Revisiting my balky PC!

[Boomyal]

Re: Revisiting my balky PC!

I think I have asked you this before but have you ever done a new clean install of XP?

If you ever want to really speed up your PC, get a solid state drive and have it boot the OS up off it. I wouldn't have another computer without one.

No bruce, I have not done that since this units inception. I have been heading in that direction but because of the symptoms, I have hesitated. With the lengthy 'warmup' requirement before things will open and close, I wondered if I had a HD problem as well.

I don't think my MB will support a digital hard drive. Furthermore, I am not familiar with them. The only other form I am somewhat aware of is the SATA Drive and my MB will definitely not support that. I know my unit is getting long in the tooth but I no longer have the fire to play with this stuff, like I did when I built this one with my young son. (long gone to WA DC) I just want to be able to use it at yesterdays levels.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Revisiting my balky PC!

Boom /my computer/cursor over hard drive to get free and used space,then on your left under System tasks {left pane} click on view system information....new window click system restore tab...at this new window system restore check out the disk space usage....it's real safe to slide it down to 3000mb> 3gig's this will limit the amount of space used by system restore ...known as Shadow Storage

It was set at 12% (3597 MB) I set it down to 10% (2917 mb, nearest choice to 3000 mb)

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Revisiting my balky PC!

Bring up the task manager, Processes tab, click on the CPU column to get the highest usage processes at the top. What's taking all the processor, System Idle Process or,,, something else? (svchost.exe?)

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Revisiting my balky PC!

download this:
Process Explorer
Way better than task manager.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Revisiting my balky PC!

Bring up the task manager, Processes tab, click on the CPU column to get the highest usage processes at the top. What's taking all the processor, System Idle Process or,,, something else? (svchost.exe?)

Well fd, I would have to do that immediately after start up, when the computer is at is worst. But then, if I do not try to open anything, maybe nothing will show. It is only when I try to open something that everything locks up and it does then show 100% usage.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Revisiting my balky PC!

But then, if I do not try to open anything, maybe nothing will show.

Something will show as there is always something running when the PC is on. The "System Idle Process" I asked about should be taking a high amount of processor resources when nothing is running on the PC, this is good. (My PC shows 98% being used by the System Idle process right now, it will fluctuate.)

Soooo, what does the the Task Manager show?

 

[dolluper]

Re: Revisiting my balky PC!

Boom theres a little mini tool for changing partitions....free for home use....works pretty painlessly....I would back up my data first just in case you know weird things can happen....anyways here's a link to video's on different functions with this tool......your cd may be taking some space also.....also search TEMP files.... not internet temporyfiles....pretty well all of those space hogs can be deleted some take you to the site html's...all the junk you downloaded for years.....I would guess you could gain a couple of gig's of space or more....oh yeah the link video's Video Help of partition manager - Partition Wizard.

 

[alldodge]

Re: Revisiting my balky PC!

Boom did you try to load the stuff I mentioned a few weeks ago pertaining to scvhoist ?

Windows XP update locks machines with SVCHOST redlined at 100%: Fix it with KB 2879017 | Microsoft windows - InfoWorld

 

[dolluper]

Re: Revisiting my balky PC!

If he had auto updates turned on he would've got KB2879017 in Oct 2013 and KB2898785 in Dec 2013 it's possible I guess he didn't...in fact that's if he is using IE8 .....What explorer verison are using Boom?....when in explorer click help and then click on about Internet Explorer

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Revisiting my balky PC!

Just booted the PC in question, then clicked on IE. It took two full minutes to fully open and populate the browser. I finally confirmed that I still had IE8. It was installed after this crisis started and subsequent updates would lock the computer up so bad, a restore had to be done, to get it to the state it is in now. That's when the updates were turned off. I hesitate to turn them back on as at least now, with a little patience after booting, the computer is useable.

Also note, I seldom open IE on this computer as I have quit doing any net work on it.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Revisiting my balky PC!

Boom did you try to load the stuff I mentioned a few weeks ago pertaining to scvhoist ?

Windows XP update locks machines with SVCHOST redlined at 100%: Fix it with KB 2879017 | Microsoft windows - InfoWorld

No, AllDodge. It got by me. I will keep this page open (other pc) and look into doing it sometime today.

 

[alldodge]

Re: Revisiting my balky PC!

No, AllDodge. It got by me. I will keep this page open (other pc) and look into doing it sometime today.

This is what I sent you last week

Tried the install and turns out KB2879017 could not be installed on my computer because I have IE8. Did some more research and turns out KB2888505 is for IE8 so I installed it. Then installed KB2898785 as mentioned before and so far everything is back to normal. Need to reboot after each piece of software. Turned updates back on and system restore. I never did use automatic updates always had it set to notify me of the updates and I would choose the ones to install and when. If your running different then IE8 go to google and enter "scvhost processer 99 IE (enter your version of explorer). It should come back with the software needed to fix the issue.

Since your using IE8 like I was then the same files should work for you. Down load then install KB2888505 first, then do the same for KB2898785, after rebooting it should work but then again it did great for my XP computer and hope it does the same for you.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Revisiting my balky PC!

Since your using IE8 like I was then the same files should work for you. Down load then install KB2888505 first, then do the same for KB2898785, after rebooting it should work but then again it did great for my XP computer and hope it does the same for you.

Hmmm...my GF is having problems with her XP machine and I haven't had a chance to look at it yet. I will see if these updates have been installed.

 

[dolluper]

Re: Revisiting my balky PC!

Humm so you did a restore...might have less in a lot of ways.....some of your programs may need updates and or patches to run right

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Revisiting my balky PC!

Hmmm...my GF is having problems with her XP machine and I haven't had a chance to look at it yet. I will see if these updates have been installed.

Where do you look to see if they have been installed?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Revisiting my balky PC!

Been awhile since I have been on XP. Open control panel and then add/remove programs. There should be a show updates button. I am so used to Windows 7 now I have forgotten where it is on XP. Hopefully, someone else will know for sure.

Might also have a history in Windows Update.

AllDodge, do you know?

 

[alldodge]

Re: Revisiting my balky PC!

Where do you look to see if they have been installed?

Don't have my XP computer her (at my other place) but should be able to open IE. Select windows update, then find update history or something like history. Should bring up a list of what has been installed and failed to install

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Revisiting my balky PC!

Using IE 8, clicking on the Safety tab will show Windows Update in the drop down. Clicking that will open the Microsoft Update page. On the left pane, click on Review Your Update History.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Revisiting my balky PC!

Far as I know, the updates AllDodge listed (if ^^^ they are the fixes for svchost)have to be run manually, they won't automatically install if Automatic Updates is turned on and set to automatically install the updates. (gotta love MS.....)

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Revisiting my balky PC!

Far as I know, the updates AllDodge listed (if ^^^ they are the fixes for svchost)have to be run manually, they won't automatically install if Automatic Updates is turned on and set to automatically install the updates. (gotta love MS.....)

Not to disagree (but I am), both the updates are "Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer 8 for Windows XP" and are part of Automatic Updates and will install when you shutdown your PC or if you install them when you get notified that updates are ready to install. But Auto Update has to be turned on.