Problem with Windows XP system

[MGMorden]

OK, my system is lagging in areas where it shouldn't be (and it's persisted after a complete reinstall). I've got an AMD XP2100, 512mb DDR ram, an Aopen AK75 mobo, and 4 hard drives which come up to 277GB of storage.

In certain places the system will just pause, or take WAY too long to do what it has to do . For example, when it hits the Windows XP splash screen at bootup, the screen will show with a grey tint for 5 or 6 seconds before the proress ticker even starts moving. Then after it finishes the screen will go place for another 7 or 8 seconds before anything appears (on other systems the transition from splash screen to at least the background is instantaneous). Then when doing other things in Windows the system will just pause for too long. For instance, whenver I use ANY Installshield installer, it will show the initial loading box and go all the way up to 100%, then it will wait anywhere from 30 seconds to 1 minute before going from the 100% box to showing the installer. The system doesn't seem to be slow in general use, but just during certain things it's almost as if it stops, takes a break, and then goes again later. Anybody got any ideas?

 

[jhbball]

Well, when I've noticed this symptoms on my system, it's always one of two things.

a) video driver isn't installed ( between upgrading to the next driver for example)


or


b) the hard drive master/slave setting isn't set correctly for the boot drive.


I'm assuming a) is taken care of. But go ahead and check out your master/slave settings on your harddrives are correct. Also, avoid using the 'cable select' jumper on your drives, i hear that can slow performance.


Hope this helps! Anyone feel free to add this or correct me

 

[MGMorden]

Video drivers are good, as are all the other drivers (just reinstalled and I made sure I installed all the drivers).

Master/slave settings appear to be good. The primary drive (60gb) is on it's own channel (the mobo channel). I've a CDRW (Master) and DVD (slave) on the 2nd mobo channel. I've got an 80gb (master) and a 120gb (slave) on channel 1 of a Promise Ultra66 card, and a 17gb master by itself on channel 2 of the promise. I was thinking though: could this be a power supply issue? I've got a 500w, but it's a cheapy (PowerMagic) and this system is pretty loaded down. I always thought a PS problem would manifest itself through instability though, not through sluggish performance.

 

[jvang125]

Have you checked if your Promise ide controller card supports HD size that large (120g)? also since it's only a ATA66 controller card, it will be a little slower than using ATA100.

 

[rmrf]

I'd like to know what the outcome of this is. I am having the exact same problems with my system.

AMD XP2000+
1GB DDR
CD R/W
CD
ZIP
2 - 60GB HDD's
Nvidia Ti4600 128MB video card
Promise controller ATA100 - running zip drive

to put my 2 cents in, I almost want to say that the raid controller has something to do with it. I haven't figured it out for myselft yet.

 

[MGMorden]

Originally posted by: jvang125
Have you checked if your Promise ide controller card supports HD size that large (120g)? also since it's only a ATA66 controller card, it will be a little slower than using ATA100.

The controller supports up to that size. I know that ATA66 will be marginally slower than ATA100 (though not much), but it's not like the system is slowed down overall, it's just like it hits certain points where it basically will stop for an unaturally long amount of time, and then go again.

rmrf: Just out of curiosity, what type of mobo do you have in your system?

 

[rmrf]

it's an FIC, can't quite recall the exact specs - if I remember, I'll check when I get home from work.

 

[SpeedFreak03]

In my system (a pentium 3 500, intel mobo, promise ultra ata66 pci card(not raid), and a western digital 80GB SE, 7200RPM, ATA100, 8MB cache), my promise card says its a 10,xxxMB drive. Now, windows, linux, and everything else recognizes the 80GB, and i dont have any performance problems (other than my computer being an old pos). That might have something to do with your problem. BTW, my promise card came out of an old Gateway Performance 500 (so did my processor). Good luck!

 

[rmrf]

anyone figure this problem out yet, bump?

 

[Alex]

nope... but im curious too

i have a real similar rig, xp2100, 512pc2700, wd special edition and its usually fast but for some things its just ridiculously slow, specially the time between showing the desktop and actually being able to click the startmenu when booting...

this pissed me off even more cuz im at a friends place and she has a p4 1.7 256 ram (shared with video card lol) and as soon as the start menu button is visible it is usable, and she has like 7 things in her startup folder, i have 1. :|

 

[MGMorden]

Well, just for kicks I'm replacing my power supply and motherboard (I needed to replace the PS anyway as it was crap, and I'm going to an Nforce2 Ultra 400 chipset mobo, The Abit NF7-S). I don't know if it'll solve anything, but I'll report my findings.

I do know though, that it's not the Promise card. After removing the card and unplugging all the drives attached to it, the same behaviour still persists.

 

[rmrf]

did it work? bump