Suddenly Slow at Everything

[Teresa Phillips]

So we have a windows 7 pro computer at the office that all of a sudden has started running at a crawl. Example would be just starting up takes like 10 minutes. Go to open and excel spreadsheet and it takes 15 minutes. Click on control panel and it takes like 4 minutes to open. I have tried running a virus scan, says everything is ok. Tried restarting still the same result.

This happened all of a sudden last Friday and it was fine before that. The last windows update was done on 10/13/16 and it says updates are current.

Anyone with any ideas on what would suddenly cause this?

 

[MoxieMomma]

Hello and welcome:

There are many, many reasons for a "slow" computer. They include (among others): hardware problems, networking problems, software problems (including software conflicts, especially from security applications), lack of disk space, excessive quantities of temp files, improper system configuration, even malware.

As this is an "office" computer, the first suggestion would be to have your in-house IT folks take a look at it. They may have Group Policies or other restrictions in place limiting the end-user's permissions to perform extensive troubleshooting or repairs. And if the system is infected, they would need to know, so that they can investigate all the systems to be sure it has not spread. In other words, for starters, it would be best to have the professionals in your company help you with this.

Thanks,
MM

 

[Teresa Phillips]

I am the designated IT person in our office. (It's a small office, in a very small town and I am the best they've got to work on it.) I am not a trained IT person, but have enough knowledge to be dangerous, guess that is why they chose me!

This computer has been running fine for over 2 years. No new software has been added to it. It has a 2TB hard drive with with 128gb used. It has 12gb of memory and that has always been more than sufficient. Net work connection is ethernet, wireless in our building is less than reliable.

There are no group policies or other restrictions in place that limit the end users permissions. This computer is part of a local domain with server and 7 other computers. The other machines are functioning well and have passed virus and malware scans.

I am leaning towards a hardware issue. Just not sure how to diagnose it.

 

[MoxieMomma]

Hi:

Thanks for the clarification.

We could better assist you if you could please complete the System Specs part of your forum profile.
There is a handy little utility to assist with that:

How to See Your System Specs with "System Info"

Next, we need a bit more detailed system information.

1) Please Download and save the version of FRST appropriate for your architecture (32-bit or 64-bit).
Temporarily pause your real-time AV/AM applications.
Run the FRST tool.
Re-enable your AV/AM.
Attach both logs (FRST.txt and Addition.txt) to your next reply.

OR

2) Speccy: see HERE Please post the log.

Then, please wait for someone to review the information and to advise you further.

Thanks,
MM

 

[Megahertz07]

Schedule a scan disk and run System File Checker (sfc) - sfc /scannow
Run Disk Clean up %windir%\system32\cleanmgr.exe
If everything fails, restore to a previous point before 10/13/16

 

[MoxieMomma]

^^ That's another way to approach things. ^^

SFC and system cleanup probably won't hurt.
Rolling back the system does not help to diagnose the problem and may or may not fix the issue, especially if it's hardware-related (and it can create its own, new issues, such as "breaking"/corrupting your AV's metadata, requiring that it be cleanly reinstalled). So system restore would not be my suggestion yet.

My personal preference would be to gather some basic system data before embarking on a bunch of fixes.

But it's certainly up to you.

Cheers,
MM

 

[Teresa Phillips]

Since I have more than one computer I will post a screen shot versus the profile.

 

[Megahertz07]

We don't know if you have a OEM (Dell, HP etc) or a self build computer.
Did you try to boot on Safe mode to see if it boots fast?
I've seen this same situation and was a corrupted driver, or worst, a HDD failure.
As soon as possible, make a data backup.
As Moxie mentioned, SFC and system cleanup probably won't hurt. Give it a try.
Factory restore or Clean install is my favorite solution but it takes a loooong time to do it.

 

[MoxieMomma]

Since I have more than one computer I will post a screen shot versus the profile.

We only need specs on the one computer in question.

