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Memory issues with HP desktop with Vista
I just replaced a 1 GB memory stick with a 2 GB one, so now have 4 GB. But memory usage and also CPU seems to get eaten up in a hurry.
Windows Vista Home Premium, SP 2
HP, Model a6600f
Processor Intel Pentium Dual CPU E220 @ 2.2Ghz
4.0 GM RAM
The HP memory test also looked good after installing the 2 GB stick, only 1 warning.
But memory gets eaten up very quickly . . . right now I have 3 google chrome windows open, The Weather Channel, Task Manager, and 1 Firefox.
CPU is~20%, but Physical Memory is ~70% . . . at work I have 20+ windows open, but at home it's slowing down after 5 or 6, and I usually have 5 FF, 5 Chrome, and others.
For Chrome, I have three Windows open but there's 13 processes running, what's going on there ?
When I opened Firefox, memory zoomed up to 70%.
CPU is low but I have about 7 Windows open, I usually operate with about 20 open.
I ran memtest86 from my previous post, but I didn't quite understand that - it kept running and running and running, and I couldn't see how to get the results (there was one error, but it seemed minor).
Why is Memory so quickly consumed ? I also recently installed Norton from Comcast and that's been kind of a pain - ComcastAntiSpy.ext (or something like that) takes up huge amounts of CPU, but I can't figure out how to uninstall it.
Windows Vista Home Premium, SP 2
HP, Model a6600f
Processor Intel Pentium Dual CPU E220 @ 2.2Ghz
4.0 GM RAM
The HP memory test also looked good after installing the 2 GB stick, only 1 warning.
But memory gets eaten up very quickly . . . right now I have 3 google chrome windows open, The Weather Channel, Task Manager, and 1 Firefox.
CPU is~20%, but Physical Memory is ~70% . . . at work I have 20+ windows open, but at home it's slowing down after 5 or 6, and I usually have 5 FF, 5 Chrome, and others.
For Chrome, I have three Windows open but there's 13 processes running, what's going on there ?
When I opened Firefox, memory zoomed up to 70%.
CPU is low but I have about 7 Windows open, I usually operate with about 20 open.
I ran memtest86 from my previous post, but I didn't quite understand that - it kept running and running and running, and I couldn't see how to get the results (there was one error, but it seemed minor).
Why is Memory so quickly consumed ? I also recently installed Norton from Comcast and that's been kind of a pain - ComcastAntiSpy.ext (or something like that) takes up huge amounts of CPU, but I can't figure out how to uninstall it.
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actually, going to Windows 7 is ok, I can get this at work since I work at home a lot.
Ok, I did the msconfig, didn't know about that. Only thing I unchecked is ComcastAntispyClient, that was sucking up resources.
But why are the other programs checked ? For example, Google Chrome, Citrix ICA Client (that's how I logon to work), Adobe Acrobat, Office 2010, QuickTime, iTunes, etc.
- are they actually running on startup, if so, why ?
Ok, I did the msconfig, didn't know about that. Only thing I unchecked is ComcastAntispyClient, that was sucking up resources.
But why are the other programs checked ? For example, Google Chrome, Citrix ICA Client (that's how I logon to work), Adobe Acrobat, Office 2010, QuickTime, iTunes, etc.
- are they actually running on startup, if so, why ?
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Ok, I learned something new. But I've had this computer for 3+ years and it basically worked fine, but I'd get BSOD often. It all got worse when I installed Norton from Comcast. I had to uninstall of of their peripheral packages. Now my machine is pretty much unusable (for heavy usage that is), and no one in my family likes it. But before Norton, it was kind of ok, except for the multiple BSOD's.
I was pleased that I got the bad RAM out and a new 2 GB stick in, but in general the computer sucks, and prior to Norton it didn't suck, it just crashed often.
I was pleased that I got the bad RAM out and a new 2 GB stick in, but in general the computer sucks, and prior to Norton it didn't suck, it just crashed often.
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Are you sure it was a RAM issue?
Take a look at the following site:
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/window-on-windows/how-do-i-use-windbg-debugger-to-troubleshoot-a-blue-screen-of-death/1922
It could be a problem with something other than memory.
Please check the following folder on your computer and attach one of the DMP files to this forum..
