Very slow boot up.

[Moonshine]

I have a fairly old laptop which has been getting slower and slower to boot up. I had a similar problem on my desktop machine a while back and cured it by re-loading the O/S and starting again. However, I have Win 7 professional on the laptop and no O/S to replace it as it doesn't have a disk drive. I don't have 7 professional on disk anyway. Is there any easy way to clear out the crud that seems to be clogging up my laptop without having to re-install Windows. Not too technical please as I am a retired person with no specific IT skills.

I have done the usual stuff like a defrag and disk cleanup with little effect.

 

[samuria]

If you have a valid serial you can download the iso from https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/soft...nload/windows7


There is also Download Windows 7 ISO Legally - Official Direct Download Links [32-64 Bit] - TechPP


First check your startup whats running at start try going into safe mode if thats fast you know its somthing at start

 

[Moonshine]

Thanks for your reply Samuria. However I'd rather not have to reload if I can help it, and in any case I do not have the product key. It's a reconditioned Dell laptop which came with the O/S pre-loaded and I've had it some years. There is a certificate of authenticity sticker underneath it, but it's completely unreadable. The number has long since worn away. I will try safe mode and see how that goes. Thanks again.

 

[Megahertz07]

For now, don't worry to get the Win 7 installation files.
Your priority is to boot the laptop and retrieve the installation key to use on a re installation.

Run MGAdiag to find out what kind of license it is using.

If the license type is SLP run Activation Backup and Restore (ABR) to create a license backup

I the license is retail or OEM, run show key plus
Download ShowKeyPlus - MajorGeeks

Once you have found what license is on the computer, I will provide a link to download Win 7 iso

 

[Moonshine]

Hi, thanks for your reply, this is what I got;

Diagnostic Report (1.9.0027.0):
-----------------------------------------
Windows Validation Data-->

Validation Code: 0
Cached Online Validation Code: 0x0
Windows Product Key: *****-*****-M3DJT-4J3WC-733WD
Windows Product Key Hash: xo+ajVSpae7/4VoZjS7m6JL0f3A=
Windows Product ID: 00371-OEM-8992671-00524
Windows Product ID Type: 2
Windows License Type: OEM SLP
Windows OS version: 6.1.7601.2.00010100.1.0.048
ID: {4B19EC1A-31C5-4FBB-90EC-3F53A14D5862}(3)
Is Admin: Yes
TestCab: 0x0
LegitcheckControl ActiveX: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Product Name: Windows 7 Professional
Architecture: 0x00000009
Build lab: 7601.win7sp1_ldr_escrow.190220-1800
TTS Error:
Validation Diagnostic:
Resolution Status: N/A

Vista WgaER Data-->
ThreatID(s): N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

I'm a bit out of my comfort zone here. I tried running your ABR link and nothing happened. It looks like I have a partial product key there, but I seem to have hit a wall.

 

[Megahertz07]

Hi, thanks for your reply, this is what I got;

Diagnostic Report (1.9.0027.0):
-----------------------------------------
Windows Validation Data-->

Validation Code: 0
Cached Online Validation Code: 0x0
Windows Product Key: *****-*****-M3DJT-4J3WC-733WD
Windows Product Key Hash: xo+ajVSpae7/4VoZjS7m6JL0f3A=
Windows Product ID: 00371-OEM-8992671-00524
Windows Product ID Type: 2
Windows License Type: OEM SLP
Windows OS version: 6.1.7601.2.00010100.1.0.048
ID: {4B19EC1A-31C5-4FBB-90EC-3F53A14D5862}(3)
Is Admin: Yes
TestCab: 0x0
LegitcheckControl ActiveX: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Signed By: N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Product Name: Windows 7 Professional
Architecture: 0x00000009
Build lab: 7601.win7sp1_ldr_escrow.190220-1800
TTS Error:
Validation Diagnostic:
Resolution Status: N/A

Vista WgaER Data-->
ThreatID(s): N/A, hr = 0x80070002
Version: N/A, hr = 0x80070002

I'm a bit out of my comfort zone here. I tried running your ABR link and nothing happened. It looks like I have a partial product key there, but I seem to have hit a wall.

Your license is a OEM SLP
On a SLP, the license key is generic, and can't be use to activation. You MUST backup the SLP license using ABR.

If you click the Download ABR link you will download a executable file. Execute the file and it will ask where you want to extract the ABR files. Choose an external USB flash drive.
Run activation_backup.exe from the ABR folder.
"activation_backup" will create 2 files on your USB drive:
backup-key.txt: Backup license key
backup-cert.xrm-ms: Backup activation certificate

"activation_restore" will use those 2 files to restore your
activation once you have done a clean install.

Save the files on the ABR folder on the USB flash drive.

Lets do some tests on the HDD as I suspect it has a problem.
For the logical health test, open a CMD window as administrator and type:
chkdsk c: /f
It will say your disk is in use and if you want to schedule to next start = yes
Restart
Pay attention on the results, specially bad blocks, bad clusters, bad sectors etc

For he SMART diag, download and run CrystalDiskInfo It is a portable, Don't need to install. Extract and run.

