sudden slowness -vista 64.please help!

W

wolf1

New Member
Hi,
I'm using vista 64 for the last 2 months and it worked quite good in general.
Yesterday after downloading some automatic updates (and i don't think this was the cause for what i specify next...) the system started working very slow, with sudden freezes, slow reaction to clicks on icons, starting programs etc. Another annoying issue that the system started booting very slow: after the green marker which shows after booting, there's a very long stop before i get the log on window. What's really strange is that i don't see the harddrive working in this time...it seems like freeze, like the one happens when the windows is up and running.

My system is intel quad q6600 cpu, 4gb 800 mhz memory,gigabye dq6 680i motherboard,and new hitachi sata2 hardrives.

Does it sounds more like hardware problem? (till yesterday all was good!)or more like windows problem? (i have a backup of the system from 2 months ago,right after i installed the system, but no more backups and restore points....)

I'd really appreciate your advices on this.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Intel core 2 quad 6600
    Memory
    4GB 800 mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    gigabyte geforce 8800 ultra 768mb pci express
Hi Wolfie. Could we get some more info on your system, HDD's, age of components, any installed programs you may have added recently? Indeed anything you can think of that could be implicated. What were the updates?

Norm:geek:
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Scratch Built
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core 6600
    Motherboard
    Asus P5B
    Memory
    4096 MB Xtreme-Dark 800mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Zotac Amp Edition 8800GT - 512MB DDR3, O/C 700mhz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 206BW
    Screen Resolution
    1680 X 1024
    Hard Drives
    4 X Samsung 500GB 7200rpm Serial ATA-II HDD w. 16MB Cache .
    PSU
    550 w
    Case
    Thermaltake
    Cooling
    3 x octua NF-S12-1200 - 120mm 1200RPM Sound Optimised Fans
    Keyboard
    Microsoft
    Mouse
    Targus
    Internet Speed
    1500kbs
    Other Info
    Self built.
well, other from the cpu,board and memory?
i have a gigabye 8800 ultra graphic card (see my details as well), 3 sata 2 hdd. The main hdd is 320, seprated to two volumes: the windows sits on a 83 gig,the rest is on a second volume. i think this is a fresh 2 months old hitachi hdd, i have another 1yr old 320 toshiba and 500 seagate one.

the updates were cataloged as "important" - windows defender updates, windows malicous remover updates, outlook etc.
I happen to see that the slowness occured when i did the updates - i don't think it happend because of that....
how can i know if it's the cpu, memory etc.??
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Intel core 2 quad 6600
    Memory
    4GB 800 mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    gigabyte geforce 8800 ultra 768mb pci express
Did you check in windows update if the updates were installed correctly? I had this happen once and it turned out ok after I reinstalled them.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Core2Duo 2.66
    Motherboard
    MSI P35 Neo
    Memory
    2GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro
wolf1 said:
Hi,
I'm using vista 64 for the last 2 months and it worked quite good in general.
Yesterday after downloading some automatic updates (and i don't think this was the cause for what i specify next...) the system started working very slow, with sudden freezes, slow reaction to clicks on icons, starting programs etc. Another annoying issue that the system started booting very slow: after the green marker which shows after booting, there's a very long stop before i get the log on window. What's really strange is that i don't see the harddrive working in this time...it seems like freeze, like the one happens when the windows is up and running.

My system is intel quad q6600 cpu, 4gb 800 mhz memory,gigabye dq6 680i motherboard,and new hitachi sata2 hardrives.

Does it sounds more like hardware problem? (till yesterday all was good!)or more like windows problem? (i have a backup of the system from 2 months ago,right after i installed the system, but no more backups and restore points....)

I'd really appreciate your advices on this.
Click to expand...

Check the Sata cables on your hard drives are not loose. This is a common problem with sata.

Also run a check on your HDD's. The slow starting, freezing etc. could be due to a faulty HDD. It doesn't have to be the C drive to cause these problems. Try running with just the C drive to see if there is any difference.:geek:
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Scratch Built
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core 6600
    Motherboard
    Asus P5B
    Memory
    4096 MB Xtreme-Dark 800mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Zotac Amp Edition 8800GT - 512MB DDR3, O/C 700mhz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 206BW
    Screen Resolution
    1680 X 1024
    Hard Drives
    4 X Samsung 500GB 7200rpm Serial ATA-II HDD w. 16MB Cache .
    PSU
    550 w
    Case
    Thermaltake
    Cooling
    3 x octua NF-S12-1200 - 120mm 1200RPM Sound Optimised Fans
    Keyboard
    Microsoft
    Mouse
    Targus
    Internet Speed
    1500kbs
    Other Info
    Self built.
+1 Agreed with NormCameron on loosen SATA cables. Try to push and shake the connectors at the HDDs and replace them with after market cables when you have a chance.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    E6850
    Motherboard
    EVGA 122-CK-NF67-A1 680i
    Memory
    4 x OCZ Platinum 1GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 5850 1GB
    Sound Card
    SB X-Fi X Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 23" 5MS
    Screen Resolution
    2048 x 1152
    Hard Drives
    2 x Barracuda 7200.10 320GB RAID 0 / 1 x 500GB Maxtor
    PSU
    Seasonic 600W M12
    Case
    CM Centurion 5
    Cooling
    air
    Internet Speed
    100Mbps
i think they were installed ok...doesn't say any problem in the update history....

