Computer prob - stumped

Briggykins · 28-04-2009, 20:38

Hi all - this is a rather long post so apologies in advance!

I've been having some problems over the last couple of weeks. There are a number of symptoms - Windows runs very slowly with lots of mouse and keyboard lag, although opening programs doesn't seem to take much longer than usual. Programs will go Not Responding for a while, then perk up again.
Occasionally it'll lock up completely and require a restart. Also some times it'll take several minutes to boot into Windows (and sometimes not get there at all). The same is true of the Recovery Console. And even more occasionally I get blue screens, at least one of which mentioned crc_disk.sys. Also whenever I do get to the repair console and choose to repair startup errors, it likes to fix file system errors, which it then fixes again next time I need to run the repair console.

I thought it might be a HD problem. I was running 2 Sammys, but both seemed to have problems (as I still got problems after disconnecting the non-OS drive, and Windows wouldn't detect the non-OS drive on its own). I got a new 1tb Hitachi and reinstalled Windows which seemed to fix the problem for a week or so, but now I'm seeing the same problems again. I've just checked the disk usage in Resource Monitor and found that some of the Response Times were up the in 70,000ms range (although they've come back down again now). I've never been in there before so I don't know if that's normal, but my wife's laptop seems to top out at around 6,000.

I'm kind of stumped really. I'm wondering if it's possible there's some sort of motherboard problem, but I can't figure out how to check that. Any ideas welcome - if not, thanks for reading all this way anyway

(Note - I'm running Vista Ultimate x64 on an nForce 680i mobo).

Mark · 28-04-2009, 22:17

Sounds like it might be overheating and throttling. Do you have any monitoring software (e.g. SpeedFan)? Wouldn't hurt to check the heatsinks (CPU and northbridge if appropriate) haven't come loose, are clear of dust, and have working fans (again, if appropriate).

loki · 29-04-2009, 10:44

Is it all applications you are having this problem with or jsut certain ones. Also have you installed your chipset controller software for your Mobo ?

NokkonWud · 29-04-2009, 10:51

I would go Marks route of getting some informative monitoring software. I had the same things happen when my northbridge fan stopped working on my last motherboard and it was causing the PC to throttle.

Briggykins · 29-04-2009, 10:55

I'll have a look into that, ta. Have got the standard BIOS monitoring tools but nothing in Windows itself.
Swapped SATA ports around on my mobo last night and it seemed to suddenly fix the problem - whether it's temporary or not I don't know. But I'll check the fan speeds anyway while the going is good.

Admiral Huddy · 01-05-2009, 12:00

It's no good doing this in the BIOS..

Download Hardware Monitor.. to check your temps.

Also, download the Samsung HDD diagnostics utility. You'll need to burn the image to a CD and boot from that.

The tool will identify the Sammy's and will begin to check them. When asked, do a full surface scan. Other HDD manufactuters will have similar utilities.

NokkonWud · 01-05-2009, 14:32

How's it going, did you download monitor software?

Briggykins · 01-05-2009, 14:50

Not yet, had some OU work to do and did it while everything was okay

(and copied it off on to a memory stick as well). I have done the Samsung surface scan when I was using the sammys, but it didn't detect any problems. I'll probably do the temp monitoring thing on Sunday when I get back from a weekend away. Thanks for the ongoing help btw chaps

28-04-2009, 20:38	#1
Briggykins Vodka Martini Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Exeter Posts: 753	Computer prob - stumped Hi all - this is a rather long post so apologies in advance! I've been having some problems over the last couple of weeks. There are a number of symptoms - Windows runs very slowly with lots of mouse and keyboard lag, although opening programs doesn't seem to take much longer than usual. Programs will go Not Responding for a while, then perk up again. Occasionally it'll lock up completely and require a restart. Also some times it'll take several minutes to boot into Windows (and sometimes not get there at all). The same is true of the Recovery Console. And even more occasionally I get blue screens, at least one of which mentioned crc_disk.sys. Also whenever I do get to the repair console and choose to repair startup errors, it likes to fix file system errors, which it then fixes again next time I need to run the repair console. I thought it might be a HD problem. I was running 2 Sammys, but both seemed to have problems (as I still got problems after disconnecting the non-OS drive, and Windows wouldn't detect the non-OS drive on its own). I got a new 1tb Hitachi and reinstalled Windows which seemed to fix the problem for a week or so, but now I'm seeing the same problems again. I've just checked the disk usage in Resource Monitor and found that some of the Response Times were up the in 70,000ms range (although they've come back down again now). I've never been in there before so I don't know if that's normal, but my wife's laptop seems to top out at around 6,000. I'm kind of stumped really. I'm wondering if it's possible there's some sort of motherboard problem, but I can't figure out how to check that. Any ideas welcome - if not, thanks for reading all this way anyway (Note - I'm running Vista Ultimate x64 on an nForce 680i mobo). __________________

29-04-2009, 10:44	#3
loki Vodka Martini Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 871	Is it all applications you are having this problem with or jsut certain ones. Also have you installed your chipset controller software for your Mobo ? __________________ PC & Console LAN 9th-11th July

29-04-2009, 10:51	#4
NokkonWud BD Recruitment Officer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Smogville Posts: 3,880	I would go Marks route of getting some informative monitoring software. I had the same things happen when my northbridge fan stopped working on my last motherboard and it was causing the PC to throttle. __________________

29-04-2009, 10:55	#5
Briggykins Vodka Martini Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Exeter Posts: 753	I'll have a look into that, ta. Have got the standard BIOS monitoring tools but nothing in Windows itself. Swapped SATA ports around on my mobo last night and it seemed to suddenly fix the problem - whether it's temporary or not I don't know. But I'll check the fan speeds anyway while the going is good. __________________

01-05-2009, 12:00	#6
Admiral Huddy HOMO-Sapien Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chelmsford Posts: 6,692	It's no good doing this in the BIOS.. Download Hardware Monitor.. to check your temps. Also, download the Samsung HDD diagnostics utility. You'll need to burn the image to a CD and boot from that. The tool will identify the Sammy's and will begin to check them. When asked, do a full surface scan. Other HDD manufactuters will have similar utilities. __________________ I just got lost in thought.. It was very unfamiliar territory. Techie Talk \| My gaming Blog \| PC spec \| The Admirals log

28-04-2009, 22:17	#2
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Sounds like it might be overheating and throttling. Do you have any monitoring software (e.g. SpeedFan)? Wouldn't hurt to check the heatsinks (CPU and northbridge if appropriate) haven't come loose, are clear of dust, and have working fans (again, if appropriate).

01-05-2009, 14:32	#7
NokkonWud BD Recruitment Officer Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Smogville Posts: 3,880	How's it going, did you download monitor software? __________________

01-05-2009, 14:50	#8
Briggykins Vodka Martini Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Exeter Posts: 753	Not yet, had some OU work to do and did it while everything was okay (and copied it off on to a memory stick as well). I have done the Samsung surface scan when I was using the sammys, but it didn't detect any problems. I'll probably do the temp monitoring thing on Sunday when I get back from a weekend away. Thanks for the ongoing help btw chaps __________________