Solved Computer Slows then Freezes, Have to Restart

[johnhoh]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[thinkbig]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

 

[thinkbig]

I've downloaded and ran it (I think)??

Not really sure what I am looking for?

Please see screen shot.

Thank you!

 

[Megahertz07]

You have a matched pair (2+2G) of Samsung M378B5673FH0-CF8 on slot 0 & 2
It's a 1.5V DDR3 1066 with 7-7-7-20 timings.

A (4+4G) equivalent is G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Desktop Memory Model F3-8500CL7D-8GBRL - Newegg.com

My suggestion is to buy a DDR3 1600 with 9-9-9-24 timings and replace the existing Samsung.
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL - Newegg.com

As DDR3 1600 is the most common DDR3, it's cheaper than a DDR 1066.

The DDR3 1600 memory is same class (DDR3) but can operate at a higher clock than the one you have. If your MB can operate at 1600, you will have a faster memory at a lower price.
If your MB only operates at 1066, it will operate at 1066 but with a lower timing.

After you install the new DDR3 1600 and generate a HWINFO image (as you did with the Samsung M378B5673FH0-CF8) we can see at what speed it is operating and if you can install the Samsung on slot 1 & 3

 

[thinkbig]

Thanks! Ordered.

 

[Megahertz07]

Please remember that a memory is always powered even if the computer is off.

To insert in or take off memory sticks, ALWAYS unplug the power cord from the wall outlet and wait a minute to discharge the capacitors.

 

[thinkbig]

Thanks for telling me that.

I am going to do this all at once next week after everything gets here (SSD, bracket, cables, memory).

When I put the SSD in do I take out the current hard drive or do I leave it in. The cable set has a splitter I believe to power them both if needed?

I'm thinking I don't need them both in there but again, this is all new to me so I have no idea??

Is this something I am better off having a pro do? Amazon will send someone over here to do the SSD and transfer for $120. I'm sure they would change the memory for me as well?

I am pretty good at following directions and feel comfortable taking it apart, but if this is way over my head It may pay to get a tech over here?

 

[johnhoh]

imo this is fairly easy to do. Here are the steps:

1) shut down machine, take off computer cover, add the memory, boot the machine to make sure memory works.
How to Install RAM into a Desktop PC - YouTube

2) shut down machine again, add the ssd, boot up again.
How to install/upgrade a new hdd/ssd for beginners. //Explained. - YouTube

your machine now has two drives in it, the original is still the boot drive.

3) run macrium to clone the original boot drive onto the ssd, then shut down
How to Clone Windows With Macrium Reflect Free - YouTube

4) remove old boot drive leaving just the new ssd in its place, replace the computer cover, boot up

 

[thinkbig]

Great! Thank you!

 

[Megahertz07]

All you need is a Philips screw driver.
- Remove both side panels.
Memory
- Remove the old memory sticks from slots 0 & 1 by pushing down the two lockers on each slots.
- The memory has a notch so it will fit on the socket only on one way. Insert the new memory sticks on slots 0 & 1 and push it down till the lockers move up.
Boot to see if it's working properly.

SSD
- Install the 2.5" SSD on the adapter (4 screws)
- Install adapter on a empty HDD slot (4 screws).
- Connect the power cable and the SATA cable.
- Boot and, under Windows, clone the HDD into the SSD. Use Macrium Reflect. Shutdown
- Disconnect or take off the HDD. Don't trust it as it has bad clusters so it's dying.
- Enter BIOS and make the SSD the 1st boot disk.
- Boot (from the SSD) and see if everything is working properly.
- With Macrium Reflect create a disk image and store on the external disk.

 

[thinkbig]

Thank you!

 

[thinkbig]

I have everything except the memory sticks, still waiting on them, should arrive any day??

I saw this HP Deal on Woot and am thinking about purchasing:

HP ENVY 750-624 Desktop, Intel Core i7-7700 Quad-Core 3.6GHz, 16GB DDR4, 1TB Solid State Hybrid Drive, 802.11ac, Bluetooth, Win10H (Open Box)
$549.99

My thoughts are, this already has the ssd, 16gb of memory, an i-7 processor and more.

If I send back the ssd, brackets, cables and memory I purchased I will get back roughly $150
making this one $400 and I don't have to do any installations except for figuring out how to
move my files and some programs over?

Does this make any sense? It would be another $400 but a great price for such a big upgrade??