Problem With Programs Running Very Slow in WinXP...

[Sithtiger]

Here's my problem....most of my programs in WinXP are running slow. I know what the problem isn't. I don't have any viruses or spyware. I ran across this problem before and eventually had to reformat; then I found out about the /R with the CHKDSK command that has helped allot, but it looks like the damage is a little too severe this time.

I want to know what's causing this problem and how I can prevent it and then finally how I can fix it if I can't prevent it. I know this is a software problem because like I said this happened to be before in another system which was completely different. Here are my specs: A64 X2 4400+, 2GB DDR 400 RAM, MSI K8N Neo 4 Plat, GeForce 7800 GTX 512, SoundBlaster Live!, WinXP Pro w/SP2. I'm also running ZoneAlarm Pro with Panda Titanium 2006 Antivirus + Spyware. I also use Diskeeper 10. I don't think my firewall and antivirus software matters but there it is anyway. Oh and I have various spyware programs too, Pest Patrol Spybot....etc etc...

Apparently it has to do with file structure damage or CHKDSK /R wouldn't help it. Windows boots just fine but many (not all) programs run extremely slow. Does anyone have any idea what might cause this? Also I've run CHKDSK on both volumes....that is I have two hard drives. One is a 80GB and the other a 250GB. This wouldn't have anything to do with the size of the hard drives would it? I wouldn't think so. I just know I hadn't had this happen until 2005. I do regular maintenance on my PC so I don't understand what it is and what causes it.

The first time this happened, it started after I d/led a large file. I think it was the antivirus wanting to scan it, but even after I deleted it, it's like it permanently affected many other programs. For example, it takes about 1 minute for IE to load. I usually use Firefox, but I occasionally use IE. Anyway what gives? Also it takes about 2 or so for Windows to shut down. It goes to the blue screen before it shuts down and then you see the hard drive light just stay on until it finally shuts down. The HD light stays on too when it's loading programs but takes a long time to load them. It's as if I don't have enough RAM or something...weird. I've streamlined my services too and I have very few TSR's running so I know that's not the problem. Once a program or game has loaded, it runs just fine, it's just the loading part...I don't understand what the problem could be??

 

[MrChad]

Is DMA enabled on your hard drives?

 

[Sithtiger]

I'm not sure...one is a normal PATA and the other is a SATA, but in Device Manager, they both say Location 0 Primary ATA channel. I recall being able to both see and turn it off or on before, but I don't see anything like that now. The last time I recall being able to set the DMA was probably with WinXP pre SP2. Maybe SP1 had it, I don't remember. In any case, where do I find that out and how to I turn it off or on. Also if it does have something to do with DMA, wouldn't it do this at the very beginning...that is even when I first install Windows?

Originally posted by: MrChad
Is DMA enabled on your hard drives?

 

[MrChad]

In System properties / Device manager, expand the IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers node and go to properties of your Primary IDE channel and Secondary IDE channel (your PATA drive is likely on your primary channel). Under the Advanced settings tab, it should show you the current transfer mode.

EDIT: This works in XP regardless of your service pack level.

 

[Sithtiger]

OK, thanx...I feel like a real idiot now. I guess it's been so long that I've had to mess with that, I forgot where it was located. OK well anyway my IDE is set to Ultra DMA 5 and my SATA is set to Generation 1 - 1.5G. That's where they should be set, no?

Originally posted by: MrChad
In System properties / Device manager, expand the IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers node and go to properties of your Primary IDE channel and Secondary IDE channel (your PATA drive is likely on your primary channel). Under the Advanced settings tab, it should show you the current transfer mode.

EDIT: This works in XP regardless of your service pack level.

 

[MrChad]

Yeah, that sounds right. If you're blue screening, though, that may indicate a hardware issue.

I'm assuming the IDE drive is your primary drive? I would try replacing the IDE cable connecting it. After that, I would download WD's diagnostic tools (there should be a bootable CD or floppy version) and run the extended tests to determine if your hard drive is failing. You may want to try a different power supply as well, as that can cause components to fail in very strange ways.

Good luck!

 

[Sithtiger]

Hmmm, that's an idea possibly.....the doing the diagnostics on the WD drive. I know the Seagate isn't the problem because it's fairly new and this was happening before I bought it. Also I'm sure the cable is fine because it was doing this same thing with my other computer in which I was using different cables. I don't recall if I did a diagnostic on my WD though. In my other computer, in which this first happened, I had an IBM "Deathstar", but I don't think I've tested my WD. Good idea, I'll try that because I think I had this WD when this first began. I'll report back as soon as I've tested it.

Oh and the Blue screening....sorry, I don't think I made myself clear. This is a BSOD, but just a blue screen before it shuts down.

 

[Sithtiger]

I still need to run the extended test, but that will take hours so I'm gonna do it later, but the quick test said is passed without any event and I'm thinking the extended test will show the same thing too. You don't think my defragger would be causing damage to the file system do you? Like I said earlier, I use Diskeeper 10, which is supposed to be the best, or at least one of the best disk defraggers. Before that I was using Diskeeper 9. It's just that, to me this looks like it has something to do with the file system and because Diskeeper does resort files and directory structures, I wonder if somehow it's borking it up.

One other thing is that, once I run a program, then close it and then run it again, it runs much faster....like it's supposed to since it's in memory likely. The first time though takes much longer of course but much too long than it should and like I said before, the HD light is almost constantly on. This is just weird. Oh and then some programs I have just don't work anymore either when they used to for no apparent reason. For example, I use Snagit....it's a app that's used for taking screenshots. Well I had version 7 and I upgraded to version 8. Well for some reason version 8 locked up. So I tried to go back to version 7 and I can't get either one to work. I've used registry cleaners (like jv PowerTools and Registry Repair) to see and fix the problem and while that usually works on 99% of programs, it won't work here. There is another program I have that's done the same thing and I don't know why. Oh and just to clarify, I have a legal copy of WinXP Pro w/SP2 already inside it. I say this because I might ask a person if they were using a legal copy since I could say a warez version might cause problems like this, but this is definitely not the case here.

 

[Sithtiger]

After looking at the HD light and loading new programs, the HD definitely looks like it hangs a few moments before it loads the program. Now I want to know why it's doing this and what's causing it. Any idea as to what would make a HD hang and why?