Re: BIOS - COULD THERE A PROBLEM WITH MY PC'S BIOS?

Hello Ken, thank you for your time and very helpful advice. Following is some
info about my computer. Hope it helps you help me.

System Information report written at: 09/25/07 23:58:05
System Name:
[System Summary]

Item Value
OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name
System Manufacturer System Manufacturer
System Model System Name
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 9 GenuineIntel ~3000 Mhz
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 9 GenuineIntel ~3000 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Award Software, Inc. ASUS P4S800 ACPI BIOS Revision 1004,
09.Jul.03
SMBIOS Version 2.3
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume2
Locale Australia
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.2180
(xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158)"
User Name \User
Time Zone AUS Eastern Standard Time
Total Physical Memory 512.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 68.43 MB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 1.22 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

Nero Info tool says that the configuration Is: Primary IDE Channel with a
Master - DMA off, Slave DMA on, Secondary IDE channel with a Master DMA on,
Autorun on, Slave DMA on, autorun on, and SiS OCI to USB Enhanced Host
controller(+ my all in one printer scanner copier's name) with no referrence
to DMA.
Prim IDE
Master : WDC WD800BB-00JHC0
DMA OFF
Slave ST3120022A
DMA on
Sec IDE
Master - _NEC DVD_RW ND-1300A
DMA on
Autorun on
Slave - HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-H10N
DMA on
Autorun on
SIS PCI to USB Enhanced Host Controller
HP PSC 2355 USB Device


Disk 0 = E: NTFS Capacity 74.52GB – 61.26 GB Free Space = 82% Free Space =
Partition Basic Healthy (Active)
The above disk IS the D: drive that I have put in . It shows as E: when I am
logged into the C: (original) drive
Disk 1 = C: NTFS capacity 112 GB – 63.95GB free space = 57% free space =
Partition Basic, Healthy (System)
Disk 3 – removable G:
Cd – rom 0 – DVD (D:)
CD – rom 1 – DVD (F:)


I have had the PC for about 4 years and knew less then then now about
anything computer wise so I guess i have slowly messed it up to get it to
this point.

I have learnt a little bit about maintaining so I have rum disc clean up a
couple of times since I found out about it, I defrag every 3/4 months, I
clean IE temporary files, cookies, history almost daily.
I have hibernation turned off on both drives
I run the trendmicro house call scan and the windows live One care scan
about once a month.
I have automatic updates turned on
I have trend micro PC-cillin internet security 2007 with several daily
updated, full scan per week


I first noticed the PC being slow when I installed Norton internet security
a couple of years ago. Had a lot of troubles with it and also with spybot
search & destroy. at that time i also had the lovasoft adware freeware
installed.
Because i was having so many warnings and was having so much trouble getting
Norton to work I uninstalled it and tried the Windows live One care trial
with windows defender at the same time. As far as I can remember there were a
few conflicts and in the mean time the WLOC trial was over and I was not able
to purchase it because I live in Australia.
I thought I had too much stuff in the PC so I uninstalled the lot of them as
well as a lot of my own programs and went back to PC-Cillin which originaly
came with the computer.

the PC kept going slower and slower. my dvd burner did not work and i did
not know how to back up, but read about it and ended up installing Windows
backup Utility and used a few times but sometimes I could not burn to disc.
I went to the repair shop and since could not be responsible for backing up
my data they told me the best thing to do would be to install another
internal hard drive and leave the C: drive as it was. so I got them to do
that. they intalled/reinstalled Windows XP home about a year ago but there
was no improvement and in fact things have gotten a lot worth since then.

In view of all this I started searching for information to help myself FIX
my computer and came across this forum decided to ask some question and let
me tell you, i am impressed, I have learnt a fair bit form the info here.

I have had several sugestions that I should format both disks, but I agree
entirely when you say that I should first figure out what is causing the
problem in the first place.

Now, I have made matters a lot worse by copying things in an effort to BACK
UP.
after searching help some more I have bought an external drive for backing
up and did a full back up with WBUp utility. But I think I went the opposite
extreme. TOO MUCH back up if that is possible. I realise now I did several
very silly things in my ignorance. Back ups did not work properply,
copy/paste did not work properly, File transfer wizard failed miserably and
to top it all up i accidentally CUT/PASTE some files. I do have enough to get
me out of trouble I think but it will be a major job.
Major mess. Will require a major clean up, irealise that.
Still need to do something about the speed anyway.

I can boot from either drive.

I do have my WPX cd and key along with motherboard cd, drivers cd but am
not sure about key for these ones, I do not think I got them with the pc. I
have all my programs cds and keys and my printer, camera, broadband too.

As to customizing, well, it should be a little easier this time and it is
something I can live with, I guess.

What I really want is to have a PC that works as normaly as possible. At the
moment it is just a mightmare., and I realy want to avoid repeating past
mistakes.

As for the BIOS, it was just a thought, mine is probably just fine but I
will check manufacturer's site and shall not FLASH lightly.

Anyway, my atart time varies from 15 minutes and can go up to about
45minutes sometimes.
Shut down is not as bad but I always have to end one NON RESPONDING program
or another. In betweer start and shut down, sometimes it can go very slow -
cpu usage gets up to 100% especialy if updates are taking place. the mouse
pointer get hard to move and at time i click the mouse and it does not
actually register that I have clicked something.

I have a DSL 1500kps connection that also seams as slow as dial up
sometimes, not always.
I do not notice anything in particular that stands out apart form when the
updates are dowloading or a scan is running. Btu then again my knowledge is
limited and I might notice what is obvious to others.
I know there are too many processess running but I do not know what
can/cannot be stopped...
As for start up, that is just a repeat of everything else, too many things
there I think and not enough know how to find the info and change certain
settings.

To cut a long story short, You probaably NEVER saw a bigger mess.

Hope I have given you usefull information to HELP ME!...
I think I need to add some memory too. Please advise best way to go. I have
been getting different opinions too in that regard.

Thank you again. I anxiouly await your reply.
IH
.

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