Im having issues with performance and sound

Question

The symptoms i am having with my computer are... - Slow-response when starting work like loading a word document, viewing pdf files, using IE etc.  - When playing music in the background, a crackling noise would occur during the above situation. - My microsoft basic optical mouse still moves erractically, even after downloading the latest software from the microsoft website. - During login, the introductory sound would crackle as well. - During shutdown display (windows is shutting down...) a pop up would sometimes occur asking to insert disc into my a:drive, however i don't actually have an a:drive.   What really bugs me is that this is a new computer, surely i shouldn't be having this many problems with this nature.  Especially with the slow response and the related crackling with my music.  With an Intel Core 2 Duo 1.86Mhz, 2GB RAM, 512MB graphics i just don't understand how the computer could possibly slow down (even if it was hardware realted).  I had help from the HijackThis forum and found no spyware/virus related problems, so i narrowed it down to a software issue.    Now where can i start to fix all these symptoms?

BELL BOY · Answer

Hi,

Note that you have included some spec details but always better if you also include your PC Make/model & OS/version in post.

Assuming that your PC is clean then if possible try to identify last thing done before problem(s) started.

Initial thought is it could be a CPU &/or memory loading problem?

Please ensure that you do not have more than one Firewall &/or AV software application running.

If it is software causing slow/erratic response due to high CPU &/or memory load?

Then right click on Task Bar (bottom of screen) & click on Task Manager.

With Task Manager now open, click on the Processes tab.

The Processes tab shows information about processes running on your computer, mainly .exe type files & at the bottom displays information on number of process as well as CPU & memory usage.

When scrolling down look at the last process (System Idle Process) it really depends on PC spec & what you are doing (running) on your PC, but under normal circumstances, System Idle Process should only be running at 98 to 99% CPU.

You will see transient peaks when launching/opening applications or files, but apart from high demand gaming applications, high peaks should only be temporary, graph trend of demands can be seen from Performance tab.

Anyway, now look at the process .exe files, to identify what if any process is causing any permanent high load on CPU &/or memory.

Post your Task Manager findings.

Finally, on launching windows, does it take a long time to load?

GBAMinh · Answer

Dear, BELL BOY   Thanks for you advice, i checked out the task manager like you told me too.  The system idle process runs at about 99% and doesn't fluctuate often.  Everything else seems to be fine, with the highest memory usage at about 32,000kb going to AcroRd32.exe at 00% CPU (31,000 to iexplore.exe, 30,000 svchost.exe, 21,000 to nod32krn.exe etc).   The only thing noticeable is when i start up programs for the first time (especially WMP11, Word 07, IE6, adobe reader) the performance tab will display very high peaks for about 5-10secs, afterwards it would drop back down to about 20%ish (very rough estimates).  However any consecutive use of these programs doesn't show the same severe peak jumps (only once everytime the computer is turned on).   So after reviewing my task manager tabs, nothing really seems to cause permanent high loads, other then what i mentioned above.  Launching windows does take a while though like you queried, my dad's laptop loads quicker, though it is numerically weaker (Intel celeron m 1.44mhz, 512ram, XPpro sp2 from the top of my head) and it has similar programs.    To me there isn't anything standing out that would cause me any alarm, but i don't have much experience with computers anyway.  The symptoms i described earlier however are very noticeable.  Thanks again.   Regards, GBAMinh PS.  My computer was built for me from a local computer store, so i can only post hardware. Intel Core2Duo E6300 1.86Ghz Gigabyte 965P-S3 Motherboard Gigabyte 512MB GeForce 7600 GS Video card 2GBRAM (2 x 1GB RAM PC5300) 160GB Seagate HD OS - XPPro sp2 and Office 07

BELL BOY · Answer

Hi GBAMinh

From your results your problem(s) don’t appear to be applications causing CPU &/or memory over-load?

Nod32krn.exe (AV application), iexplore.exe & svchost.exe all look normal, AcroRd32.exe does look a bit high, not sure what version you are running but version 7.0 normally runs at 8,000 to 10,000KB.

After saying all that, slow/erratic performance & “shaky” rather than “crackling” sound normally means CPU &/or memory problems (that is assuming your PC is definitely clean).

To eliminate software v memory problems once & for all, again looking at Task Manager Processes tab.

