homedaleid :
Not sure if it is the CPU or what. This computer performs very slowly and herky-jerky. It runs and pauses and runs and pauses constantly. Most evident during a scan of the system. It is only 7 months old but has been doing it since it was brand new. It is like the architecture gets plugged up and has to pause and then start again. Like a clogged pipe.
Hello, homedaleid.
It's almost 3yrs down the line... What did you do, eventually, to address your issue?
I will take a little time to explore possibilities, FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHER READERS LOOKING FOR SIMILAR SOLUTIONS, if this does not help you any more. (Personally, I'm still running an A8-6410 system quite well!)
Your description isn't too detailed, but it can be common to find system slow-down under scanning load, esp if there is less system memory, and depending on the scanner settings. (Early A8-6410 systems came with only 2Gb RAM.)
In addition, the Lenovo Solution Center (LSC) software, when it does a routine SYSTEM scan, performs certain tasks which are purposely computationally-intense, and during this time it is inadvisable to depend on smooth system performance. If you don't need the scan to run, you can close it.
*** TASK MANAGER ***
One very useful way to "check on" or "monitor" what might be contributing to slow system, is to run the TASK MANAGER, built-in to Windows. Hold CTRL+SHIFT and press the ESC key.
Task Manager has several tabs.
Firstly, select the SECOND TAB, labelled "Performance". You should see 1 larger graph in the main window, and 4 smaller graphs to the left. Just note if any of the graphs are registering near-100% levels - note which subsystem this is: CPU, Memory, Disk (I/O), or Wi-Fi (but this last has less to do with system performance itself, unless you are running eg. cloud-based applications or remote desktop or similar; basically, if you require the net via WiFi for critical work).
Having noted the "busiest" (near-100% utilisation) subsystem, switch to the FIRST TAB, labelled "Processes".
Along the TOP ROW of this LIVE updated table (ie below the Tabs) are Column Headings.
CLICK the Column Heading related to the "busiest" subsystem (once, or twice, if needed) in order to display tthe table values in descending order of value.
e.g. if the CPU graph was registering nearest 100% usage on the Performance tab, click the "CPU" column in this Processes tab.
Make a note of the TOP 1, or 2, or few programs (apps) which are showing the highest percentages. Some of these, you may have chosen to launch explicitly, yourself. Some of them, will be System Resources started by Windows.
(You can see this explicitly separated by clicking on the column header for the first column, "Name" -- the display will SPLIT to show "Apps" and "Background Processes".)
*** PROGRAMS (APPS) & SYSTEM (BACKGROUND) PROCESSES ***
IF ANY of these top-most processes (incl apps) are UNFAMILIAR to you, or look suspicious in any way, NOTE THEIR NAMES as displayed, then take a minute or two to Google search these names. Do not settle on single-listing results -- you want, preferably, to see many different sites listed with some comment about the process. That is to say, many sites means it is "better known" generally. Take your pick, visit a site (or two) to learn more about that process.
*** BLOATWARE, MALWARE, COMPUTER VIRUSES ***
You MAY discover that it is BloatWare - additional software pre-installed into the system to offer additional benefits to end users, but not really of much use to most people - and it is using valuable limited resources.
Or if it is MALWARE, then hopefully you already have a program installed to address that.
((If not, I recommend MALWAREBYTES.))
In the first instance, Right-Clicking on any "offending" processes will give you a drop-down menu including the option to "End task".
Select this to shut down the offending process, and free up its used resources.
(IF you switch back to the Performance tab, you should see the relevant graph reduced by the relevant amount.)
NOTE that SOME processes RESIST being shut down -- either they reappear, or do not End even when commanded.
These MAY be virus related, and you'd be advised to run an ANTIVIRUS program at your earliest convenience, and either sit and monitor it, or leave and come back in several minutes' time.
((There are MANY GOOD ANTIVIRUS programs out there; many are also FREE, missing only a few "premium" features which many users often opt to pay for.. but it is not necessary, with most Free AV, which will still remove viruses (virii?!?). ONE TO AVOID LiKE The PLAGUE :: NORTON ANTIVIRUS! It is a MEMORY HOG and has a horrible UN-installer that leaves extra JUNK on your hard drive!!))
Another consideration:
IF your system is "running slow", be sure to DEFRAG your hard drive at regular intervals.
Fragmented files cause file loading times to increase, since data is spread across separate data storage zones. This simple "housekeeping" task can help keep systems running with fewer problems in general.
As to your old primary problem, homedaleid,
.. be aware, too, that sometimes an automated or pre-scheduled program might "load behind" whatever other work you are doing in the foreground (The Lenovo Solution Centre is guilty of this, and it runs intensive system tests!), which could also go some way to explaining slow performance which *seems* inexplicable.
😉
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