And, as @Megahertz07 mentioned, we still do not know the brand (if any) or if it's self-built.
The reason this is important is that, especially if it is a hardware issue, the specs matter and the steps to troubleshoot differ.
(For example, Dell machines have some pre-boot hardware diagnostics accessed via tapping the F12 key during a cold start.)

That's why I asked for the complete system specs and for some basic diagnostic logs.
That sort of information will help to guide the troubleshooting process. As we are not in front of the computer, without a bit of data, all we can provide are a "best guess", speculation and generic suggestions.

Factory restore or Clean install is my favorite solution but it takes a loooong time to do it.

That assumes it's NOT a hardware issue. Neither factory restore nor Windows clean reinstall will solve that. IMHO it would be premature to proceed with either until some basic testing confirms that it is NOT a failing hard drive or other issue.

But, again, it's up to you how you'd like to proceed.

Cheers,
MM

 

[Teresa Phillips]

It is a computer built by ZT Systems and was purchased at a retailer in Kalispell, MT in about 2013.

 

[MoxieMomma]

Hi:

Thank you for the information.

As previously mentioned, we lack sufficient data to make specific recommendations.
IFFF the problem is a failing hard drive, then time is of the essence to backup data to an external USB hard drive or other safe location, lest the drive fail completely and the data be lost (or at least very hard and expensive to recover).
But we simply do not know.

The only generic, shot-in-the-dark suggestions I have based on the available data would be:

• Create a system restore point and consider backing up the registry, e.g. with ERUNT
• Chkdsk with the /r switch -- see HERE for instructions
• SFC /scannow -- see HERE for instructions
• Windows disk cleanup -- see HERE for instructions
• A good temp file (NOT registry!) cleaner, such as CCleaner or TFC
• Perhaps running a specialized tool to check your hard drive health
• Additional tools would depend on the data we do not yet have
• Alternatively, since this is a BUSINESS and critical data may be at stake, you might want to take the computer to a local brick and mortar computer repair shop.

Please let us know how it goes.

Thanks,


MM

 

[Eric3742]

Factory restore or Clean install is my favorite solution but it takes a loooong time to do it.

IMO.

It is not advice able for OP to do this.

The computer in question is the Administrator computer.
Administrator -- what i mean is that OP is in-charge of IT matters.

I am the designated IT person in our office. (It's a small office, in a very small town and I am the best they've got to work on it.) I am not a trained IT person, but have enough knowledge to be dangerous, guess that is why they chose me!

There are things to take into consideration, as we are not aware of any "special" software are installed.

Other things to consider, such as;
Especially
Email -- web or outlook where it store in the computer itself and moving &or copying to another HDD could give problem if not done properly.

The basic reason is there is a need to look from OP as Administrator view, etc.


That is all i have to say.

Regards
Eric.

 

[Eric3742]

Hi:

[*]Alternatively, since this is a BUSINESS and critical data may be at stake, you might want to take the computer to a local brick and mortar computer repair shop.

MM

This may not be advice-able.

The proper way is

It is a computer built by ZT Systems and was purchased at a retailer in Kalispell, MT in about 2013.

Original builder to check on the hardware issue, if any.
They who build the computers, as they would know the hardware being installed.
Most reputable business is they could have all the original invoices /documents.

What would be the risk, it is better to spell out to OP to understand.


Regards
Eric.

 

[Megahertz07]

I am leaning towards a hardware issue. Just not sure how to diagnose it.

Normally, MB, CPU and /or memory, or it works or don't.
To slow down as you mentioned, I would say that it's a software issue or a disk issue.
Did you try safe mode?
Did you schedule a scan disk and run System File Checker (sfc) - sfc /scannow?

 

[DUFFER]

Welcome to my world
I have two machines with 7 pro one with last update 10/11/16 and the other with 10/10/16.and both have slowed down but not nearly as slow as yours. Both say there are no updates available for them yet another machine with home premium is receiving updates. All three are 64 bit and a 32 bit pro is also updating

 

[MoxieMomma]

Hi, @Teresa Phillips:

As a general approach, I suggest ruling out a hardware problem first.
If the HDD is failing, then further efforts to run scans or to repair/reinstall Windows or to make other major software changes will be futile. The drive could fail at any time, so data backup would be the #1 priority until this has been excluded.
If the HDD is sound, then I would proceed with the suggestions others and I have already made.

