Windows 7 PC slows down to a crawl
Hello, I have been trying for a week to recover full functionality on my friend's computer, I've tried everything that I usually do on customers' computers to no avail.
Here's what happens: after a short while using the pc, it slows down to a crawl. There were no symptoms before last Sunday, it started all of a sudden. The task manager doesn't report high cpu or ram usage. But the computer takes ages to open software and basically do anything. I'm talking about minutes to open a web browser, for instance.
Here's the system specs:
W7 Professional 64bit
Asus P6T Deluxe
Intel Core i7
6GB Ocz DDR3
AMD Radeon HD5970
Enermax 1000W
2xOCZ VERTEX SSD Raid0
Other 3 mechanical drives for data
Now keep in mind this system has worked fine in this configuration for about 4 years, so hardware incompatibilities are out of the question.
Here's what I did up to now:
-Backed up, trimmed SSDs in IDE mode, recreated array, recovered backup
-Checked for viruses with: Kaspersky recovery disk, Bitdefender recovery disk, Combofix, Spybot, Superantispyware, Malwarebytes
-Checked startup items with autoruns, nothing strange
-Startup with msconfig.exe, still happens even with everything unchecked
-chkdsk
-memtest86+
That's it, and I'm out of ideas. He's doing a repair install right now, but I'm almost sure it won't change anything. I'd like to understand what's happening before resorting to a clean W7 reinstall.
So do you guys have any other suggestions?
Here's what happens: after a short while using the pc, it slows down to a crawl. There were no symptoms before last Sunday, it started all of a sudden. The task manager doesn't report high cpu or ram usage. But the computer takes ages to open software and basically do anything. I'm talking about minutes to open a web browser, for instance.
Here's the system specs:
W7 Professional 64bit
Asus P6T Deluxe
Intel Core i7
6GB Ocz DDR3
AMD Radeon HD5970
Enermax 1000W
2xOCZ VERTEX SSD Raid0
Other 3 mechanical drives for data
Now keep in mind this system has worked fine in this configuration for about 4 years, so hardware incompatibilities are out of the question.
Here's what I did up to now:
-Backed up, trimmed SSDs in IDE mode, recreated array, recovered backup
-Checked for viruses with: Kaspersky recovery disk, Bitdefender recovery disk, Combofix, Spybot, Superantispyware, Malwarebytes
-Checked startup items with autoruns, nothing strange
-Startup with msconfig.exe, still happens even with everything unchecked
-chkdsk
-memtest86+
That's it, and I'm out of ideas. He's doing a repair install right now, but I'm almost sure it won't change anything. I'd like to understand what's happening before resorting to a clean W7 reinstall.
So do you guys have any other suggestions?
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Maioneis--What is the status after the repair install?
ASKER
It looks like the repair install fixed it. I don't like it when I don't know what it was that got fixed, though.
I don't much like magical fixes either but sometimes that is all you get.
Probably either malware that was replaced or corruption that was replaced by the repair.
Never hurts to have a UPS, especially if you have flaky power at your location. Brownouts allow the computer to keep running but can result in corruption to data and even the OS. Surge suppressors only save the hardware.
- Tom
Probably either malware that was replaced or corruption that was replaced by the repair.
Never hurts to have a UPS, especially if you have flaky power at your location. Brownouts allow the computer to keep running but can result in corruption to data and even the OS. Surge suppressors only save the hardware.
- Tom
Maioneis--This is a very brief summary of what a Repair Install does.
"What it does is actually repair most everything including the registry. It also removes some drivers like the chipset drivers and the Service Pack that you are using, so you have to reinstall chipset drivers and the service pack."
from http://www.techsupportforum.com/forums/f10/solved-what-does-a-repair-install-do-308022.html
Getting rid of corrupt Registry entries is most likely what fixed things.
"What it does is actually repair most everything including the registry. It also removes some drivers like the chipset drivers and the Service Pack that you are using, so you have to reinstall chipset drivers and the service pack."
from http://www.techsupportforum.com/forums/f10/solved-what-does-a-repair-install-do-308022.html
Getting rid of corrupt Registry entries is most likely what fixed things.
ASKER
My friend's got an UPS if I recall correctly.
About the registry being fixed, that's probably it or some system files getting corrupted for whatever reason (although I had checked for that).
About the registry being fixed, that's probably it or some system files getting corrupted for whatever reason (although I had checked for that).
a virus can be fixed this way cant it especially if its an infected system file think about it
this is the one I use
http://www.avg.com/gb-en/avg-rescue-cd-download
I know its called a rescue disk but it is my choice of linux boot cd for fixing virus' as it allows if the pc is on the net to update itself
this is the one I use
http://www.avg.com/gb-en/avg-rescue-cd-download
I know its called a rescue disk but it is my choice of linux boot cd for fixing virus' as it allows if the pc is on the net to update itself
ASKER
I don't think it was a virus, I checked with a lot of AV boot disks, mostly all the disks you can fit on S.A.R.D.U., which is a tool you can find here:
http://www.sarducd.it/downloads.html
Great tool if anybody wants to take a look. It will create a multi-boot cd or usb drive and you can download all the diagnostic boot disks'ISOs directly from the software interface.
http://www.sarducd.it/downloads.html
Great tool if anybody wants to take a look. It will create a multi-boot cd or usb drive and you can download all the diagnostic boot disks'ISOs directly from the software interface.
Last year I have seen a lot of these virus' that cannot be found or removed by a windows av suite
that sardu looks good I am going to have a look later
that sardu looks good I am going to have a look later
ASKER
Since the repair install fixed it, I decided to distribute points among all guys who suggested a solution.
Thanks everybody.
Thanks everybody.
ASKER
@TomRScott: sorry, rolling back was the first thing I tried and didn't work. I forgot to include some things in the list because I really tried a plethora of stuff.
@ve3ofa: forgot to include that too in the list. I checked all hardware temperatures and they're fine.
@terencino: space is ok, about 25%. I didn't have time to test it for a sufficient time in safe mode with network. It SEEMED to work fine. The SSDs are updated to the latest firmware. I tested disk performance with some benchmarks on a WinPE and it's up to par, no slowdowns. Also I think the raid array would break if one of the disks was dying.