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Slow with lockups

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by nightblind2001

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I have a HP Pavilion 8280. I don't have a startup screen that will allow me to go into Bios Setup. I also have to remove items from the systray to get the computer to speed up a little. Even with the tray cleaned out, this system slows down to noticable levels. In system monitor, the CPU usage level is off the charts. Can anyone help?

3 replies

by wpteh

Which operating system you are using? Think is Win98 because you mention about the System Monitor.

You can try pressing F1, ESC, F10 or CTRL-S to activate the BIOS Setup when your computer boots up, but you must be fast. Normally if the boot is set to FAST mode, you will not see the screen to prompt you for BIOS Setup, but it will still be available.

No.1 suspect : Virus. Try scanning your PC with the HouseCall program at www.antivirus.com

If there is no viruses found, run your REGEDITand check which are the programs that activate when your OS starts. Email me if you wish to know the detail steps in checking those Startup programs.

Good luck.

5mm.
Singapore.

by sparent

Instead of editing your registry, I suggest using MSCONFIG.EXE. It's a lot more user-friendly, and way safer! Simply go to the Startup tab and uncheck anything that doesn't look useful! Be careful!

by rrussell110

This is typical with HP Pavilions and Vectras. At least my experience has been such.
As far as the BIOS issue, try Esc,F1,Del,F10 or F7 as soon as the PC boots.
BTW what is it that you are trying to achieve by going into the BIOS?

Try this, atthe height of the slow-down, check your system properties and see what the available % of system resources is. I will bet you that it is 67% or less.
Next, does this HP have USB keyboard and mouse(HID devices)?. If so, get rid of them and go with the standard PS2 Key&Mouse. My take on these USB devices is this; They are okay if your PC has a 300w+ power supply or, if you don't use several USB devices at the same time. With HPs, they typically have all these propietary form factors which utilize USB standards to the max. But the power supply is still the standard 250w type. There is something wrong with this picture, since USB devices are powered from the PCs' power supply so that is an extra burden to the power source. Look at E-machines,they have a smaller version of the 250w power supply and typically, the power supplies in these PCs have to be replaced after 12-14 months, if the owner uses the machine regularly.

Lastly, if all fails, FDISK, FORMAT & Reinstall windows from an OEM disk. This will eliminate Recovering your system and all of HPs software that no one ever uses. This method has worked really well for me in 2000 and I did 67 HP Pavilions and Vectras.Also check out this link, you will see that you are not alone in this. HP has done a number on ya...sorry.

http://www.thecomplaintstation.com/h/hewlettpackard_toc.htm

Let me know how it goes.

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