If you are not comfortable undertaking the recommendations yourself, then it would be advisable to seek expert assistance, either from a local shop or (as @Eric3742 suggested) from the company that built it.
Since this is a business computer and critical business data may be at stake, that might be the wisest option (although some of steps, such as running chkdsk and SFC, cleaning temp files, etc. are quite straightforward).

Without more data, in the form of the requested diagnostic logs, there's not much else we can recommend at this point.

-----

@DUFFER

Welcome.

Each computer is unique. Problems that sound "the same" most often are not. And repairs need to be individualized.
So that we can better assist both you and the OP, I suggest that you please start a new, separate thread for one system at a time. Thanks for your understanding and patience.

Cheers,
MM

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Just my two cents worth what have you got in the Start p tab in msconfig?? I personally keep just about evrything unchecked.

Besides the sfc and chdsk have you rum=n any malware scans - I don't remev=ber seeing if you have or not so try these if not
SUPERAntiSpyware | Remove Malware | Remove Spyware - AntiMalware, AntiSpyware, AntiAdware!
Malwarebytes | Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Premium
AdwCleaner Download
ADW download from bleeping computer delete any rubbish found with the malware scans
(NB If you are running Kaspersky as the main AV then it might need disabling it when trying ADW because it does not like it at times)

 

[MoxieMomma]

Hi:

Just my two cents worth what have you got in the Start p tab in msconfig?? I personally keep just about evrything unchecked.

Yep, and the requested FRST logs would tell us...

<snip> have you rum=n any malware scans - I don't remev=ber seeing if you have or not so try these if not
SUPERAntiSpyware | Remove Malware | Remove Spyware - AntiMalware, AntiSpyware, AntiAdware!
Malwarebytes | Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Premium
AdwCleaner Download
ADW download from bleeping computer delete any rubbish found with the malware scans

Yep, and the FRST logs would help there, too.
(The OP did mention having already run AV and malware scans.)
Malware is certainly a consideration, although it is not the only cause for a "slow" computer.

But, again, IMHO the safest approach would be to exclude a failing hard drive, first.
Flogging a failing drive with all sorts of malware scanners & tools might only hasten its demise.

I think the OP has plenty of suggestions now.
She'll need to decide what works best for her.

I hope she will post back with the outcome, so that we can all learn.

Cheers,
MM

 

[DUFFER]

Morning all
Yes every machine is different, but for 3 different machines from different manufacturers that last updated within 3 days of each other are all exhibiting the same characteristics after that update and the only comonallity is 7pro64, I have now quit looking at hardware. I thought I was alone and did the scans, reset the stack, safe mode etc to no avail. Since an update caused glitch is sooo improbable , I was relieved to see that someone elses machine was exibiting the same scenario which implied that I/we weren't just imagiining the slowdown of our SSD's.

Teresa GOOD LUCK and if you do find a solution that is hopefully not a clean install, please post it as mine appear to be getting slower (or maybe just my imagination)

 

[Teresa Phillips]

Ok, Virus Scan has been run there was nothing found. MalWareBytes was run and found 1130 PUP, they have been cleaned and deleted.

Ran sfc/scannow no issues, ran cleanmgr.exe no issues revealed.

Installed Speccy (thanks for that tip, it appears to be a great resource). Log attached.

Also removed all covers and "blew out" the machine, checked to be sure fans were functioning correctly, etc.

I am still leaning towards a HD issue.

I appreciate another set of eyes on this and all of the suggestions and help I have received.

Machine is slow to reboot and slow to load programs. Then suddenly it will work as one would expectit to with programs (mostly Excel and Word, Google Chrome) loading and files being able to be accessed almost instantly.