Re: performance issues

Tech-Archive recommends: Fix windows errors by optimizing your registry

From: Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\) (user_at_#notme.com)
Date: 05/17/04 

Date: Sun, 16 May 2004 17:23:24 -0700

Even though you've apparently reformatted and started over a few times, if
you've restored your backup, reinstalled anything, there's always the
possibility you've picked up a virus or have some malware on your system.

First, be sure your antivirus software has the latest definitions and run a
virus scan.

Second, download, install and run Ad Aware:
www.lavasoftusa.com

I don't know if you've already done this but since you suspected you might
have issues with your hard drive, go to the hard drive manufacturer's
website, download their disk tools, note the information about creating a
boot floppy with their tools, boot and run their diagnostic. NOTE: you
should do this even if you've run chkdsk as that utility is not as thorough
as the manufacturer's diagnostics which are designed to pick up specific
issues as well as work with various self monitoring features of many of
today's hard drives.

If your hard drive is find and if your system is clear of viruses, open
Control Panel, open System, go to
the Advanced tab, click Settings under Startup and Recovery, remove the
check from "Automatically Restart" under System Failure. This will cause
the system to blue screen instead of restarting on errors and the
information on the blue screen may give a clue as to the source of the
issue.

Open Control Panel, open Administrative Tools, open Event Viewer, look for
errors corresponding to the crash, double click the error, the information
contained within may give a clue as to the
source of the problem. If you don't understand the information inside, the
third button down in that dialog box will copy the information,
you can then paste it into a message and post it here and maybe we can
figure out what is going on.

Assuming you have an XP CD and not a recovery CD, place the XP CD in the
drive, when the setup screen appears, select "Check System Compatibility,"
the report it generates may point to problem hardware or software on your
system. If you do not have an XP CD, you can download this application
known as the Upgrade Advisor from the following site:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/upgrading/advisor.asp
Note: If you have access to a broadband connection it might be best to
download using that as this is a rather large download.

Check for the latest drivers for your hardware, especially your graphics
card and soundcard and all peripherals connected to your system. Do not use
Windows Update for this, go to the device manufacturer's web sites and if
you install updated drivers, ignore the message about drivers being unsigned
by Microsoft. *Before installing any drivers, be sure you are well backed
up and it's probably a good idea to manually create a restore point in
System Restore in case you have problems as a result of the driver update
and note, System Restore is not a substitute for a backup. Start\All
Programs\Accessories\System Tools\System Restore 

-- 
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
"Jamie" <dvtjht@adelphia.net> wrote in message 
news:db2e01c43ba0$8c9e0970$a401280a@phx.gbl...
>A few weeks ago my computer suddenly decided that it did
> not have a hard drive.  I have been working diligently ever
> since trying to get it back up to speed.  After
> reformatting twice,  repairing and reinstalling windows xp
> several times, increasing to twice the amount of memory,
> and running countless system diagnostics and performance
> tests my computer is still EXTREMELY SLOW.
>
>  From what I can gather with all the tests I've run, I've
> got something called a "disk bottleneck."  Something about
> not having enough cache, too small of a paging file,
> excessive paging hogging up memory resources, a program
> running that has not dumped memory and released cache (or
> something like that????  it's been too much to try to
> understand).  When I view the performance chart, it shows
> every click of the mouse causes the system's resources to
> be used up to the max.
>
> I have tried everything I know of to improve my system
> configuration (including the reformatting and starting from
> scratch twice).  Could someone PLEASE PLEASE tell me how to
> go into the system files and make adjustments to improve
> performance (changing amount of available memory,
> increasing paging file size, and/or any other way to
> "unbottleneck" my system?  Any help would be appreciated!!!!
>
> Thanks!!!!  :)
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