Strange behavior with mom's computer

[RichO]

Hey all,

My mom was having regular troubles with her computer over the last few months. It was always running very slow, like when you would click on the internet browser icon it would take about 30 seconds to open the browser. I did every scan possible and found nothing and finally just decided to take it home and reinstall Windows 7 from scratch from the recovery partition.

This went just fine and I followed it up with removing all of the extra unneeded software that came with the computer 4 years ago and installing anti-virus. Got that all done, did all Windows updates and it ran fine. Later that day I ran it over to her house and got everything hooked up and guess what? It dragged butt again just like before. I checked the task manager and at times it showed 100% CPU usage with no additional applications open.

So I decided to take it back home and do some more investigating. Well when it get it connected up here it runs just fine. So it seems that there is something strange going on when it's connected at her house, but what could it be? Her internet is wired, mine is wireless, and I am using a different monitor and mouse here but could any of that make a difference? Could lower voltage at the outlet cause this? Her computer was fine for years though with all of the same devices connected though.

Any ideas what to look for?

 

[Layback Bear]

The first thing members are going to need is the specs of your mothers computer.

Use these two tutorials to help you.

By Brink:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/180324-system-info-see-your-system-specs.html

By Kari:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/311593-speccy-publish-snapshot-your-system-specs.html

 

[RichO]

OK here is a link to the specs from Speccy:

http://speccy.piriform.com/results/0NZAHg4NFB0K8xp3vuKJ1XF

 

[ignatzatsonic]

How does performance compare if you are totally disconnected from the Internet at her house versus totally disconnected from the Internet at your house.

For stuff like boot speed, application opening, virus scans, copying a pile of files, or maybe a benchmark application--all with no Internet connection.

I'm wondering what "services" she gets from her ISP--perhaps some type of anti-virus or security application that is running amok.

 

[whs]

My first guess would be a lot of DPCs and a driver problem for the devices mom has. Run this program (at her house) and if you have red bars, it suggests a driver problem.

 

[RichO]

How does performance compare if you are totally disconnected from the Internet at her house versus totally disconnected from the Internet at your house.

For stuff like boot speed, application opening, virus scans, copying a pile of files, or maybe a benchmark application--all with no Internet connection.

I'm wondering what "services" she gets from her ISP--perhaps some type of anti-virus or security application that is running amok.

I will be back over there on Sunday and will need to try all of this then, including the latency checker. She has the same ISP that I do, although her computer is connected directly to the wireless router by cable and I am using mine wireless. Her computer does not have a wireless interface built in, but I do have a USB wireless adapter that she can use if it would make any difference.

I just ran the latency checker on it here and everything is green, well below the green line.

 

[whs]

Yeah, what did you expect. At your house the PC runs OK. But your mom has a different monitor etc. Let's see what that yields.

 

[paul1149]

I checked the task manager and at times it showed 100% CPU usage with no additional applications open.

If it does happen there again, you should go back into task manager, to the Processes tab. Click Show Processes from All Users and sort by CPU.

Try again with a clean "diagnostics" boot (via MSCONFIG) or even Safe Mode with Networking.

Another good possibility is the router install is corrupted, and DHCP is not working correctly. Network logjams tend to occupy the computer fiercely. You can Reset the router and perhaps update its firmware. Make sure you know the existing and factory default p/w for it before getting in too deep. For quick diagnostic comparison bring your own router along.

 

[RichO]

I will have to test things one by one and and try to pinpoint what is slowing down the computer. I can disconnect the router and go directly into the computer from the cable modem to see if that makes a difference. I had to hook up a wireless router in their house for their TiVo but it's used for nothing else so at least I can test the computer without it.

Thanks

 

[RolandJS]

Long shot here, what about the cable running from outside to the house? Is that cable and its connections ok? Have cable/ISP vendor make sure cabling and connection from box to house is ok. How about the wall jack and the cable from that wall jack to the modem/router?

 

[paul1149]

YW. And if one of the high processes is a svchost you can right click it and "go to services" to see what's at root.

 

[RichO]

Well, they have cable TV and phone too and there have been no problems with that, and the internet connection and speed seems fine. It's just that something is slowing down the entire computer when it is connected, so it's a matter of finding out what by disconnecting things one at a time.

 

[paul1149]

Roland brings up a good point. One way to eliminate all external factors is to bring a laptop along and see how it works on the same wire.

 

[RichO]

Today it started to drag again but then I noticed that Windows update was running in the background. It actually had 189 updates to download and install and at about #172 (installation of security update KB2479943) it started getting interrupted by messages that the computer memory is low and when I check the task manager it shows physical memory usage at nearly 100%.

Is 2 GB RAM not enough for installing Windows 7 updates or is there some other problem I should be checking on?

Other than anti-virus there are no other applications running during the updates.

 

[whs]

2GB is not a lot but since those are the minimum requirements for x64, it should work. Increase the size of the pagefile. That may help.

 

[paul1149]

I thought the machine was already updated (post #1). I've never seen that warning myself. 189 is a full update regimen. I would do it in maybe 3 batches.

 

[RichO]

I thought it was fully updated since it went a several restarts without indicating there were any more updates.

Now the problem here is that it has been stuck on installing 172 for the last hour. Is it safe to assume it will not get beyond that one and should I stop the installation? If I do will it undo everything that has been done in this install or will it try to resume at 172 when I try again?

Increasing the size of the page file did bring the memory usage down to about 72% which I guess helps, although I had no idea what to set the usage for. I went with 10000GB and 20000GB.

 

[whs]

Rich, I guess you mean 10000MB and 20000MB and not GB. 5000MB would be ample - that is 2.5 times your RAM.

 

[paul1149]

Chances are it will start the whole thing over, though I'm not sure. I've seen it do that, even including redownloading. It's like MS servers are lonely. If you do abort, first take note of the package it's stuck on if you can and reserve it for last next time. I would also take a system restore point before each batch.

 

[RichO]

Yes 10000-20000MB...oops

5600MB was the currently allocated setting when memory usage was at 100% so I went way up. What is the disadvantage of that? Only 10% of the hard drive is used for storage.

The update it is stuck on is noted above so I can check it there if needed.