Help me please ....

S

sdd

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Apr 11, 2006
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For some reason XP has suddenly began to run super slow on one of my PC's

My DVD burning speeds have gone down to less than 2x (normally burns at 16-18x)

My games run but stutter every now and then. The video stops and the audio rumbles frantically.

One one of my utilities, I saw the MFT is 99% used.
My power supply is new, PC is about 6 months old.
It is located in a cool study.

I am at my wits end here - what could be wrong?


PC spec

XP SP3
Q6600
4GB Ram (2+2GB)
8800GT
550W PSU

I have latest k-lite, gfx card, and m/b drivers installed.
 
Should add that I run AVG suite and Zonealarm on this PC.

Ran both plus spybot s&d and things come clean.
 
Ran virus scan - all checks ok.

Operating system running for about 6 months - genuine XP SP3.
 
Got an Ubuntu Live disc? Try something like that and run top to see what it's like. Will at least rule out hardware
 
I've been seeing a lot of issues with a svchost.exe process relating to msupdate using 100% cpu and cycling endlessly nowhere- switching to vanilla windows update has sorted this for me. Don't know why...
 
Also check your transfer mode on your IDE channels. Sometimes when your DVD-rom tries to read a scratched or damaged disc it will revert to the slowest transfer mode which is PIO. You don't want that! You'll have to change it back to UDMA2 or higher if it allows you to.
 
Stuff this - I am gonna re-install XP. Had enough of fault finding.

If I re-install, will I still have my files there or will everything go. I seem to recall some years back I did this and I did not lose anthing - just the XP files were renewed - I stand corrected co it was a long time back.
 
You need to backup all your data, format and reinstall XP. This is your best option.

You can try and install XP over your current installation but you can (will) experience problems in the future and you get the annoying Windows.000 folder.

Backup your user (the ones you want to keep, aswell), in Documents and Settings, this will include your My Documents aswell and your Desktop.
Backup anything else in your C Drive, you want to keep.

Format, install XP, Create a user(s) with the same user(s) you backup. Login, then logout, login as another user. Delete the user you just created in Documents and Settings, then copy the backuped user directory into Documents and Settings. Login with that user. Remember your "new" and "old" user should be the same name.
 
Before you try format just do a windows repair its helped me before.
 
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