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New system (Dimension 8400) Virtual memory nightmare
Dell Dimension 8400
Intel pentium 4 CPU 3.00 ghz,
299 ghz, 512 RAM
windows XP (home edition) version 2002 w/Service pk 2
Two days after getting my new system, I had my first virtual memory
problem. A 3-D screen saver I had installed would freeze up the entire system
after running for only 30 minutes or so. (This is a completely compatible screen saver that I've used for years on an older computer, with half the RAM and processing speed).
Called Dell service, and the 'brilliant' guy there suggested I
"switch to a 2-D screen saver, and that should clear up the problem".
I answered with; "Ummm... No, thanks. I expect this brand new $1400 machine to be able to handle screen savers..."
Then as the days went by and I installed a few of my necessary programs; like Norton Security, and my digital camera software, the virtual memory problems got worse.
To make a long, aggravating story easier for everyone, let's just say I tried everything both DELL and Microsoft suggests to 'fix' virtual memory problems...
I changed the VM settings to 1024 (both minimun and maximum)
I've checked repeatedly for updates and patches (and downloaded anything that came up, which wasn't much).
I've done the whole windows task manager thing, seeing which programs
were using up the big memory chunks... (many times it was my Norton security) and I would either temporarily disable things or turn them off completely.
Things would run better -- for a while.
Last night, I had some long term web surfing to do and was on the computer for at least an hour and a half. Then got off the internet and had two message windows going (yahoo messenger and MSN messenger), and within 2 minutes I was lagging and freezing up. Norton firewall was turned OFF, I was only using the windows xp firewall now.
I simply can not understand how a machine as well loaded as this Dell 8400 is supposed to be cannot handle one quarter of the work load my old machine (that I upgraded myself over the years and had only a 1 gig processor and 256 RAM) could!
I really wish I could have emailed this directly to DELL, instead of posting on a message board and waiting for a response, but I looked and looked and could not find an email address for support contact.
While the phone support people at DELL were always polite, I was very dissatisfied with the help I recieved, so I'd rather not waste my time going that route again. (tried it 3 times as it is)
I hope I can get a fix for this problem, or perhaps the problem lies with "bad memory" sticks? If this is the case, I certainly hope a free memory upgrade will be on it's way to me ASAP...
parkerti
610 Posts
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May 8th, 2005 12:00
You have posted to a forum made up of other users who try to help each other (on this board it is general hardware problems). Dell won't monitor these boards and call people back. It sounds to me like you have bad memory as you suggested, or that you have inadvertantly installed some malware. You might need to go back through Dell service. Also have you tried system diagnostics to check the system under load? One other thing, I would go back to the system the way it came to you after backing up all your data on an external. There may be an issue with the older screen saver and newer hardware. Not really sure but from your post it sounds as if the downhill slippery slope started when you installed the screen saver. It might have really messed up the video drivers or something wierd like that. Free screen saver programs also come with bugs, spyware, etc. If your dimension is new and you want to go back to how it was out of the box, there is a way to do that already installed with your system but you will lose all of your data. So back up.
Message Edited by parkerti on 05-08-2005 09:13 AM
Parrotlady123
5 Posts
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May 8th, 2005 13:00
Parkerti,
Thank you so much for replying to my post. :smileyhappy:
You made good suggestions, too. However I've tried everything already.
In the 10 days I've had the computer, I've already restored back to day one - twice. I've also restored another time by a couple of days to start back before other programs were installed.
It's not the screen saver alone. Norton security also causes problems, so I disabled it permanently. This doesn't make me very happy, because I paid for it, it's a new version, and I've used Norton products on much older systems and never had problems. Also I'm having these lag problems and virtual memory shortages even when I'm doing nothing else but using a message program or on the internet for more than an hour or so; running nothing else.
I've scanned for malware, viruses and disk problems. Everything comes out clean repeatedly. I've used DELL's problem seeker/solver, and windows' fixes, too. It seems to be a memory problem... a *real* memory problem, not just a virtual memory problem. Don't you agree?
reverseswing2001
17 Posts
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May 8th, 2005 16:00
Hi
I agree with parkerti. It sounds like bad memory or could be a bad motherboard[i mean bad memory slots on the motherboard].you can get a system exchange withing the 1st 21 days. try that. if you still want to stick to the same system then call dell tech support and ask them to replac ethe hard drive, motherbaord and memory for you. ask dell tech support to mention in their case that the above 3 components have gone bad. then get the case number frm them and give it to customer care and customer care will be replacing these parts for you iwth the help of an onsite tech.the reason being, if dell tech support replaces parts then they will be refurbished whereas if customer care replaces the parts then they will be brand new.
all the best.
parkerti
610 Posts
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May 8th, 2005 16:00
Bobsk8
14 Posts
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May 8th, 2005 17:00
wtcnbrwndo4u
1.5K Posts
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May 8th, 2005 23:00
wtcnbrwndo4u
1.5K Posts
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May 8th, 2005 23:00
Parrotlady123
5 Posts
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May 30th, 2005 22:00
I hit Ctrl-Alt-Delete and pull up the Task Manager window.
I then look to see which process is using all the memory and it is ALWAYS the same
"svchost.exe SYSTEM" process. Peaking at more than 300,000k of memory!!
Now I admit, I'm not sure exactly what that svchost.exe process is... but when I highlight it,
and then click on "end process" the CPU usage drops down to single digits immediately.
But then I no longer have Volume controls or Audio devices anywhere to be found on
the computer.
Audio/Video Card -OR- there is something radically wrong with the
Bobsk8
14 Posts
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May 31st, 2005 01:00
tigerwolf7
3.9K Posts
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May 31st, 2005 15:00
Bobsk8
14 Posts
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June 5th, 2005 01:00