Slow computer - High Kernel Memory Usage :( ?????

Question

Hi there,   Since a few years I have an Inspiron 9100 (1Gb RAM). It has always worked perfectly, but since a few months it is so slow. The processor goes to a 100% with the least thing I do :(   I've tried everything. Uninstalling programs, running anti-virus software, anti-spyware, nothing worked. So I thought maybe it was my registry which is f#cked up. So I decided to do a full re-install (format HD, re-install everything). Totally clean.   But now, after re-installing everything, I have the exact same problem again :(   It appeared to do well, but suddenly after a couple of hours, it started all over again :(   I'm about to jump out the window, I'm desparate :( (luckily the window is on the first floor, so if I'd jump nothing really would happen :).   Anyway, have other people had the same problem? What could be the cause of this? It's really annoying cause this thing is starting to cost me a lot of time, since I can't really do anything usefull (reading mail, and even typing this message is hardly possible).   Any suggestions, tips, anything actually, is very welcome and much appreciated!   Tx in advance.   Greetingz, Koen Hoorelbeke.

ejn63 · Answer

Have you run the Dell diagnostics to rule out a hardware (RAM, drive) issue?

aspdeveloper · Answer

No, not yet. Where do I find this software? Under the downloads for this computer? I haven't re-installed from the original cd. Do have my service-tag, so should be able to find it somewhere?   Tx.   Greetingz, Koen Hoorelbeke

ejn63 · Answer

It's on the hard drive (F12 at boot), assuming you did not wipe out the partition. If you did, you'll have to call Dell to have them send you the CD.

aspdeveloper · Answer

Hi there,

I tried the Dell Diagnostics. Thanks for the advice! Never knew why that separate partition was (luckily I never deleted it). Go figure: after using Dell laptops for more than 5 years and I only know now why that partition is there! :)

Anyway, the tests were all successfull, so no faults in hardware apparantly.

So still stuck with my problems: whenever I run something that requires some processor-power, I get 100% usage. An example: just now I tried to watch a small video of our trip to the sea last weekend. It runs good for 2 minutes, and then my processor goes nuts and the video starts shaking.

Same with Skype: I can call 2 minutes with somebody and then my processor goes nuts.

In the beginning whenever I had an application taking up too much resources, it never went over 50% (as it is a processor which uses HyperThreading). Heck even went I wanted it to go over 50%, I couldn't get it that far.

It's like the HyperThreading feature doesn't work anymore? Or am I talking rubbish now?

Any advice is welcome!

Thanks in advance.

Greetingz,
Koen Hoorelbeke

aspdeveloper · Answer

ok guys,

think I found it :)

I opened my laptop and cleaned the fans and the cooling elements ... and now it seems as if it's fixed !!!!!

There was quite a bit of dust on it, and apparantly the temperature was way too high!

I'm happy again :)

Tx for the input.

Greetingz,
Koen Hoorelbeke

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Slow computer - High Kernel Memory Usage :( ?????

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