about the cables - is it a common thing?
i'll try to check....
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Intel core 2 quad 6600
    Memory
    4GB 800 mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    gigabyte geforce 8800 ultra 768mb pci express
wolf1 said:
i think they were installed ok...doesn't say any problem in the update history....

about the cables - is it a common thing?
i'll try to check....
Click to expand...
Yes. And the symptoms you describe can be caused by faulty SATA cables ie not seating properly or loose, or, faulty hard drive.:geek:
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Scratch Built
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core 6600
    Motherboard
    Asus P5B
    Memory
    4096 MB Xtreme-Dark 800mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Zotac Amp Edition 8800GT - 512MB DDR3, O/C 700mhz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 206BW
    Screen Resolution
    1680 X 1024
    Hard Drives
    4 X Samsung 500GB 7200rpm Serial ATA-II HDD w. 16MB Cache .
    PSU
    550 w
    Case
    Thermaltake
    Cooling
    3 x octua NF-S12-1200 - 120mm 1200RPM Sound Optimised Fans
    Keyboard
    Microsoft
    Mouse
    Targus
    Internet Speed
    1500kbs
    Other Info
    Self built.
Hi,
Can it really be cable's issue?i mean the hdd wouldn't have work if the cables weren't connected properly,would they?? (can they work when some cable is "partly" connected??)
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Intel core 2 quad 6600
    Memory
    4GB 800 mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    gigabyte geforce 8800 ultra 768mb pci express
It would be interesting to find out if System Restore could get you out of this.

I'm making the assumption that a guy can "system restore" his way out of updates..

Anyway, if a system restore fixes the problem then its not a hardware problem.
 

My Computer

System One

wolf1 said:
Hi,
Can it really be cable's issue?i mean the hdd wouldn't have work if the cables weren't connected properly,would they?? (can they work when some cable is "partly" connected??)
Click to expand...


Take a look here

hardware initiate failed press g to cont - Desktops
and here
SATA Cable Problem With 74.3GB WD Raptor - PC Perspective Forums
and here
Sata Cable Problems? - Overclockers Forums
and here
Neowin Forums > Loose SATA Cablehttp://www.neowin.net/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t558692.html

I won't go on The answer is that a cable can make a connection that is "fragile". It may be OK at rest, but the vibration fron the various computer components and simply heat expansion will break the connection or make it intermittant.

As I said it MAY be the cables or it MAY be a faulty HDD. Both are suspect in the symptoms you describe. Because it occurs during startup it is unlikely to be your OS or the updates.

:geek:
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Scratch Built
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core 6600
    Motherboard
    Asus P5B
    Memory
    4096 MB Xtreme-Dark 800mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Zotac Amp Edition 8800GT - 512MB DDR3, O/C 700mhz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 206BW
    Screen Resolution
    1680 X 1024
    Hard Drives
    4 X Samsung 500GB 7200rpm Serial ATA-II HDD w. 16MB Cache .
    PSU
    550 w
    Case
    Thermaltake
    Cooling
    3 x octua NF-S12-1200 - 120mm 1200RPM Sound Optimised Fans
    Keyboard
    Microsoft
    Mouse
    Targus
    Internet Speed
    1500kbs
    Other Info
    Self built.
I can't system restore, because for some reason i couldn't find any restore point before this last updata:-(
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Intel core 2 quad 6600
    Memory
    4GB 800 mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    gigabyte geforce 8800 ultra 768mb pci express
Well, i tried disconnecting the other hdds,and changed the system disk's cable to a new one, but it didn't changed anyhting.
I'll try to reinstall the updates and see if it has any affect.
i'll update...
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Intel core 2 quad 6600
    Memory
    4GB 800 mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    gigabyte geforce 8800 ultra 768mb pci express
Uninstall all the most recent updates just before probs emerged. If probs resolve, re-install one update at a time until probs recur then unstall the very last one before recurrence.

BTW, I have long abandoned automatic updates...I ran into this kind of stuff caused by "important" or "critical" update. I wait until I have a few then install after creating "restore point"....just in case.

Also look into some of your add-ons. They can cause this freezing.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion dv7-1170us
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Duo T5800 @ 2.00GHz
    Motherboard
    Compal
    Memory
    4.096
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT
    Screen Resolution
    1440 x 900
    Hard Drives
    289.09 GB
    Keyboard
    IBM enhanced (101-or 102) keyboard
    Mouse
    Synaptics PS/2 Port TouchPad
    Internet Speed
    cable Wireless
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