Computer slows to a crawl

[Dan]

I'm running a Dell 2.4 ghz machine with 256 mb RAM. XP Personal SP1 with
all critical updates installed.

Periodically the machine just grinds to a halt, where it takes a minute or
more just to recognize a key stroke or mouse movement. It happened
yesterday. I went to task manager (took 5 minutes to get a response) and it
showed 100% cpu utilization. 98% of which was just identified as "System"
under the image name. The other 4% were the task manager and Norton
Utilities.

All virus definitions are up to date and Norton can find no virus. A reboot
brings everything back down to less than 30%. It will stay that way for a
couple of weeks and then I'll go through the same thing again. Any ideas?

 

[MGGP]

Dan -
I think you're running either XP Home or XP Professional,
there is no XP Personal.

Listed below are some sites that will help if your system
has been compromised by spyware or malware of some type.
Your anti-virus software will NOT catch most spyware.

You should get anti-spyware software (SpyBot AND Adaware)
and use them regularly (both have free versions). And keep
them updated !

http://www.safer-networking.org/
www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/

1) Have you looked in Event Viewer for a clue ?
2) Are all hardware devices showing to be normal in Device
Manager ? A driver problem could cause the behavior you
describe. Get updated drivers (for video card, etc.) from
the hardware manufacturer, NOT Microsoft, no matter how
tempting.
3)Have you used MSCONFIG to help isolate the problem ?
http://netsquirrel.com/msconfig/
4) Have you changed anything recently in the BIOS or in
the Registry ?
5) Have you checked the integrity of your hard drive ?

Also download the latest Microsoft Critical Updates
(from Internet Explorer go to the Tools menu and hit
Windows Update) and also be POSITIVE that your internet
Connection Firewall is activated.

THE PARASITE FIGHT QUICK FIX PROTOCOL
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm

THE PARASITE FIGHT
Finding, Removing & Protecting Yourself From Scumware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

Bugs, Glitches & Stuffups
http://www.mvps.org/inetexplorer/Darnit.htm

Dealing with Unwanted Spyware and Parasites
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm

Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive
software
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-
US;827315#appliesto

Spyware and Deceptive Software
http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/twc/privacy/spyware.mspx?
gssnb=1

What you should know about spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/security/articles/spyware.asp



Good Luck !

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

In

I'm running a Dell 2.4 ghz machine with 256 mb RAM. XP Personal SP1
with all critical updates installed.

There's no such thing as "XP Personal." Do you mean "XP Home"?

Periodically the machine just grinds to a halt, where it takes a
minute or more just to recognize a key stroke or mouse movement. It
happened yesterday. I went to task manager (took 5 minutes to get a
response) and it showed 100% cpu utilization. 98% of which was just
identified as "System" under the image name. The other 4% were the
task manager and Norton Utilities.

All virus definitions are up to date and Norton can find no virus. A
reboot brings everything back down to less than 30%. It will stay
that way for a couple of weeks and then I'll go through the same
thing again. Any ideas?

A couple of weeks without rebooting and it's OK until then? If
that's the case, I wouldn't worry about it, but just reboot more
frequently.

 

[cquirke (MVP Win9x)]

I'm running a Dell 2.4 ghz machine with 256 mb RAM. XP Personal SP1 with
all critical updates installed.

Periodically the machine just grinds to a halt, where it takes a minute or
more just to recognize a key stroke or mouse movement. It happened
yesterday. I went to task manager (took 5 minutes to get a response) and it
showed 100% cpu utilization. 98% of which was just identified as "System"
under the image name. The other 4% were the task manager and Norton
Utilities.

All virus definitions are up to date and Norton can find no virus. A reboot
brings everything back down to less than 30%. It will stay that way for a
couple of weeks and then I'll go through the same thing again. Any ideas?

Generally this suggests some process is hogging the system - and often
it will be a low-level process, such as a device driver, that is able
to block out the OS and everything else. Likely causes are:
- bad HD retries (HD LED stays on, no sound or rythmic clanking)
- bad LAN cable retries (HD LED generally off)
- other device polling e.g. USB etc. (HD LED generally off)
- software/malware (HD LED generally blinks, random HD noise)

I'd get out of Windows, check the HD for physical defects, and
formally scan for traditional malware. If all is OK, then:
- try Safe Mode (suppress drivers and startup axis)
- try MSConfig startup suppression (runs drivers)
- try "Disable in this Profile" non-critical items in Device Manager
- with the above, start with network adapters and external devices

--------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - -

Error Messages Are Your Friends

 

[Dan]

Thanks. I am having a problem periodically with a driver for my HP
Photosmart 1000. Sometimes upon bootup it gives an error that it didn't
load properly, but that's never stopped it from printing. I've re-installed
the driver several times and it doesn't make any difference. Sometimes it
loads, sometimes it doesn't. It's the most current driver for the device.
Could that be part (or all) of the problem?

Thanks again

 

[cquirke (MVP Win9x)]

On Mon, 31 May 2004 08:29:22 -0700, "MGGP"

I think you're running either XP Home or XP Professional,
there is no XP Personal.

There nearly was ;-)

Some contexts in XP Home refer to it as "XP Personal", suggesting that
may have been the planned name during some part of the development
process. I think I saw that in the installation process.

Also download the latest Microsoft Critical Updates
(from Internet Explorer go to the Tools menu and hit
Windows Update) and also be POSITIVE that your internet
Connection Firewall is activated.

I do like keeping up to date with patches, but am less keen on
applying them to PCs that aren't working properly, in case it muddies
the waters. Firewall, definitely.

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Trsut me, I won't make a mistake!

 

[cquirke (MVP Win9x)]

Thanks. I am having a problem periodically with a driver for my HP
Photosmart 1000. Sometimes upon bootup it gives an error that it didn't
load properly, but that's never stopped it from printing. I've re-installed
the driver several times and it doesn't make any difference. Sometimes it
loads, sometimes it doesn't. It's the most current driver for the device.
Could that be part (or all) of the problem?

Yes, it could - it's the sort of thing I had in mind when referring to
"polling external devices"

I'd test this through this series of reductions:
- unplug the device from the PC
- set the device to "[x] Disable in this profile" in Device Manager
- as above, now plug in the device again
- set the device's connection to "[x] Disable in this profile"

On the last, I mean disable the USB ports if it's a USB device, or
LPT1 if it's a parallel port device. Details of the above may clarify
whether it's bad drivers/software, a bad device, a bad cable, or
problems with the host connection device it uses.

If it's a parallel port device, read up (vendor's web site, FAQ,
manuals etc.) whether the device works best with an SPP, EPP or ECP
parallel port and consider selecting this mode in CMOS setup:

SPP - Standard Parallel Port; the oldest, slowest and most compatible
form of parallel port. Depending on how the hardware and drivers
work, this may be insufficient to support bi-directional traffic that
some more modern parallel port devices require.

EPP - Enhanced Parallel Port; a bit faster and slicker, with a more
natural bi-directional support (which previously required creative use
of handshaking lines to communicate back to the PC).

ECP - Enhanced Capabilities Port; the fastest mode, but potentially
most troublesome, as it requires a DMA channel in addition to the
standard IO port and IRQ resources.

-------------------- ----- ---- --- -- - - - -

Trsut me, I won't make a mistake!