If the disk heath is good, you are ready to do a Win 7 Clean Install

 

[Megahertz07]

Link to download Win 7 installation iso

Win7_HomePrem_SP1_English_COEM_x32.iso

Win7_HomePrem_SP1_English_COEM_x64.iso

Links are valid for 24 hours.
Links expire: 2/20/2021 10:19:57 PM UTC

Any Win 7 installation disk has all versions on it (starter, HB, HP, Pro and ultimate). To make it universal (show all versions) you must delete or rename \sources\ei.cfg.

You have eicfg_removal_utility tool do apply on the iso you're downloading.
With \sources\ei.cfg renamed or removed, during the installation it will ask what version you want to install. Choose Win 7 pro.

You didn't mentioned how much memory your laptop has but if it has 4G or less, install 32 Bits. If it has more than 4G, install 64Bits

Please tell us how are you going to install, using a DVD or a USB flash drive.
Give us more information about the laptop (brand, model, CPU, memory etc)

 

[TechnoMage2016]

I have a fairly old laptop which has been getting slower and slower to boot up. I had a similar problem on my desktop machine a while back and cured it by re-loading the O/S and starting again. However, I have Win 7 professional on the laptop and no O/S to replace it as it doesn't have a disk drive. I don't have 7 professional on disk anyway. Is there any easy way to clear out the crud that seems to be clogging up my laptop without having to re-install Windows. Not too technical please as I am a retired person with no specific IT skills.

I have done the usual stuff like a defrag and disk cleanup with little effect.

Sir, I'm confused.... You said first that your laptop does not have a Hard Drive, and then you said that you did a Defrag on it, and a disk cleanup. I'd love to take a look at that laptop. Slow, is my speciality.


The very first thing I always do is to run 'MSCONFIG' and under the BOOT tab, change the startup delay form the default 30 seconds, to just 3 seconds. That will help your PC to boot up 27 seconds faster.
* The OS won't accept less than three seconds.


I know you're in the UK, but surely you have professional Computer repair shops somewhere in your area. That may be your best bet.



Good Luck Mate!
TM

 

[RolandJS]

"I have a fairly old laptop which has been getting slower and slower to boot up..."
If I understand correctly, my educated guess is that there is a lot of background running programs, utilities, services, etc., that can be pruned if not being used anymore. autorun and msconfig are very helpful for discovery and disabling, Windows programs and Revo Uninstaller free are also very helpful in uninstalling un-needed stuff.

 

[Moonshine]

Sir, I'm confused.... You said first that your laptop does not have a Hard Drive, and then you said that you did a Defrag on it, and a disk cleanup. I'd love to take a look at that laptop. Slow, is my speciality.


The very first thing I always do is to run 'MSCONFIG' and under the BOOT tab, change the startup delay form the default 30 seconds, to just 3 seconds. That will help your PC to boot up 27 seconds faster.
* The OS won't accept less than three seconds.


I know you're in the UK, but surely you have professional Computer repair shops somewhere in your area. That may be your best bet.



Good Luck Mate!
TM

Hi, I think you have misread my post. What I said was that it doesn't have a disk drive (as in CD/DVD), it certainly does have a hard drive. If I do have to resort to doing a re-install, I would have to put the O/S onto a USB stick because of that, but I am trying to avoid going down that route except as a last resort. Yes there are computer repair shops in the area, but I am currently avoiding going out due to being in my 70s, and there's supposed to be a lock-down anyway. Also, I am trying to learn what I can as it keeps my brain active for as long as possible.

The computer is a Dell Latitude E6230 with a 300GB HDD and 10GB memory.

 

[Megahertz07]

I suppose you have created a SLP backup using Activation Backup and Restore (ABR). It is important you have the backup as it's your only way to reinstall or repair install win 7.
Also suppose you have downloaded the Win 7 iso from M$ ans applied eicfg_removal_utility tool to make it universal (all types to choose from).

Now lets built a Win 7 USB installation drive.
Open a CMD window as administrator and type:

diskpart
list disk (it will list all drives. Identify the USB drive number)
select disk n (replace n by the USB drive number obtained with list disk)
clean
convert mbr
create part primary
select part 1
format fs=fat32 quick
assign
active
exit (to exit diskpart)

Extract all files and folders from the Win 7 installation iso to the root of the USB drive.
To extract use 7-zip
To make it UEFI boot able, you must add Boot folder under efi (attached)

EFI\Boot folder

You have two options:
- Clean install Win 7. In my opinion is always the best solution, even that it takes longer, as you get rid of all those outdated software that came with the computer years ago. The name says everything: Clean Install
- Repair install. It will reinstall Win 7 and will keep all programs and data (also the trash). All you have to do is to run Win 7 installation setup.exe from running windows.

Both (Clean or repair install) will ask for the key during installation. Hit skip and when the installation is done, restore the SLP key using ABR activation_restore.exe and the bakup you did previously.

Also both (Clean or repair install) will require to reinstall all Windows updates.
Single file with all updates - Simplix is highly recommended.