Try freeing up memory resources by using MSCONFIG and uncheck all non-essential startup items. To see the full list of startup items and to check if they're needed or not, check out the following sites

http://www.lafn.org/webconnect/mentor/startup/PENINDEX.HTM

http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php

Try running defrag as well

Sounds like you have an overheating problem. If it is don't worry =) as long as your PC has not shutdown then its ok.

With the new inspirion line it 5100, 5150, 8500 & 8600 the hot air is pushed out through thin grills. These can become easily blocked with dirt which cause the hot air to remain trapped inside the laptop heating everything up. I persnonally had a 8600 and had exactly the same problems until I removed the fan module underneath and wiped away all the dirt blocking the grills and it runs like a dream with no slowdowns now. Not sure how it is with the 5100 but with the 8600 module slots out from underneath after undoing 2 screws and its really easy to clean.

If you are not sure then chase it up with dell to sort out under your warrenty and it will only get worse if it is the above problem. You could also have a failed fan, run the DELL DIAG and do the fan speed check and CPU Thermostat check, if they pass then its dirt, if it fails then u need a new fan, and if its anything like the 8600 one Dell can post one and you can do it yourself.

So you know my 1.7Ghz slows down at 67 C. Not sure about your processor but it should never really get about 65 or there is definatly a problem.

When I boot up my Inspiron 1100, it is very sluggish and the "hide icons" arrow on the lower right system tray does not come up right away (5% of the time it does not come up at all).  After my PC is booted, I am unable to open Task Manager.  When I try to start Task Manager (either by right clicking the bottom bar and selecting Task Manager or by pressing ctrl-alt-delete), it comes up for approximately 1 to 2 seconds, then disappears.  It's icon does appear in the lower right system tray, but when I move my mouse over it, the icon also disappears.  Much of the time the icon shows 100% in use (the icon turns 100% light green). 

Of course, since I cannot get to the Task Manager I cannot go into "processes" to see what is eating up the CPU usage, or to see anything else.   What is the problem?  Is my PC dying? Is my OS (Win XP/Pro with all  patches installed) corrupted?  Could some hardware (e.g., hard drive or RAM or BIOS) be damaged resulting in the OS not operating correctly?  I have plenty of RAM and my harddrive has plenty of space left on it. I do defrags regularly. This is happening as soon as I boot up, so I don't have any applications running in the background (other than the system stuff).

I need my Inspiron to do my job, so this it is vital that I get control of Task Manager (and the rest of my PC system) back.
                      
So, what is wrong?  What can I do?


Details: Model: Dell Inspiron 1100, Purchased 03/2003, CPU - Celeron 2.0 Ghz, RAM 512Mb, OS Windows Pro, Harddrive 30 Gb (with plenty of unused space on it still).

Download I8kfanGUI and monitor the DIMM, CPU, GPU and HDD temps whilst playing a game ect... Also select REALTIME CPU speed readout under the options.

NOTE:- the DIMM reading is actually the GPU temp and vice versa.

When the game slows down go to the desktop quickly, now if its overheating you will notice the CPU speed should have dropped to lower the temp as the fans can not keep up expelling hot air. This may be from 100 to 500 Mhz.

 

 

Does anyone know a website on how to take apart insprions because I'm not

really sure.

 

 

Unknown22,

The User's Guide may be able to help you on this.


Click Here for Dell User's Guides.

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