time for a new hdd?

[dd_viper]

i was wondering if this problem that im having relates to the hdd. i start up windows and i can get into the welcome screen and then into the desktop in a matter of seconds, but then it takes over 4-5 min to load up everything after i have an image of the desktop. i have an ibm stock 80 gig hdd so i was wondering if it was just the hdd that was causing the slowdown, or i have another serious problem.

 

[silverpig]

Probably not serious. Get a virus scanner and spyware/adware scanners. That's probably what your problem is.

<ctrl> <alt> <del> and look at the process list. If it's really long, that's your problem.

s signature has been formatted to fit your scr

 

[dd_viper]

its not virus's or spyware i have progs for both. my process list is at 38 with most of the processes being system as the user name. i have taken a lot of progs off the startup list using "msconfig".

i was thinking its a cheap 80 gig hdd. only 2 megs of cache or somthing like that. i have seen some hdds that can start up windows in a matter of seconds and have enormous transfer speeds. thats my reasoning on why the startup is so slow.


nvm i have confirmed that it is an IDE 2 mb cache hdd. are any ide hdds any good? i have an intel 865GRH mobo, can i use any other kind of connection besides ide?

 

[Mr5oh]

Is this a fresh install of Windows? You may want to try this first. I assume you are still using that IBM PC? Anyways, the 80 gig 2 MB of cache, should give you decent performance, I used an old 7200 RPM 80 gig 2 MB cache for quite a while, in fact I still use it as a backup drive for data.

Did the machine do this always, or did it start this more recently?

My Desktop: <A HREF="http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc.html" target="_new">http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc.html</A>

 

[dd_viper]

this has always happened. since the first day i got it, it had a terrible startup time. up to 5 min now

 

[Crashman]

The time consumed is probably relative to all those extra processes starting. You should try disabling some of them.

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[dd_viper]

i dont know which processes to disable. and i dont wanna disable one that is important to startup.

 

[khha4113]

Run <b>msconfig</b>, click on <b>Services</b> tab, check <b>Hide All Microsoft services</b> (most of them are essential anyway). It would leave 3rd party services listed, and some of them might be able to disable.

Good or Bad have no meaning at all, depends on what your point of view is.

 

[Clob]

msconfig is my friend... Love starting up with 93mb.. super fast.

"If youre paddling upstream in a canoe and a
wheel falls off, how many pancakes fit in a doghouse? None! Icecream doesn't have bones!!!"

 

[dd_viper]

i have disabled many of the unnessesary start-up programs, but still am unable to boot up in fater than 3-4 minutes. What should i do?

 

[p05esto]

Buy a Macintosh. The best computers in the world and soooo fast.

<A HREF="http://www.ericstoffers.com" target="_new">(My little web site)</A>

 

[dd_viper]

im not considering a new computer. Im wondering if its my hdd thats my slowdown.

For everybody else i finally found what my hdd is. <url> http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=22-144-132&depa=0 </url> Is this the reason my hdd is so slow at startup. Is this an absolutely terrible hdd?

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by dd_viper on 09/23/04 07:15 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[jammydodger]

Unless you bought your computer ages ago your hard drive is probably 7200RPM with 2Mb cache(did they ever make 5200RPM 80gig hard disks?). So it doesnt make much sense upgrading to another similar harddrive.
If I were you I would make sure your hard drive is using DMA mode, make sure you are using an ATA66/100 IDE cable and make sure those applications are disabled on startup.

If you really wanna upgrade get an 8mb cache hard disk.

 

[Mr5oh]

Buy a Macintosh. The best computers in the world and soooo fast.

What in the world was that? Macintosh are good computers, and are great for somethings, but that seems like an invintation to get flamed.

Anyways your hard drive isn't bad. Maxtor generally performs very well (I still prefer WD though). Upgrading to another hard drive that is the same, or with 8 MB cache, isn't going to be a huge leap in performance. When you boot up, does your machine have a bunch of other IBM utilites that are running. Many of the HP and Compaqs have a bunch of extra uneccsary drivers and such running, that aren't necessary.

I bet if you did a fresh format, with a copy of Windows XP, not a restore disk, your performance would increase.

Also as mentioned above, make sure you are in UDMA, and Windows is running in at least ATA100. Have you tried swapping cables yet?


My Desktop: <A HREF="http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc.html" target="_new">http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc.html</A>

 

[dd_viper]

i havent thought of switching cables. my hdd was installed in factory and i assumed that it would be put in right. the thing is, i would have done a hdd wipe and started out clean, but i didnt get a copy of windows sent with my computer. i have called them but i couldnt get through to anyone intellegent or any manager of any kind. i also dont know if i have a lot of unnecessary progs running. im too pussy to disable some because i have no xp disc. i get into my computer and can see my desktop icon in about 20 sec after startup. then thats when the problem happens. it takes minutes to load up various progs; norton, wireless, etc. i dont know why and i also have 45 processes that need to startup but again i dont want to run into trouble with my hdd with no xp disc.

 

[Mr5oh]

The various programs are the ones that are hurting you.

With my wireless running, Norton Firewall, Browser HiJackerBlaster, I have 26 processoes running. With 45 you obvisuly have a bunch of extra crap starting up slowing you down.

My Desktop: <A HREF="http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc.html" target="_new">http://Mr5oh.tripod.com/pc.html</A>

 

[Mr5oh]

As for the cables, I don't think that is your problem judgeing by the number of processes you have running. Cables can sometimes just flake out on you, and can cause all sorts of weird problems. Thats why I mentioned it.

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[dd_viper]

i dont know which processes to disable and for that matter, i dont even know how do disable them, unless i use msconfig. i dont know which to disable and am scared because of xp cd.

 

[jammydodger]

Use MSCONFIG, click on the startup tab and uncheck EVERYTHING. Then restart the computer, none of these services are essential windows services so your computer WILL start up properly next time.

Next go to the services tab and click on 'manufacturer' this will sort everything under the manufacturers name. Anything by microsoft can be left alone, things like IPOD service from apple computers or ATI smart can be unchecked (unless you use these things).

 

[dd_viper]

i actually did check everything off and clicked the tab, that said "disable everything that is unessesary to windows" or sumthing like that. my whole system started up in a matter of seconds. the problem is that i have none of the settings, non of the progs i want started up, like wireless.

 

[jammydodger]

ok run msconfig again on the services tab enable everything, and on the startup tab only enable those programs that you need.