Slow Computer After Format

[commander10101]

Hey guys, before I format my PC, I used to run games and surf the internet with ease. After I format my PC, everything in general seems to be slower than usual when I am surfing the internet, watching videos and playing games.

I have tried updating all my drivers, Malwarebytes to scan for any viruses and formatting the PC again but I just can't seem to find a solution for it. I have tried looking online for a solution but everywhere I look, they have the same answer or maybe not well explained.

I will include my PC specifications below, I am not 100% what else to include so I hope this isn't enough:

Windows 8
Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-3450 CPU @ 3.10GHz (x4)
6.00 GB (5.90 GB usable)
64-bit Operating System, x64 based processor
NVIDIA GeForce GT 640

If I have missed anything out, please let me know but I am not a technical type of person so please go easy on me

 

[Tcinator]

When you say format, do you mean a fresh install from a system builder disk? or the restore from the manufacturer? or did you use the format/reinstall from windows 8 itself?

 

[commander10101]

I used the format feature within Windows 8 itself. I went to the Windows settings, clicked Change PC settings and clicked general. From there I clicked the option that said Remove everything and reinstall Windows.

 

[Tcinator]

Okay, so.. sometimes depending on the manufacturer, they may not enable this feature properly. Basically, if they don't specifically add support for this feature, you will get an empty install of windows, leaving it up to windows update to find drivers and software, what is the brand? and, when you first hit the start screen, were there extra apps installed? extra programs other than base windows stuff? if I know the brand I can tell you something to specifically look for. So, if this is the case, we would need to get you to grab some necessary drivers to help improve performance..how much slower is it? 20%, 50%?

 

[commander10101]

It is Dell/Alienware (I know it is bad and I do regret it but I didn't want to risk a custom built PC as I wasn't sure what it was like at the time), the standard Windows Apps were installed but nothing extra that I can find. The PC is averagely 40%-50% slower than usual. I also noticed when I haven't got much open, a lot of my CPU and memory is being used, is this normal or? http://i.imgur.com/51yVW1D.png Sometimes when I am running simple games, the memory would go up to around 70%-80% which I think is not normal at all.

 

[swifty_morgan]

try another reformat. something isn't right.............. did you try to keep all the old files when you did it? or a complete new reformat? and did you go to windows updates over and over and over again or did you just throw a game on and play?...........

 

[Tcinator]

okay. so dell is good with the windows 8 format. and there is nothing wrong with getting an dell/alienware. they are a great company and their consumer support is amazing. I see dell backup running, so all your drivers should be there. are you on a solid state? and 70-80% ram for 6GB fully loaded (game and maybe chrome or some other programs in the background) is expected. Windows 8 is very good at ram management. if there is more available, it will use it intelligently.

 

[commander10101]

I already format it twice and I don't think another format is just going to fix it out of nowhere. I did a complete new reformat with absolutely nothing on there. I had to download a Steam game and browse the internet to test if it made it any better but it didn't but before that, I did make sure that everything was up to date before continuing.

 

[Tcinator]

EDIT: nevermind just read your latest post commander
[strike]

try another reformat. something isn't right.............. did you try to keep all the old files when you did it? or a complete new reformat? and did you go to windows updates over and over and over again or did you just throw a game on and play?...........

I would say another format while keeping nothing is a route to consider. [/strike]

 

[commander10101]

okay. so dell is good with the windows 8 format. and there is nothing wrong with getting an dell/alienware. they are a great company and their consumer support is amazing. I see dell backup running, so all your drivers should be there. are you on a solid state? and 70-80% ram for 6GB fully loaded (game and maybe chrome or some other programs in the background) is expected. Windows 8 is very good at ram management. if there is more available, it will use it intelligently.

What do you mean by solid state? Also only Chrome, Spotify and one other program is running currently.

 

[swifty_morgan]

there's 2 of your problems.............. don't cross my stuff out. really insulting.

 

[Tcinator]

there's 2 of your problems.............. don't cross my stuff out. really insulting.

I crossed out my quote of you because by the time I posted the first time, commander replied to yours saying he had attempted twice already. read what I crossed out that I said under my quote of you.
also read the EDIT: at the top...

 

[commander10101]

I already format it twice and I don't think another format is just going to fix it out of nowhere. I did a complete new reformat with absolutely nothing on there. I had to download a Steam game and browse the internet to test if it made it any better but it didn't but before that, I did make sure that everything was up to date before continuing.

there's 2 of your problems.............. don't cross my stuff out. really insulting.