Under normal load the commit charge (memory in use/ memory available) ratio should be roughly 1/10

If the memory in use value is greater than physical installed RAM capacity then HDD (hard disk drive) based virtual memory is being used which normally results in slower system performance.

Just out of interest, is performance slow/erratic when working off-line & then disabling your AV?

When you say quote, “Launching windows does take a while” can you post:

1. Time taken between booting your PC & WXP welcome screen appearing

2. Time taken after logging on & the desktop screen appearing.

To check what your PC boots to & what windows loads during Startup use msconfig.exe:

Please do not make any changes in msconfig unless you know exactly what you are doing.

Click Start Button > Run then type in the term msconfig then click OK

Click on the BOOT.INI tab (the entry should look something like)

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect

Click on the Startup tab to see applications WXP loads on Startup.

Can you scroll down, count & then post the total number of check box enabled Startup Items that appear.

GBAMinh · Answer

Dear, BELL BOY   I've got some okay news and some bad news.  I was completing the tasks you gave me and i can give you an update on some of those stats you asked about.  I am also running acrobat reader 6. - commit charge is at 0.073 - a total of 14 startup items. - disabling my AV didn't make significant changes - the BOOT.INI was very similar; it was all the same except this was added on the end .../NoExecute=OptIn   The bad news. Whilst i was determining any changes in performance, i decided to player a mp3 on WMP.  The moment i opened the file, the player froze with the audio still playing.  I couldn't close the player, couldn't bring up the task manager to close it that way, couldn't even open the start menu to do anything else.  After waiting 15mins i decided to restart the computer.   Turning the computer back on did not change anything, in fact made it worse.  Initial the time taken to turn on the computer to reach the welcome page/logon and the the time to reach the desktop was approximately 2-3mins and 1-2mins respectively.  When the player froze and restarted the computer, i timed the same procedure again and it took up to 12-15mins.    After the longer startup, i logged on and found numerous popups all describing 'delayed write failed' for multiple programs (svchost.exe, explorer.exe-082538A9.pf, manifests, etc).  This time i was able to turn off the computer.  Turning back on, the computer went through the scan disk check, logged back on but i was unable to click anything on the desktop, start menu programs wouldn't start, nothing worked, so i restarted again!   This time the computer has changed the settings on my accounts.  My password has changed the hint is now 'Lock'.  When i type my password in, a popup describing domain is unavailable appears.   So now my computer has gone from bad to worse.  I don't know what could have done this.  I did not change any settings on the computer.  The only thing i did different was install two programs from my Gigabyte motherboard CD.  One is called face wizard (provides utility for customizing BIOS boot up screen) and the other is @BIOS (provides utility for updating BIOS through internet).  Surely those two software applications could not be the source of my new problems?  Not only has the new problems appeared, i didn't get a chance to fix up the first ones.   Regards, GBAMinh If you have any idea what is going on with my computer could you please point me in the right direction.

BELL BOY · Answer

Hi again GBAMinh

Unfortunately I’m going out in about 10 minutes.

Commit charge is at 0.073 – A very good value

Total of 14 startup items – Good, no problems with the number

Disabling my AV didn't make significant changes – Half expected that since nod32krn.exe was only 21,000KB

BOOT.INI was very similar; it was all the same except this was added on the end .../NoExecute=OptIn

My mistake, probably a bad copy/paste? But it should have read:

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

The noexecute=optin switch entry is fine, comes from Data Execution Prevention (DEP) setting being enabled – helps prevent malicious code from running on WXP SP2 system

Launching WMP 11 appears to have caused the freeze problem, sounds like a MS web service .dll file call problem trying to run through svchost? You say quote “Scan disk check” did you mean chkdsk auto ran on boot up?

This may have happened because of corrupt files or bad sectors on your HDD, did you interrupt the chkdsk process?

Have you tried safe boot mode start up (normally by pressing the F8 key during boot process) then using the windows System Restore – if possible select a restore date point before the problems started.

It may not work if you have HDD bad sector problems.

Need to go now but will look at your post in more detail tomorrow.

BELL BOY · Answer

Hi GBAMinh

Any joy using windows System Restore in safe boot mode?

There are more/better clues from 'delayed write failed' error message

This error is generally related to problems with PC hardware, in particular disk drives.

