Computer boots fine, Slows to a crawl within 10 minutes...

[PDXMicro]

Hey all,

So I recently replaced a motherboard in this computer and ended up performing a reformat at the same time. Everything went as planned up until the very last 2 Microsoft Updates. After those (at least it seems that way), the computer would boot up fine, work fine for 1-2 minutes or so, then slow to a crawl. It's a Core 2 Duo with 2GB of RAM. To give you an idea of how slow this thing becomes, right clicking on "My Computer" would take 5-10 seconds on average to show the menu. Clicking on "Properties" would take about a minute if not longer.

The odd thing is it boots up completely fine. I started pulling cards (PCI and AGP) until they were all gone thinking it may have been some type of conflict (he has two video cards and two LAN cards), but to no avail. I replaced the hard drive SATA cable and the problem is still there. I read somewhere that this was known to happen with shorted front USB ports/connections and disconnecting the front USB cables fixed their problem - not in my situation...

Another odd thing: The computer would also "flip a switch" and be perfectly fine again (fast) for a little while, only to eventually slow down to a crawl again. At one point, it was going fast for such a long time that I thought some kind of miracle happened and it fixed itself. I ran a BurnInTest on everything for 30 minutes with no errors. Chalked it up as being resolved only to have it randomly start up again.

I reflashed the BIOS to the newest edition and installed all the newest drivers and the problem is still there. Reseated the memory - problem still there. Reseated the memory in a different slot - problem still there. Replaced the power supply - no help. I burned an Ubuntu Live CD and booted from that - everything seemed like it was running fine. As soon as I booted back into Winblows, it started right back up again. I'm not loading up any specific programs during the time it starts to bog down, nor is the CPU usage high. CPU usage ramains 0-2%, 4% tops while the computer is simply slow to respond.

If you missed it before, this is a clean install (legitimate version BTW). I'm sure now that this is most likely a software/driver problem because the computer worked fine under Ubuntu. I'm thinking of doing the reinstall again, but just wanted to see if anyone else has had this happen before or have any recommendations?

Thanks!

 

[iisjman07]

Check out what is using all the CPU in task manager

 

[NickCat11]

How are your temperatures? Does it perform the same way in safe mode?

 

[PDXMicro]

Check out what is using all the CPU in task manager

CPU is not being utilized at all, that's why this has me stumped

 

[PDXMicro]

How are your temperatures? Does it perform the same way in safe mode?

Temps are fine (through BIOS), didn't try safe mode - although something similar to it. I turned diagnostics mode on in XP (under msconfig) which disables all services and startup programs and it seemed like it ran fine. I only messed around in diagnostics mode for about 10 minutes or so though. For those 10 minutes, it was working fine - which is actually better then the 2 minutes I end up getting on a regular startup. The Ubuntu Live CD also ran fine with no issues... I'm doing a reformat again now, I just hope this doesn't pop back up again and might have been a freak software or driver issue...?

 

[NickCat11]

If it ran fine in diagnostics mode then that really narrows it down, you really didn't need to reformat because you may just end up with the same problem. It's most likely a driver issue of some sort. Keep the thread updated and let us know if you experience the same problem once you're done reformatting.

 

[studiot]

I only messed around in diagnostics mode for about 10 minutes

The point of diagnostics mode is to do diagnostics.

This is the exact situation it was meant for, reintroduce drivers until you find the culprit. Can take a long time though.

What happened to need a new mainboard on a machine new enough to be dual core?

 

[bagellad]

how is the memory usage on task manager? I got a machine where avg idprotection ends up taking up all the memory due to a memory leak after running 3-4 days. Did you load any customer files back on?

 

[ComputerRepairStpete]

Have you tried restoring your computer If not do so and still If it doesnt work then try disk defragmentar I think this might solve your problem.

 

[Rodel]

do you have a spare HD? have you tried it with the same motherboard...?

 

[Methical]

try disk defragmentar I think this might solve your problem.

It shouldn't be fragmented if its a fresh install .

@OP:
If diagnostics mode works fine; I'm sure it would be a driver issue.

I posted a thread the other day on devicedoctor.com . Freeware. Checks for latest drivers and downloads them (maybe an updated driver would solve your issue?). Have to manual install though. Have not checked the license to see if its free for commercial use.