There was my reply if you think it helps my solution in anyway. I don't see how a format will fix anything as I said I have done twice already.

 

[swifty_morgan]

do this. reset cmos. maybe the ram timings and or voltages got screwed up somewhere along the lines.

 

[Tcinator]

What do you mean by solid state? Also only Chrome, Spotify and one other program is running currently.

Its a type of hard drive that can sometimes be susceptible to performance loss if the allocation size or imaging is done improperly. But I do not believe this is the issue. boot the computer continually pressing F12. when the boot options appear go to diagnostics. let that boot and run. when complete, if all passes, wait a moment and toggle the thorough mode radial at the bottom right. then start the hard drive diagnostic. You never said why you formatted in the first place...

 

[swifty_morgan]

let's try and figure out the problem before buying a ssd.

 

[commander10101]

do this. reset cmos. maybe the ram timings and or voltages got screwed up somewhere along the lines.

How can I do this, I am not a technical person as I said above Also how might I find if the voltages or RAM timings got messed up?

(I messed up the Quote, my bad)
Its a type of hard drive that can sometimes be susceptible to performance loss if the allocation size or imaging is done improperly. But I do not believe this is the issue. boot the computer continually pressing F12. when the boot options appear go to diagnostics. let that boot and run. when complete, if all passes, wait a moment and toggle the thorough mode radial at the bottom right. then start the hard drive diagnostic. You never said why you formatted in the first place...[/quotemsg]


I updated my BIOS (After the error happened thinking this would fix it) and when I load up my PC, I get a black screen until the login screen comes on. I am not sure how to navigate through the BIOS as I cannot see anything. I format my PC because I had loads of stuff on my computer and I just wanted to format it as I didn't need everything, it was easier than going through each and every file at the time.

 

[Tcinator]

I would run the diagnostics, it is very easy to do. and to reset the cmos, hit f12 when you power the machine on until you get to a black screen with writing. this is the same screen the options for the diagnostics are. go to the option to enter "Setup" and once in there, just hit F10 and select load defaults. save and restart.

 

[commander10101]

I would run the diagnostics, it is very easy to do. and to reset the cmos, hit f12 when you power the machine on until you get to a black screen with writing. this is the same screen the options for the diagnostics are. go to the option to enter "Setup" and once in there, just hit F10 and select load defaults. save and restart.

Sorry but as I said above, I updated my BIOS and because of that, I get a black screen (With nothing on it) until I get to the login screen. I have no idea where to navigate or if there was a way to downgrade to my previous BIOS I used to have.

 

[swifty_morgan]

run speccy. ( google that ) find out what motherboard you have. list it. ......... unless you already know. if so, provide link.

 

[Tcinator]

I would run the diagnostics, it is very easy to do. and to reset the cmos, hit f12 when you power the machine on until you get to a black screen with writing. this is the same screen the options for the diagnostics are. go to the option to enter "Setup" and once in there, just hit F10 and select load defaults. save and restart.

Sorry but as I said above, I updated my BIOS and because of that, I get a black screen (With nothing on it) until I get to the login screen. I have no idea where to navigate or if there was a way to downgrade to my previous BIOS I used to have.

ok.. so fast boot is on. HOLD the F12 key before turning on the computer... regardless of bios version, to get to dell diags and boot menu, the F12 key works just fine.

 

[Tcinator]

let's try and figure out the problem before buying a ssd.

no one ever said anything about buying an SSD?
my reason for asking is in the post right above your post.

 

[commander10101]

Ok I downloaded speccy and got this when I tried to run it http://i.imgur.com/Q7nZzjP.png

I did try something else and I got the following, I am not sure if any of them are the Motherboard though:
Alienware Alienware X51 00
Board: Alienware 06G6JW A00
UEFI: Alienware A14

 

[Tcinator]

Ok so the 2 options are either a failing hardware component or a bad flash of the bios. Did you say the issues were occurring before you flashed it? and.. how are you shutting down the laptop? from a cold boot you should see the alien head image flash for a second

 

[commander10101]

Ok so the 2 options are either a failing hardware component or a bad flash of the bios. Did you say the issues were occurring before you flashed it? and.. how are you shutting down the laptop? from a cold boot you should see the alien head image flash for a second

When I tried to push F12 as the computer was turning on, just a black screen, left it for 5 minutes so I had to force shut it down. How will I be able to tell if it is a failing component or even better, which one? The issue happened after I format it. I shutdown my computer normally as I click the shutdown button from the start menu.