Worse case scenario – damaged HDD.

Possible recoverable situation – corrupt or damaged files in bad sectors or lost clusters.

Either would cause slow performance or application run failure problems.

Did the shop supply you with hardware diagnostics tools?

Simplest solution (I would recommend), since it’s a new PC, take it back to the shop for check-up/repair

Or if you really want to DIY &/or first prove it’s faulty new PC, use the WXP command, chkdsk c: /r

GBAMinh · Answer

Dear BELL  BOY   Okay i tried the safe mode and i'm still stuck at the logon/welcome screen.  I mentioned before about the hint 'Lock', and i remember now that this was the hint i created for myself, so disregard what i mentioned in the previous post.  However i am still stuck because my password does not work and this message appears. Logon Message The system cannot log you on now because the domain 'xxxx' is not available.   So i can't even log on to try and fix anything.  This message follows afterwards... Windows - Delayed Write Failed Windows was unable to save all the data for the C:\...(many different file types).  The data has been lost.  This error may be caused by a failure of your computer hardware or network connection.  Please try to save this file elsewhere.   And yes chkdsk auto ran on boot up and i didn't interrupt the process.   In answering your question about diagnostics tools, the only equipment i recieved when i purchsed the computer was the hardware itself and CDs to install the OS, drivers programs etc.   Basically we didn't get a computer that was ready to be used straight away.  I had to install everything and because i've never done it before, i may have accidently forgotten some programs.  There was no CD that came with the HDD, as far as i know they didn't do anything except plug everything together.   If i went back to the store i'm not sure they will fix it under warranty, they would use the argument 'you installed the software not us, so you have to pay extra for us to fix it'.  But like you said it is probably the easiest method.  If they found that they had to wipe the computer, is there a way to retain my files?

BELL BOY · Answer

Hi GBAMinh

First, the problems might not be anything to do with software installation, as stated if HDD has damaged sectors then the data in these sectors will be lost/damaged or corrupt or the HDD Read/write head may be damaged?

To confirm if that is the case you need to diagnose HDD condition.

The error message “system cannot log you on now because the domain is not available” points to corrupt or missing .dll type files associated with password locked-out account.

There are MS Hot Fix downloads for such problems but doubt if they would solve your particular problem, one of a number of possible corrupt critical files.

Try these procedures & then post back:

(A) Boot to normal mode

1. At the Windows Welcome log-on screen

2. Press the combination keys (Ctrl + Alt + Del) twice

3. In the user name block type Administrator

4. Leave the password blank & click OK

5. If you can log on in this way you can change any and all passwords on the system

6. From Start > Control Panel > User Accounts

You can revive your existing administrator account or create a new one

Now use the Start > Run then type in the term chkdsk c: /r (note the blank space between c: & /r) then click OK

If the command doesn’t run it may run on reboot:

(B) If above doesn’t work

1. Insert your WXP CD then reboot (if prompted select boot from CD or DVD drive)

2. If an Administer password prompt appears, leave it as a blank entry

3. At first screen, press R to select use Recovery Console

4. At the C: prompt, type in the term chkdsk c: /r (note the blank space between c: & /r) then press Enter key

5. Chkdsk runs through a number of phases & since it’s very likely that you have HDD or bad sector corrupt files then chkdsk c: /r will take a long time to run (hours not minutes).

6. When the process completes, type fixboot & press Enter key to repair (if any) damaged/corrupt boot files.

7. Answer Yes when prompted.

8. To exit the Recovery Console and restart the computer, type exit.

BELL BOY · Answer

Hi again GBAMinh

Not sure if you have tried any of the above?

Just following up on your quote “installed two programs using the Gigabyte mobo CD”.

From what you say programs haven’t been used to make changes, so doubt they are problem cause?

Not familiar with the GIGABYTE 965P-S3 mobo but it appears to have various interesting key features.

So not sure but would have thought key features are default available?

Only mention this because a couple of the Safe features include HDD SMART (Hard Disk Drive Self Monitoring Analysis & Reporting Technology) & PC System Health Monitor, are these tools available to you?

Message Edited by BELL BOY on 05-01-2007 08:27 PM

Windows General

Im having issues with performance and sound

Was this post helpful?