Windows 7 Ridiculously Slow

[czarmurphy]

Hi, new to the forums, I seem to have a major problem on my hands.

I have recently built my computer (Thursday), and Friday I installed the software after it was up and running (Pro 64bit). This morning I began to install my regular programs (Steam, Zune Media Player, Google Chrome), and everything worked fine. I even installed the game STALKER: SoC and was able to completely max the graphics and play for about 3 hours. Toward the end of that 3 hours, the game crashed, but I didn't really think much of it, since the game is known to be very buggy.

However, not too long after that, things like opening up windows explorer (and especially Task Manager) began taking an extremely long time, I mean almost 5 minutes for a right-click to register. It might be related to UAC (which I turned off, but the problem remains), but it also might be related to Steam (I had a game installing at the time, and it continually froze and would remain unresponsive for upwards of 10 minutes). After I hard restart (it hurt me, too) of the PC and a subsequent re-launch of Steam, two games appeared in my Installation queue. Steam then proceeded to freeze again and remain unresponsive for another insanely long session. The next time I rebooted, I did not start Steam, but my PC still takes a very long time to open anything. Now it is simply very inconsistent.

Sometimes I can open things fine. Other times it as slow as before. Help? I'm new at building, but I have a good history with computers in general, and I've never seen anything this bad before.

 

[richc46]

Three things to do and we will have the answer.
Run a full anti virus scan
Download and run malwarebytes, the full scan and be sure to update it

If these are negative, I am getting instructions for a clean boot. Do these steps in order.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

 

[Hopalong X]

Sounds like you need to delete all the Steam and see how bad you may have damaged the Win7.

Go with Rich46's suggestions.

If AV scan and Malwarebytes won't run properly I'd dump all the Steam files and games. Then maybe they will run.
Mike

 

[czarmurphy]

Okay, the second thing I installed onto my PC last night (after Chrome) was AVG Free. I assumed it ran a virus scan, but I will run another right now. I have not dled malwarebytes yet, but will do that at the same time.

Thank you for your quick reply!

 

[czarmurphy]

@Hopalong

How would I have damaged 7 with Steam? I have been using Steam for over a year and have never had any problems with it before now.

 

[czarmurphy]

AVG Free Full Scan completed with 0 negative results. I have moved on to Malwarebytes now. The PC seems to have sped up now that I'm not opening anything new (everything is cached?). I wonder if it has anything to do with my hard drive.

 

[Hopalong X]

It may have done something if it isn't running properly. Possibly either Win 7 is corrupted or Steam is causing this if there is nothing found by the AV or Malwarebytes
That is why Rich was getting instructions for a clean install of Win7 if the files were damaged beyond repair.
IF not definitely.

I didn't say not to reinstall later if you want but you may get rid of the corrupted files by uninstalling all the Steam files for now.
Do the AV and Malwarebytes and go from there.
Just a suggestion not an order.
Mike

 

[czarmurphy]

Sure, I'm sorry if I sounded offended or touchy; I wasn't meaning to.

I may have to do a clean boot. I installed 7 Pro via a burned ISO from a DVD that I had, not an official Microsoft disc. Of course, I trusted the link by which I obtained the ISO, but maybe that was it.

As for Steam, I still just can't wrap my mind around how it would be killing my PC this badly. I just have never had anything besides network problems on it (when there are > 2 mil people online haha!).

PS: Was the link he posted not the link I need for a clean boot? You almost made it sound like he needs to post something else for me to be able to go through with it.

 

[richc46]

All clean boot does, is stop programs from starting during boot If one is causing a problem, we will know and we can remedy the situation.

 

[czarmurphy]

Malwarebytes finished with no errors.

Accessing my Startup programs right now. Will get back to you guys.

 

[richc46]

Take your time, if clean boot does not help try safe mode, may be a driver.

 

[czarmurphy]

Okay, the clean boot didn't seem to help or hurt. Each time I opened Steam (with its two downloading items), it would freeze (for a significantly shorter time, granted) and would be very stubborn to my shutting the program down.

So, I hate to say it, but maybe it actually is Steam. Maybe it has to do with the fact that it is downloading two >10GB files and I keep trying to interrupt it (the problem seems to still be present but fading), I don't know.

 

[richc46]

This from steam support
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=9257-TUJL-7421

 

[czarmurphy]

Ha, okay, got it.

I have performed most of the tips on that page. Thank you guys so much for your help! Rep'ed

 

[Hopalong X]

You are welcome.
Mike