Computer slow with hard disk reading light on

[Guest]

I am using WinXP Pro with SP3 with quite a while already. Recently I
encountered the dreaded slow pc symptom and it is really slow- sometimes hang.
When this happens, I checked the Task Manager and it would reveal that the
cpu is not heavily utilised in most cases (around 20+%). I update my
anti-virus/spyware and scan my pc every other day, so that should not be an
issue.
One thing I do notice is that when the pc slows down, the hard disk is busy
being read (the orange light of my desktop console lights up) and it is very
busy. I am not sure what is access the I/O and/or what what reasons. Can
anyone throw some light as to what may be the causes or solutions?
Thanks.

 

[Malke]

I am using WinXP Pro with SP3 with quite a while already. Recently I
encountered the dreaded slow pc symptom and it is really slow- sometimes hang.
When this happens, I checked the Task Manager and it would reveal that the
cpu is not heavily utilised in most cases (around 20+%). I update my
anti-virus/spyware and scan my pc every other day, so that should not be an
issue.
One thing I do notice is that when the pc slows down, the hard disk is busy
being read (the orange light of my desktop console lights up) and it is very
busy. I am not sure what is access the I/O and/or what what reasons. Can
anyone throw some light as to what may be the causes or solutions?
Thanks.

There is no SP3 for Windows XP. If you installed something called
Service Pack 3 for XP, then you installed something unwanted.

If that was just a typo, then see if your hard drive is in PIO Mode. MVP
Hans-Georg Michna has an explanation and fix here:

http://www.michna.com/kb/WxDMA.htm


Malke

 

[peter]

whats running in the background??
indexing service
anti spyware
anti malware
???
Under TaskManager it should list the programs...
peter

 

[Guest]

Typo- it's SP2.
Anti-virus & spyware is alwys running i the background but still they only
use up under 30% of cpu resources.
My system runs on DMA alright and no rest is needed. But will do some of the
troubleshooting suggested in the article. Thanks.

 

[Guest]

I was having a similar problem and clean-installed(painful, I know). Speed's
up to standard now.

 

[Malke]

Typo- it's SP2.
Anti-virus & spyware is alwys running i the background but still they only
use up under 30% of cpu resources.
My system runs on DMA alright and no rest is needed. But will do some of the
troubleshooting suggested in the article. Thanks.

If you are sure the computer is virus/malware-free and the drives are in
DMA mode, then you can try clean-boot troubleshooting:

Clean boot in Windows XP - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353

Clean-boot advanced troubleshooting in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316434

How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310560


Malke

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the references. I read the articles and is not sure if it is
easier to re-install than to troubleshoot.

 

[Malke]

Thanks for the references. I read the articles and is not sure if it is
easier to re-install than to troubleshoot.

Only you can make that determination. Since you were having difficulties
before, I'd do some hardware diagnosis first just to be sure you aren't
wasting your time.

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Hardware_Tshoot


Malke