[SOLVED] Windows 10 slow, keeps crashing and graphical glitches on old hardware.

[Parroty69]

I have recently installed Windows 10 21H2 32bit on a computer running an intel core 2 duo with 4gbs of DRR2 800mhz sodimm ram and on HDD and an 8400M GS. When it was running Windows 7 32bit, it was running fine and the speed was fine. But when I installed Windows 10, I kept noticing that the system was very slow and I also that the refresh rate was low and there were some graphical glitches so I installed the drivers for the 8400M GS. But the graphical glitches were still there. I also noticed that the system kept crashing. The computer is an M1330

EDIT: The system now does not boot up and makes some beeps but the screen is black the whole time.

 

[USAFRet]

intel core 2 duo with 4gbs of DRR2 800mhz sodimm ram and on HDD and an 8400M GS

Not sure what you're expecting, but that is a pretty low spec PC.
It WILL be slow.

 

[Parroty69]

Not sure what you're expecting, but that is a pretty low spec PC.
It WILL be slow.

But there was some graphical glitches and some crashes. Is that supposed to happen?
The system now doesn't boot up and makes some beeps but the screen is black the entire time.

 

[USAFRet]

But there was some graphical glitches and some crashes. Is that supposed to happen?
The system now doesn't boot up and makes some beeps but the screen is black the entire time.

No, not supposed to happen.

Possibly some hardware fault.

 

[Parroty69]

No, not supposed to happen.

Possibly some hardware fault.

The warranty expired in 2008. Now what am I supposed to do?

 

[ezst036]

If nothing at all changed and was "working fine" for an extended amount of time when you switched from Win7, then its likely simply unsupported hardware on Windows. If you can mark the date.

Your choices are to upgrade to Linux or downgrade back to Win7. Linux will be fast and fun on that hardware. It is possible but low probability, that Windows simply did not install correctly and reinstalling will resolve this.

(Note: By "working fine" I mean what looks like catastrophic activities - black screens, random beeps and reboots. These activities can sometimes be indicative of faulty hardware. It might be worth running memtest86 or some storage drive scanning utilities)

 

[USAFRet]

The warranty expired in 2008. Now what am I supposed to do?

It is a 15 year old system. Things die.

Recycle bin.

Or, you could find another compatible system ,and start to swap parts around to find what might still be working in yours.
RAM, for instance. Then, sell that.

Or, try a Linux install. Even just try with a Linux Live USB or DVD. See what does and does not work.
Although...I've seen systems of that age working semi-OK with Win 10.

 

[Parroty69]

It is a 15 year old system. Things die.

Recycle bin.

Or, you could find another compatible system ,and start to swap parts around to find what might still be working in yours.
RAM, for instance. Then, sell that.

Or, try a Linux install. Even just try with a Linux Live USB or DVD. See what does and does not work.
Although...I've seen systems of that age working semi-OK with Win 10.

I'd like to fix it instead of selling it away or recycling it. What can I do?

 

[USAFRet]

I'd like to fix it instead of selling it away or recycling it. What can I do?

To fix, you need to troubleshoot and see what does and does not work.

Linux Live USB or DVD. See if it boots up.

 

[Parroty69]

To fix, you need to troubleshoot and see what does and does not work.

Linux Live USB or DVD. See if it boots up.

How do I create a linux live USB and boot from it? The DELL splash screen doesn't even show up.

 

[ezst036]

How do I create a linux live USB and boot from it? The DELL splash screen doesn't even show up.

It does sound like a hardware issue. Could you let us know why you upgraded from Windows 7? Were you already experiencing issues and hoping an operating system upgrade would fix it?

This would be helpful to know. We can show you how to create a live USB, but the answers may change knowing what preceded the OS upgrade.

 

[Parroty69]

It does sound like a hardware issue. Could you let us know why you upgraded from Windows 7? Were you already experiencing issues and hoping an operating system upgrade would fix it?