C:\WINDOWS\Minidump
Take a look at the following site:
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/window-on-windows/how-do-i-use-windbg-debugger-to-troubleshoot-a-blue-screen-of-death/1922
It could be a problem with something other than memory.
Please check the following folder on your computer and attach one of the DMP files to this forum..
C:\WINDOWS\Minidump
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vallis,
>>I doubt that there's anything wrong at all.
- Well, if that's the case, I need a Macintosh, because 4 FF windows and this thing is toast.
- I looked at the link and it makes sense, but with semi-heavy usage I'm at 97% memory usage and 80%+ CPU, and I need relief, the machine is not able to meet my needs.
- I run the same apps (and more) and work, and it was ok on XP but now is great on Windows 7, which is what I need here.
itguy565
<<Are you sure it was a RAM issue?
- definitely, I had one bad stick, I proved that. But still this doesn't solve overall issue.
- that's also a good link on the windbg-debugger, thanks.
Now I'm up to 57% CPU and 77% Memory and I haven't added anything new.
No one has mentioned Norton, but I think I'm going to uninstall it, just one of those things that definitely marked the decline of my machine.
>>I doubt that there's anything wrong at all.
- Well, if that's the case, I need a Macintosh, because 4 FF windows and this thing is toast.
- I looked at the link and it makes sense, but with semi-heavy usage I'm at 97% memory usage and 80%+ CPU, and I need relief, the machine is not able to meet my needs.
- I run the same apps (and more) and work, and it was ok on XP but now is great on Windows 7, which is what I need here.
itguy565
<<Are you sure it was a RAM issue?
- definitely, I had one bad stick, I proved that. But still this doesn't solve overall issue.
- that's also a good link on the windbg-debugger, thanks.
Now I'm up to 57% CPU and 77% Memory and I haven't added anything new.
No one has mentioned Norton, but I think I'm going to uninstall it, just one of those things that definitely marked the decline of my machine.
Williampeck,
Your Bluescreens were probably unrelated to that memory failure. Please run the WINDBG utility on one of your crash dumps or attach one of your DMP files and I will look at it and tell you what is causing your BSOD
Your Bluescreens were probably unrelated to that memory failure. Please run the WINDBG utility on one of your crash dumps or attach one of your DMP files and I will look at it and tell you what is causing your BSOD
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itguy, before I added the new 2 GB of memory, I was getting BSOD for MEMORY_MANAGEMENT most of the type, sometimes IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL.
since I added the new 2 GB memory, I've had only one BSOD, for PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_ARE
Based on what I see and the expln for Vista memory management, it seems like Windows 7 is the answer.
will pick this up tomorrow evening.
since I added the new 2 GB memory, I've had only one BSOD, for PAGE_FAULT_IN_NONPAGED_ARE
Based on what I see and the expln for Vista memory management, it seems like Windows 7 is the answer.
will pick this up tomorrow evening.
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itguy,
ok, thanks again, but I feel I've solved the crashing issue by replacing the 1 GB RAM. Since then, only 1 crash and it just seems better in that regard. I don't see crashing as the issue anymore, it's the performance.
ok, now will pick this up tmrw evening, thanks.
ok, thanks again, but I feel I've solved the crashing issue by replacing the 1 GB RAM. Since then, only 1 crash and it just seems better in that regard. I don't see crashing as the issue anymore, it's the performance.
ok, now will pick this up tmrw evening, thanks.
actually -you should get no warnings at all
so test the ram !
so test the ram !
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nobus, thanks, but when I did the actual memtest86, it kept running forever with 1 error which I couldn't figure out how to capture. When I first ran the test, it was a GUI application and it was over quickly. But then I kept getting errors, and so I re-installed memtest86 and voila it became a DOS application . . . the first time I did it I'm sure I didn't install the application, I just unzipped it to my flash drive . . . so what mem test should I do ? The HP results I posted above look good to me, only 1 warning . . .
Callandor, I do think I will uninstall Norton and see how the system operates, it definitely seems like an important factor in all of this . . .
Callandor, I do think I will uninstall Norton and see how the system operates, it definitely seems like an important factor in all of this . . .
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nobus, here's the results I got when running memtest86, it's GUI (on reflection I think I just unzipped the install file to my flash drive but didn't actually install it).
