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slow computer

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by uhuru4

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I have dell desktop.2.4 gightz 512 duel ram (500-600fsb unsure) 120gig hard and sp1. windows xp home. my computer was fine untill that damn virus hit it. I think. Then it became very very very slow. I reinstalled os and reformated the hard drive. Still very very very very slow now. The I installed Norton security and half way through it stops and unable to continue. I tried to uninstall and it will not allow me to. I have tried the usual things to speed the computer up. Nothing is running in the background. I reinstalled the os for the second time in order to remove the norton security works which was the only way I could do it. Control panel route would not allow it. Dell tech support is stumped. Now I have a very expensive slow *** computer. help please.

14 replies

by sgt_shultz

you should have some hard disk diagnostics on your dell cd's. have you run that?
does it run slowly in safe mode also?

by uhuru4

dell has run all diagnostics short and long version that took 3.5 hours to complete. as I stated , dell is stumped.

by bfilmfan

Check the BIOS to see if the IDE Bus Mastering is engaged.

When you re-installed your software, did you Fdisk the system, remove all partitions and then re-install the OS?

I would also run a Spyware checker and see if it comes up with anything.

by uhuru4

I don't know what a Fdisk is and there are no partitions.and I have ran spybot, Xtera, norton and yahoo and they all say its clean because I wiped everything clean when I reinstalled os

by jaqui

if there are no partitions then there is no hard drive to install on.

all hard drives MUST have at least 1 partition.

when you select where to install xp, that is the partition.

at that point of install, delete that partition then create new one.

by uhuru4

I cant see how a sole partition can be my problem. Since I have reformatted everything.

by dmiles

Slow Computer
How could you have reformatted the hard drive,itf you donot know what fdisk is?

First of all the reinstall of OS maintains MBR and other files that may have not been detected,so the after effect of the virus is still present,in your nmaster boot record and in memory to which you need to wipe the entire disk clean,not before backing up all files and drivers on your system.

Fdisk is a dos utility that can be used to wipe the hard drive clean,beffore reinstalling the OS,and all other programs onto your system.

To use the fdisk utility you will need a windows 98 startup disk.

by uhuru4

I suspected this you just put it in better terms and I thank you, however, another answer was better. But you did help thanks.

by willcomp

Before doing anything else, download and run diagnostics from hard disk manufacturer. The diagnostics program will be on their website. Use DOS version, if available.

The downloaded DOS version file should create a bootable floppy disk with diagnostics software. Test drive, then "low level format" drive (write all 1's or 0's to drive).

Then reinstall XP on your pristine hard disk. If still slow, boot into safe mode and check performance there.

Add a comment to your question with results.

Dalton

by willcomp

Dell supplies a Win XP CD with their systems. Assume you have been using it for installs. If not, you need to.

by uhuru4

This is fine and I think this may be the answer. I have written you a private message. But here is a recap, what do mean by test drive and low level format then write 1's and 0's when ,where and how do i do the above. Perhaps you can step me through the process. and send it to the e-mail uhuru4@hotmail.com. as you can see I am a novice at this for now. and what do I check for in safe mode. Thanks

by uhuru4

Well sgt-shultz I am not playing nor is this very fun for me. I have a $2000-2500 computer that just sits now seeing that I have just !@#$% it up. I am just a RN trying to earn a maters in IT and this is just my secong semester so cut me some slack sarge

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