computer I was working on. A program like CCleaner is perfect for automating this task.

 

[masplin]

1. User data partition has NO programs. I was attempting a repair install as suggested by Grag but the it doesn't like the OS and users being on seperate partitions.
2. As I said the problem with a clean install is I have an original Dell Vista 32 bit OS and a Win7 64-bit upgrade disc. I am assuming I would have to install both in that order to do a clean install which is a mammoth task. Have I misunderstood and could install direclty from the Win7 disc without going via Vista? If that is all that is left that is what I will do.
3. I uninstalled Bonjour with Revo unistaller as suggested by Greg in advanced mode and it said there was nothing left over.

 

[TVeblen]

For #1: Do you mean User Accounts?

For #2: Yes, you can install W7 clean using an Upgrade DVD! Read the tutorial and you will see.

 

[masplin]

1. Yes I created a new partition and put all the User accounts on it and then changed the registry so all the libraries are located on this partition.
2. Ah that is good news so at least it wil lbe less painful if that is what needs doing. However still need to repartition, re install all programs and reinstate all data/settings so hoping it wont come to that!

 

[masplin]

Wife just wene tto open a document off a web site in IE8 and got "not enough memory or disk space to run word". Clearly this is not correct as memory at 35% and loads of HD space. Clciking Ok it loads up anyway. This is typical of the issue. I'm expecting a large chorus of Clean Install!!!!

 

[MacGyvr]

The clean install should have happened two months ago when the thread started!

 

[MoInSTL]

I have not run into the kinds of issues you have as I have always done a clean install (no in-place upgrades). But if I had, I would just stop, re-access and do a clean install. In the long run it saves time and you can be assured it is running correctly as there is the potential for things going wrong otherwise. Follow the upgrade guide posted, install an anti-virus program, run Windows Update, defrag.

Prior to that, disconnect any printers, USB devices, etc. Go to Dell's site, enter your service tag and get the drivers you need. Have the latest drivers already downloaded and on a flash drive or on one of your partitions. After the OS loads, install your chipset (motherboard) drivers first.

Check Device Manager and then back it up! Make a system image prior to installing your applications so if something goes wrong you just load the image instead of starting from scratch. After you get everything else installed and running correctly, run Windows clean up, defrag and back up the whole thing.

If you are not certain how a driver or application will behave, create a System Restore point prior to loading it. There is a tutorial here: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html?filter[2]=Backup%20Restore

Before starting, READ the tutorial on a clean install previously posted (no Vista involved), read how to create System Restore points if needed and have all drivers and applications at hand. In other words, have a plan and follow it.

Choose Option 1 from here:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html?filter Then go from here: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

Free back-up software: http://www.todo-backup.com/ or Windows 7 back-up:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup.html?filter[2]=Backup%20Restore

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html?filter[2]=Backup%20Restore

One last thing. When you run Windows Update, it will want to download the latest version of Internet Explorer. You can either just run Express and it will download or choose Custom and run Windows Update again later to grab it.

 

[masplin]

In my defence I did have a plan and did pretty close to what you have written the first time round i.e .I did a clean install. There are some extra steps here that I will add to my list. I have to admit not doing a step that involved motherboard drivers as didn't realise I needed to so could that be an issue? How/where do I find these as must having something installed as sort of runs?

There also seems to be some confusion over how I upgraded. I did a clean install as read all the tututorials and advice. You say this should be "assured it is running correctly". However it isn't. You think doing another clean install will cure it?

The consensus is that clean install are the best way to go, but do they sometimes go wrong? If so I'll give it another go. However if the consensus is that having done a clean install originally, another won't wont help, we are back to looking at alternative explanations. Just trying to avoid hours repeating something with low probabilty of success. I'm sure this is trivial for you guys, but with limited experience this is a long process for me.

Thansk agian for all the input

 

[MoInSTL]

I thought you said you installed Vista first and ran the Windows 7 upgrade. That is not a clean install. That is an upgrade.

The chispet drivers are definitely needed. You will find them at Dell's site. Just be sure to enter your service tag to make certain you are getting the correct ones.

EDIT: I sent you a PM.

 

[masplin]

The pc came from Dell as Vista 32 bit and I used it for about a year no problem. I bought a Win7 64 bit upgrade disc and followed the tutorial to do a clean install i.e. format the drive. I collected all the drivers I thought I needed but didn't know the motherborad had drivers (that's how ignorant I am!)

 

[MoInSTL]

No worries. Read Dell's install order here:
How to Download and Install Drivers in the Correct Order | Dell

I looked at Dell's driver page for an XPS 430, but did not see any chipset drivers. I am guessing the service tag is needed.