need help with slow laptop

[WaveDemon]

I have a older laptop that is much slower than it should be.

Dell inspiron 6000
1.73 gh
2g ram
xp sp3


It can barely run google chrome with nothing else running.

I doubled the ram recently and it didn't improve the speed at all. A virus scan takes 12+ hours on a 140gb hard drive that has 100gb unused.


Any advice? I probably havn't given enough info so let me know if you need anything else.

 

[SuperJETT]

First, open a command prompt and run chkdsk /r then tell it yes to let it check the disk at next reboot, then reboot and let it fully check the drive.

If you have bad sectors on the drive, that should find them and mark them as bad plus try to recover the data that was on them.

After that, full virus scan then run Spybot Search&Destroy and see where you are.

 

[WaveDemon]

thanks, running check disk on it now.

 

[bllewis394]

can also run malwarebytes in safe mode, that will get rid of most stuff except vundo and various other nasty ones.

 

[WaveDemon]

step 4 of 5, verifying file data....1%

it's taken about an hour to get that 1% this is going to take a while.

 

[SuperJETT]

That's a sure sign of bad sectors if it takes forever to get through 4 (data) and 5 (free space).

Grab a movie, it might be a while...

 

[WaveDemon]

I guess thats a good sign, I need something to fix right?

 

[MADMAT]

Any luck?

 

[SuperJETT]

Any luck?

I think he's at 4%. :hitwithrock:

 

[MADMAT]

Ahhhhggg!!!

 

[WaveDemon]

I think he's at 4%. :hitwithrock:

step 4: 85% :cool2:

 

[SuperJETT]

Seriously? I have had it take 12 hours before on a really bad one that I just wanted to recover some files off of at work, but normally it's 2-3 hours for one with a few errors.

If it's really taking this long, then you need a new drive immediately. Copy your stuff off if you need to.

 

[WaveDemon]

I'm probably not going to replace this HDD again. this laptop is falling apart. literally, the hinges are broken. If this doesn't fix it I may look for a used laptop in better condition.

 

[MADMAT]

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_trkpar...0&_sticky=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_sop=3&_sc=1


Get another one but mint and have spare parts.

Most of those hinges can be tightened up. I could rip it all apart and reassemble/refurbish it in January.

 

[ger87410]

You're laptop's still good.

Let me know is you decide to get rid of it. In the mean time, U could try combofix.org.

 

[AtomicPunk]

tim, maybe I can help you fix that thing...

 

[swanny]

computer question: does anyone know how to find where you WEP key is for a linksys router. People cant get on my internet without this key and I dont know it anymore.

 

[ger87410]

It's set in the router.

Just go into the configuration and change the key to whatever you want. I suggest using WPA2.

 

[WaveDemon]

the hdd makes sense for the symptoms it has.

it takes a very long time to open a program. once it opens it works normally (most of the time). Virus scans take an eternity. check disk took around 14 hrs.


I guess I'll replace the drive again. The other issue for this laptop is the frame the hinges bolt to is broken. I've jb welded it a couple of times but it always breaks. Thanks to matt 's suggestion I decided to see what I could find on ebay for repairs also. I found just what I needed for the right price.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Dell-Inspiron-6...aultDomain_0?hash=item4ceb77583d#ht_580wt_939


Since this laptop costs more used on ebay than a new netbook I guess it's worth fixing.

 

[ger87410]

If you think that drive is toast, send it my way. I'll pay for shipping.

I'm betting your problem is related to spyware/malware. Of course, assuming your drive is greater then 100GB.