Laptop is EXTREMELY slow even after formatting!

Kamran

Hello all,

Could I trouble you for some laptop advice? I have a Toshiba Satellite and I run windows XP on it. over the weekend I tried running google chrome and it all went to pot, freezing up and ultimately i just held down the power button to switch it off. At that point, it would load to the "windows loading" screen, and would refuse to get into the login screen (where you click on your username and loginto windows). So i assumed that it had frozen at this point. HOWEVER, when using safe mode, it loaded ok up to the login screen, logged me in etc but i noticed it would automatically switch off after a period of time (unspecified and varied - may be due to overheating?).

So I figured I was due a format and had all my stuff backed up on external HD, so I reformatted the laptop using my trusty windows XP CD which came with the laptop that has worked on so many occasions, and the process ran smoothy uptil the first boot. Again, the laptop would not proceed past the "windows loading" screen and it didn't actually allow me to setup my new windows settings. Thus, safemode wouldn't work as technically I didn't have windows fully setup, yet.

Since then, a friend has installed his copy of XP onto my laptop, thinking it could be a CD problem. What I noticed is that the laptop is EXTREMELY slow in loading, and even the original installation of his windows xp was REALLY slow.

Therefore, I can assume that it's not a CD problem. I can assume it's not a power supply problem or overheating since the installations of windows (on all occasions) took ages and the laptop didn't turn itself off due to overheating.

I'm afraid this is where my computer knowledge stops. A friend tells me it could mean I need a new hard drive? what else could it be? Can the trusty laptop be repaired/salvaged?

Thanks for all your help in advance,
Kam

Red_Rose_Exile

I would be tempted to agree with your friend. The chances are that you may have some damaged clusters on the Hard drive . It isn't necessarily the end of the road for the HDD, though it is't far off it

It might be worth doing a test with Seatools for Windows (freeware) to see if there are any problems

Donnie

There is also Hiren's BootCD 10.4

Info

MadTechie

Just a few things you may want to think about.

0. keep the laptop on a desk while testing, something maybe loss (shrugs)
1. when you installed windows did you do a full format or a quick one.. (you should of done a full one as that will mark any bad sectors
2. any drives required for your hard drive (F6 on installing windows)?
3. did you plug any removable media in that could of contained a autostart malware ?
4. try booting from a live CD (ie ubuntu) this will allow you to test without booting from the hard drive
5. restore your BIOS,

closed

Try booting without the battery in, and check the event log for disk errors

aliEnRIK

Did you run a QUICK format or a FULL one? (Id really recommend a FULL one as ive had problems with the quick ones on XP)

Tia_Maria06

Well seems I'm not alone.. I also have a Toshiba Satellite 1900-303.. (old).. and the fan works overtime and then just shuts down. Even while I am doing my daily anti virus scan. I can even play scrabble online without playing one go and this shutting down.

I know I should do the tests, but I am so afraid it will pack in altogether, so I will put up with it

Hope you get yours sorted

basmic

My very first question is, did you install the drivers once XP had completed installation?

What is the exact model of the laptop?

It is unusual for a machine to operate at it's best immediatley after installing Windows, without the aid of up-to-date drivers. Install the drivers while disconnected from the internet - after the drivers are installed, connect to the Internet and run Windows Update immediately.

aliEnRIK

basmic wrote: »

My very first question is, did you install the drivers once XP had completed installation?

What is the exact model of the laptop?

It is unusual for a machine to operate at it's best immediatley after installing Windows, without the aid of up-to-date drivers. Install the drivers while disconnected from the internet - after the drivers are installed, connect to the Internet and run Windows Update immediately.

Agreed

I missread in that I thought the computer wouldnt boot at all. I recall somones computer on here never worked properly until the USB driver was installed even though it said the built in driver was fine

mongoose2009

I would say the hard drive is on its way out

even with the generic XP drivers the machine would not be slow

Kamran

Thank you all for your helpful replies!

Update: Miraculously, it's up and running, but I suspect an underlying problem:

MadTechie and aliEnRIK - In every instance it was a full format, so the whole thing was wiped clean before installation of the new OS.

closed - you may have just saved my laptop

Tia_Maria06 - I used to have this problem, cleaning the fan (mine was in warranty when this happened) sorted the problem. Apparently dust etc gets clogged up and overheating can cause your laptop to shut off suddenly.

basmic - It's a Toshiba Satellite p100-112, 4 years old. On average I have formatted the hard drive about twice a year. Sometimes because of problems and often because I figured it would be good practice to keep things clean and new. In all instances, I used the original CD supplied by Toshiba, which did everything for me. I just popped it in, held F12 after reboot, clicked a few buttons and within the hour I had a formatted laptop just like the day I bought it. I have never had to update anything or install anything else separately. I usually do immediately perform a windows update.

SO here's what has happened. The XP software installed by friend was very very slow. Even the installation itself was ridiculously slow. In fact, it reminded me of the first format after the incident happened. the difference is that I didn't have patience that first time, and assumed it was frozen. With hindsight it looks as if it was just slow.

ANYWAY, I figured that since his XP cd worked i'd give mine another try, BUT WITH THE BATTERY OUT this time. I don't know whethter this is a pure coincidence, but it worked! i waited until after the format, and expected it to get stuck again before the login screen. but no, it worked beautifully all the way, booted up first time again and here I am using it again, still without the battery (ie on mains).

SO, my question is, could my hard drive still be the problem, but by fluke I've managed to get away with it on this occasion. I repeat, the laptop is working absolutely crisply and normally as we speak. OR, could it indeed have been caused by my NON-TOSHIBA battery (compatible, bought off ebay a year or so ago), that has suddenly decided to screw with the rest of the laptop? is that even heard of? anyway, im glad i took the advice of "closed" so thanks for that. remains to be seen whether it is the battery or a coincidence. anyone have any ideas?

Thanks again