This would be helpful to know. We can show you how to create a live USB, but the answers may change knowing what preceded the OS upgrade.

There was no issue when it was running Windows 7. There was an error but turns out it was just the system begging for a keyboard.

 

[ezst036]

There was no issue when it was running Windows 7. There was an error but turns out it was just begging for a keyboard.

That is helpful to know. Hardware issues generally do not occur when a user makes the choice on their own of installing a new/upgrade operating system.

You will need a second pc/mac to do this based on what you are describing, but to create a linux live disk you need to download an iso file. You can download ubuntu from here:
https://ubuntu.com/download/desktop

One of the easiest tools for creating a live bootable disk is Etcher.

balenaEtcher - Flash OS images to SD cards & USB drives

A cross-platform tool to flash OS images onto SD cards and USB drives safely and easily. Free and open source for makers around the world.

www.balena.io

Create Ubuntu bootable flash drive with Balena Etcher on Windows - Ubuntu Installation Tutorial # 05

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9dQu_0SN_Q


Not being able to see your BIOS splash screen is not always an issue. I don't know what the Dell BIOS hotkey is, but in theory pressing that key will go into the BIOS instead of Windows booting. You will need to get into BIOS and select the USB live in order to boot to any Linux.

 

[Parroty69]

That is helpful to know. Hardware issues generally do not occur when a user makes the choice on their own of installing a new/upgrade operating system.

You will need a second computer to do this based on what you are describing, but to create a linux live disk you need to download an iso file. You can download ubuntu from here:
https://ubuntu.com/download/desktop

One of the easiest tools for creating a live bootable disk is Etcher.

balenaEtcher - Flash OS images to SD cards & USB drives

A cross-platform tool to flash OS images onto SD cards and USB drives safely and easily. Free and open source for makers around the world.

www.balena.io

Create Ubuntu bootable flash drive with Balena Etcher on Windows - Ubuntu Installation Tutorial # 05

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9dQu_0SN_Q


Not being able to see your BIOS splash screen is not always an issue. I don't know what the Dell BIOS hotkey is, but in theory pressing that key will go into the BIOS instead of Windows booting. You will need to get into BIOS and select the USB live in order to boot to any Linux.

The user manual says that the hotkey is F12 but the user manual also says that I have to do it when the Dell logo pops up...

 

[USAFRet]

How do I create a linux live USB and boot from it? The DELL splash screen doesn't even show up.

You'll need to do that from a different PC.

Linux Mint and Rufus to create a USB to try to boot from.

 

[ezst036]

The user manual says that the hotkey is F12 but the user manual also says that I have to do it when the Dell logo pops up...

Just start pressing F12 repeatedly as it starts up as soon as the power comes on. That's what I do. The goal is to interrupt the process from when BIOS steps out of the way and lets Windows take over.

 

[Parroty69]

You'll need to do that from a different PC.

Linux Mint and Rufus to create a USB to try to boot from.

Yes it know I have to do it from a different pc. How can I boot from the usb from the Dell logo doesn't even pop up?

 

[USAFRet]

Yes it know I have to do it from a different pc. How can I boot from the usb from the Dell logo doesn't even pop up?

Sounds like there are deeper issues.

All electronics work. Right up until the moment they don't.

 

[ezst036]

The user manual says that the hotkey is F12 but the user manual also says that I have to do it when the Dell logo pops up...

In the interest of troubleshooting, this is not always the best way to go, but if pressing F12 before Windows takes over isn't working then the M1330 looks very easy to remove the hard drive. That will definitely get you to the BIOS.

Be aware of precautions for static when around computer components so they are not damaged inadvertently.

View: https://youtu.be/h4ewQJCtUMg


If you can't get to the BIOS with all boot medium removed then I would think that's the end of the road. It is worth considering that many times Operating Systems hide/obscure boot logos so when the logo doesn't appear that does not always tell a story - especially since you elected on your own to upgrade the software.