Hard drive activities are horribly slow after installing Windows 7

[Xax]

I recently had enough of Windows 8 and installed Windows 7. Since then, however, any hard drive activity (copying files, installing software) has been brutally slow, and it brings my system performance down to a crawl. Disk activity in ResMon doesn't look unusual, so I'm at a total loss to explain this. I've rebooted several times over the course of the last few days, but the issue remains.

Any suggestions?

 

[gregrocker]

Install CrystalDiskInfo - Software to get a fix on your HD's condition.

Then run a full Disk Check

If at risk, boot the HD maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan.

If HD checks out, back up your files and wipe the HD with Diskpart Clean Command from the booted installer's Repair Command Line, then start over with a fresh slate and this time follow carefully the steps to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which are same for retail.

 

[Xax]

Thank you, gregrocker. CrystalDiskInfo and chkdsk both check out. I dread having to back-up and actually wipe one of my drives, but if the issue doesn't improve, I may have to go that route. I'm just puzzled, as I've run Windows 7 previously without this problem.

 

[gregrocker]

Go over your install thoroughly with Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7.

When you installed did you delete all partitions during a booted Custom Clean Install Windows 7 as shown in Steps 7 and 8? If not it's not a truly clean install.

In addition stray boot code can interfere so if you do the perfect Clean Reinstall I would first wipe the HD from the booted installer's Command Line using Diskpart Clean Command which is the absolute cleanest install.

 

[pbcopter]

When you reinstalled Windows 7, did you also install the appropriate chipset and other drivers?