When I tried to run it again (after getting the GUI screen results) to test the good 2 GB memory stand-alone, I kept getting "Disk Boot Failure, Insert System Disk", so then I re-did the Installation of memtest86, and I realized I never actually installed the software the first time. This was confirmed by my surprise when memtest86 came up as a DOS application.
I just saw your comment on the other thread where it could be RAM controller issue, so not sure about that.
When I tried to run it again (after getting the GUI screen results) to test the good 2 GB memory stand-alone, I kept getting "Disk Boot Failure, Insert System Disk", so then I re-did the Installation of memtest86, and I realized I never actually installed the software the first time. This was confirmed by my surprise when memtest86 came up as a DOS application.
I just saw your comment on the other thread where it could be RAM controller issue, so not sure about that.
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nobus,
>>i suggest to run memtest86+ from www.memtest.org
- that's where I ran it from
>>-because this gives no info
- not sure what you mean by this . . .
>>run the diag from the UBCD
- ok, I think I can handle this, I'm not exactly sure what I will see but I can give it a shot.
>>i suggest to run memtest86+ from www.memtest.org
- that's where I ran it from
>>-because this gives no info
- not sure what you mean by this . . .
>>run the diag from the UBCD
- ok, I think I can handle this, I'm not exactly sure what I will see but I can give it a shot.
the test you ran only says warning - no details - that's why i say it gives no info
you can also test 1 stick at the time with the HP diag, and check if the error stays or not
also - i am not sure i got you right when you say you ran memtest86+ from the memtest site - and post an HP diag screen ?
you can also test 1 stick at the time with the HP diag, and check if the error stays or not
also - i am not sure i got you right when you say you ran memtest86+ from the memtest site - and post an HP diag screen ?
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>.- i am not sure i got you right when you say you ran memtest86+ from the memtest site - and post an HP diag screen ?
- my first memtest86 gave me the light blue screen posted just above
- then the next time I ran memtest86 it was a DOS application (with some minor errors) but I wasn't able to capture the output . . .
So I then tried to HP diag test just to see and I also posted that.
btw, last night my computer was completely docile (e.g., workable) with 10-15 windows open, I think it was ComcastAntiSpy.exe that was the culprit. I turned it off from startup per itguy's suggestion (running msconfig), and it's been quiet ever since.
- my first memtest86 gave me the light blue screen posted just above
- then the next time I ran memtest86 it was a DOS application (with some minor errors) but I wasn't able to capture the output . . .
So I then tried to HP diag test just to see and I also posted that.
btw, last night my computer was completely docile (e.g., workable) with 10-15 windows open, I think it was ComcastAntiSpy.exe that was the culprit. I turned it off from startup per itguy's suggestion (running msconfig), and it's been quiet ever since.
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actually . . . never ran defrag on my machine . . . I do that for laptops that are chugging along but I just never thought about it on this since it has so much disk space . . . I'll check in at home tonight and close this out.
I was right about things going haywire with "Norton", although it was ComcastAntiSpy that was the culprit (and I would see that hogging up Memory, then I would kill it).
FYI, when I first loaded the Comcast suite of stuff, it went haywire right away, and when I uninstalled, they had a survey that asked "Did you uninstall because your machine's memory started going haywire?" or words to that effect, plus other questions that showed other people have problems after installing. They didn't just say "Hey, why did you uninstall?"
I was right about things going haywire with "Norton", although it was ComcastAntiSpy that was the culprit (and I would see that hogging up Memory, then I would kill it).
FYI, when I first loaded the Comcast suite of stuff, it went haywire right away, and when I uninstalled, they had a survey that asked "Did you uninstall because your machine's memory started going haywire?" or words to that effect, plus other questions that showed other people have problems after installing. They didn't just say "Hey, why did you uninstall?"
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itguy, ok, looks like this is going to be a wrap . . . I will check things tonight and close this out, thanks again, really helpful.
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Ok, everything quiet now. Although when I ran msconfig today, it had ComcastAntiSpy checked to run on startup . . . so I unchecked it again.
so I'm going to move to my next phase, cleaning up this machine with defrag, etc., then work on getting Windows 7.
Thanks again.
so I'm going to move to my next phase, cleaning up this machine with defrag, etc., then work on getting Windows 7.
Thanks again.
increasing points.
thanks for the help, it's working well now.
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glad to hear that
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