super lag...

Bluesky · Post by **Bluesky** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 10:09 am

I got my refurbished Dell 2400 in mid Sep. It came with 1 dimm 256mb ram. I upgraded another 256ram (Spec Tek from BestBuy, and a PCI Radeon 9100 64mb) in early Oct. My PC started to lag since 2 days ago. It was perfectly fine before.

I have used Ad-aware and anti virus software to scan my computer but found nothing wrong. Didn't install anything before the lagging started either.

thanks for any help,

ub3r_n00b · Post by **ub3r_n00b** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 10:33 am

i suggest you run taskman before you start gaming and end any processes that are un-necissary, close all open programs, a defrag wont hurt either..

what game are you experiencing lag in?

-Preet

TrevGlas · Post by **TrevGlas** » Mon Oct 27, 2003 2:50 pm

ALso, I would recommend tweaking your services. That helps ALOT.

Go to http://www.blackviper.com

find where it says XP services configuration

(assuming your using XP)

I would also recommend compressing your registry to get rid of all the gaps, fragments in your registry.

Bluesky · Post by **Bluesky** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 1:32 pm

thanks for the reply, but I think it's a hardware problem?

I re-installed WinXP last night (since 6EST time) and it's still not completed this morning at 8am. I have formatted the HD, so the machine should be reset to default setting, but it is still extremely slow.

Any suggestions?..

thanks!

TrevGlas · Post by **TrevGlas** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 5:16 pm

Well I don't know your system specs, but any newer AMD or Pentium will run XP perfectly. I would recommend a CLEAN ins tall, not just installing over it.

Boot froom bootdisk,

Delete partitions in FDISK

Recreate Partitions in FDISK

Reboot with XP cd in the drive. After install get your LATEST mobo drivers, etc etc.

You should run fine.

PS. POST YOUR SYSTEM SPECS,

Bluesky · Post by **Bluesky** » Tue Oct 28, 2003 11:54 pm

System Spec
Dell 2400
Intel P4 2.2ghz
256mb PC2700 DDR ram
80g HD
16X DVD
48X Burner
Radeon 9100 PCI card

Other than the video card, everything is dell original.

I did format my HD completely, but when I am re-installing WinXP Pro, it says can't install INI file, parameter error?

thanks Trev!

ub3r_n00b · Post by **ub3r_n00b** » Wed Oct 29, 2003 1:04 am

perhaps a faulty disk.. could be ram.. download a program called memtest 86 and run it (load it onto a floppy and boot from floppy)..

otherwise, be sure to disable APIC in bios

-Preet

TrevGlas · Post by **TrevGlas** » Wed Oct 29, 2003 12:30 pm

That system will definitely run windows perfectly.

Yea do as Preet said test your ram and also get a hard drive testing program.

Also, try clearing your BIOS your mobo might have a jumper to clear the BIOS.

If the hard drive and ram test out fine, try zerofilling your HD. Depending on what brand you have it will be on their website.
You MUST use the zerofilling program from your manufacturer.

Formatting can sometimes leave errors still on the hard drive, zerofilling returns it to its original state from the factory.

If all this doesn't work, I would think that some kind of hardware error.

Trev

Bluesky · Post by **Bluesky** » Wed Oct 29, 2003 2:49 pm

thanks so much for the help!

I have noticed on task manager my CPU is always running at 100%, which is very weird. I tried to do a memory test, but it's taking so long, I will try again tonight.

My HD is WD, I went to their web page and couldn't find any program that is called zerofilling?

thanks again,

TrevGlas · Post by **TrevGlas** » Wed Oct 29, 2003 2:59 pm

http://support.wdc.com/download/index.asp#diagutils

Download "DLG Diagnostic".

Have a blank disk ready. Click the file that you downloaded, it will create a diagnostic disk from the blank floppy.

Reboot CPU with the disk in the drive.
Also, before you do this, have an extra boot disk JUST in case.
It has options to diagnose your drive, and to fill it with zeros. First diagnose then zerofill.

Be prepared to lose all your data on your hard drive. COMPLETELY zerofill your harddrive. ( Will take like 2 - 3 hours).

Then reinstall. First install your latest mobo drivers, then directx 9, then video drivers. Then post back and tell me how its going.

ub3r_n00b · Post by **ub3r_n00b** » Wed Oct 29, 2003 7:20 pm

yeah totally - btw memtest86 should run for atleast 12 hours or so...

Do what Trev said and then get back to us

-Preet

Bluesky · Post by **Bluesky** » Wed Oct 29, 2003 9:17 pm

really appriciate the help!

I tried what Trev suggested, but when I pop in the floppy, it says "NO WD drives found"

I checked my dell packing slip, it does say WD HD XL40.

one other weird thing is, I have a 256mb ram, but in the bios and hardware manager only show 248mb?...

thanks again,

TrevGlas · Post by **TrevGlas** » Wed Oct 29, 2003 10:00 pm

Well I'm assuming by that that your board has two IDE options? ATA / IDE right? I had the same thing on my old board.

Take the hard drive out of the Primary ATA slot, and transfer it to the primary IDE slot.

Should be RIGHT next to what your plugged into now.

ub3r_n00b · Post by **ub3r_n00b** » Thu Oct 30, 2003 1:01 am

Originally posted by Bluesky
really appriciate the help!

I tried what Trev suggested, but when I pop in the floppy, it says "NO WD drives found"

I checked my dell packing slip, it does say WD HD XL40.

one other weird thing is, I have a 256mb ram, but in the bios and hardware manager only show 248mb?...

thanks again,

if it shows 248 megs.. it means that your board has onboard video.. so it dedicates a few megs to the video.. even if you arent using it..

atleast thats what i think

-Preet

Bluesky · Post by **Bluesky** » Fri Oct 31, 2003 3:37 pm

thanks for the help and suggestions!

I phoned dell tech support again.. and found that Dell has a diagnostic CD.

turns out my CPU might be bad (according to the CSR) it says there is no cache.

Brk · Post by **Brk** » Sat Nov 01, 2003 9:31 am

Originally posted by Bluesky
I have noticed on task manager my CPU is always running at 100%

This is your problem, and has nothing to do with failing hardware.

Start > Run > msconfig

Please list here EVERYTHING under the Startup tab.

Then, if you can, post a screenshot of everything running in Task Manager.

Bluesky · Post by **Bluesky** » Sat Nov 08, 2003 12:01 pm

a dell tech came over yesterday replaced the MB, CPU, RAM and everything is good now

Brk · Post by **Brk** » Sat Nov 08, 2003 12:52 pm

Originally posted by Bluesky
a dell tech came over yesterday replaced the MB, CPU, RAM and everything is good now

There was no need for that. But if it works...

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Sat Nov 08, 2003 3:10 pm

Why did someone recommend disabling APIC? I love it. Never had an issue with it. Good to get rid of legacy IRQ settings.