Let us know how you get on.

 

[DanF]

Did you try to remove the 2 installed updates you've mentioned?
Check for non-microsoft services... and the usual stuff.

 

[NickCat11]

Have you tried restoring your computer If not do so and still If it doesnt work then try disk defragmentar I think this might solve your problem.

Like Menaice said, this will in no way help resolve the problem, it's a fresh install. Since the pc worked fine in diagnostics mode, I would bet the bank it's a driver issue.

do you have a spare HD? have you tried it with the same motherboard...?

You're missing the point here, the computer works fine in diagnostics mode. This is like a "super clue". Replacing the hard drive is not the way to attack this specific problem.

 

[PDXMicro]

The point of diagnostics mode is to do diagnostics.

This is the exact situation it was meant for, reintroduce drivers until you find the culprit. Can take a long time though.

What happened to need a new mainboard on a machine new enough to be dual core?

I was only in diagnostics mode for a little while because I was trying to duplicate the exact issue it was having in regular startup (slowing to a crawl with-in 2 minutes), since it didn't happen there, I decided to try Ubuntu Live CD and found that it wasn't happening there either... The MB was replaced because it was obviously bad. Possibly by a power spike? We also decided to replace his no-named brand power supply with one of better quality at the same time. Ever since the new board and power supply were installed, this issue has been going on.

 

[PDXMicro]

how is the memory usage on task manager? I got a machine where avg idprotection ends up taking up all the memory due to a memory leak after running 3-4 days. Did you load any customer files back on?

Memory usage is fine, shows 1.5 gigs available. Is it normal for the page file to be used when you have 1.5gigs available RAM?

 

[PDXMicro]

Have you tried restoring your computer If not do so and still If it doesnt work then try disk defragmentar I think this might solve your problem.

Did you even read my post?

 

[PDXMicro]

do you have a spare HD? have you tried it with the same motherboard...?

That is one thing I haven't tried yet... I figured since the computer was working fine in Diagnostics Mode and when booting through Ubuntu Live CD, it must be a driver/software issue. That's why I simply did another reformat.. So here's the new info:

I performed another reformat, this time only installing SP2 and SP3. I turned off automatic updates and the computer ran fine installing everything else. I stress tested everything for 2 hours with no hickups. The customer takes the computer and plugs his speakers in and the computer immediately froze up. He unplugged the speakers, restarted, and plugged the speakers back in and it worked flawlessly. 3 hours later, the computer slowed down to a crawl again (for no apparent reason). The computer even does it when he's not sitting there. He would leave the computer on overnight, get on it in the morning and as soon as he gets on, the computer is bogged. Same situation as before... Very low CPU usage and plenty of memory available. This is all happening with the newest drivers and BIOS firmware installed also...


Ever since the fresh install, it seems as though it's working fine for 2-3 hours before it happens now (but the fact is, it's still happening)... This has been one serious nightmare.............

 

[NickCat11]

That is one thing I haven't tried yet... Is it normal for HD's to act this way when they're starting to go bad?

Replacing the hard drive isn't going to do a thing for you. If the computer runs fine in diagnostic mode then like mentioned before it's most likely a driver issue or software related.

 

[Rodel]

@pdx
as i have experienced...once..but i'm sure you can figure that out...trust in your instinct...you can do it...!
have you enable the smart in the bios and check if your HD is ok...? because sometimes it will display a message ".....BAD..BACK-UP..REPLACE..." if not, could you try it...? don't give up, it's too early...if it not, try to use a spare hd...but don't let the client buy first until you figure it out... God bless...

 

[NickCat11]

I performed another reformat, this time only installing SP2 and SP3. I turned off automatic updates and the computer ran fine installing everything else. I stress tested everything for 2 hours with no hickups. The customer takes the computer and plugs his speakers in and the computer immediately froze up. He unplugged the speakers, restarted, and plugged the speakers back in and it worked flawlessly. 3 hours later, the computer slowed down to a crawl again (for no apparent reason). The computer even does it when he's not sitting there. He would leave the computer on overnight, get on it in the morning and as soon as he gets on, the computer is bogged. Same situation as before... Very low CPU usage and plenty of memory available. This is all happening with the newest drivers and BIOS firmware installed also...

Did these symptoms just start? You didn't mention anything about speakers in your initial post.