Help! Lapotp Computer performence is lagging

[GenMarshall]

This has just happened today. My computer has suddenly decided to become very laggy. Here is the problem, for a few minutes, it runs normaly and then suddenly the computer freezes up with the disk icon still lit. Ive done the Control-Alt-Del to get the task manager up to see the running processes and I dont see anything that would do that?

Can anyone help?
Thanks

Edit: The problem starts when ever I use the Microsoft Anti-Spyware to run a scan on my computer.

 

[Souron]

Well ofcourse scanning your computer will cause lag.

I would suggest not scanning the drive when your using your computer for other stuff.

 

[GenMarshall]

Well ofcourse scanning your computer will cause lag.

I would suggest not scanning the drive when your using your computer for other stuff.

I actualy discovered that Microsoft Antispyware scanner was not the culprate. Apperently there was a hidden spyware/malware that bypassed my defenses and wrecked havock on my window system files which made it very sluggish to the point where it does not respond to anything.

 

[GenMarshall]

I have another update to report about my laggyness. When I am on freez for a prolonged period of time, I keep getting the "Blue Screen of Death". I dont know what is going on with my laptop and I am typing on my desktop right now.

I dont know if there is signifigant damage to the disk drives, I do not know .

 

[Reno]

If you can't delete the spyware, then i suggest you format your laptop and install some kind of firewall. (more then one if needed, Zone Alarm and Tiny Personal Firewall are good examples)

 

[Thrawn]

You shouldn't really need more than 1 firewall imo.

 

[Reno]

You shouldn't really need more than 1 firewall imo.

Yeah, but it can't hurt to try. I personally use only one firewall and it's zone alarm.

 

[Thrawn]

Could cause conflicts though if you use more than one.

 

[Reno]

Could cause conflicts though if you use more than one.

Has not caused for me ever, but it depends on what Firewalls you use.

 

[Zakharov]

@CivGeneral, have you tried a virus scan? It could be a worm that is causing lag rather than spyware.

 

[GenMarshall]

Ive checked it and it said that there are no worms. I have made a log so far from the start this thing happened:

2/8/2005:
Sluggish
Some files are present but cannot be read

2/9/2005:
Reinstalled Windows

2/10/2005:
File Missing in C:/windows/system
Reinstalled Windows

2/11/2005:
Sluggish
(When installing MSTS. Twards the end, HD's light still lit and keeps making cycleing noises and when running MSTS)

I am getting the feeling that I might need a new Hard Drive. IIRC, I think I have gotten frustrated with the computer and banged it. I have not heard anyting out of the ordinary (IE, hearing the heads scraping the plates). Right now I am not conserned with file recovery, just a reliable HD.

I have run scan disk and since I reinstalled windows the 2nd time. Windows is not able to complete the disk check. Normaly the disk check would run through untill it is compleated.

*Sigh* looks like my laptop is going to have another trip to the Computer Help Desk in school .

 

[Jeratain]

Did you "reinstall" Windows both times or did you wipe your harddrive by formatting and do a fresh installof Windows?

 

[GenMarshall]

Did you "reinstall" Windows both times or did you wipe your harddrive by formatting and do a fresh installof Windows?

I did reformated the HD and reinstalled windows, twice (The second time was because a critical OS file was not found).

 

[Jeratain]

1. What version of Windows is this?
2. Are you installing the latest service packs and updates?
3. Are you installing a virus scan?
4. Have you installed the latest sound, video, and chipset drivers (whichever are applicable.)?
5. What process are you taking right after you reinstall Windows - what are the first things you run / install / delete and whatnot?

 

[GenMarshall]

1. What version of Windows is this?
2. Are you installing the latest service packs and updates?
3. Are you installing a virus scan?
4. Have you installed the latest sound, video, and chipset drivers (whichever are applicable.)?
5. What process are you taking right after you reinstall Windows - what are the first things you run / install / delete and whatnot?

1. Windows XP
2. No. Reason being is that if I connect to the internet for a split second, a spyware program will quickly infect me. I only have SP1 on the OS restore disk
3. Just Nortin Anti-Virus after reinstalling windows
4. No
5. I just use the system operation restore disk that boots to the install screen. The first thing I install are Spybot, spywareblaster, Bazooka Spyware scanner, driver reinstall disk, and Transport Tycoon Deluxe. Windows ran normal up untill Ive installed MSTS (The Microsoft Train Simulator disks are still in good condition).

 

[Jeratain]

1. Windows XP
2. No. Reason being is that if I connect to the internet for a split second, a spyware program will quickly infect me. I only have SP1 on the OS restore disk

Spyware, maybe not. Virus? Very possible. I recommend slipstreaming SP2 with your XP disk, or just having a copy of it available for installation directly after you install XP. This is, in fact, the very first thing you should do right after installing Windows. Do not have your computer connected to the internet until you have installed SP2 and a virus scanner.

3. Just Nortin Anti-Virus after reinstalling windows

As I said above, make sure you are not connected to the internet before you install this. Also, once you are updated on service packs and the virus scanner, make sure that the first things you do when you connect to the internet are to install the latest virus definitions for NAV and the latest critical updates for Windows.

4. No

Update your drivers. Old drivers are often the cause of many problems.

5. I just use the system operation restore disk that boots to the install screen. The first thing I install are Spybot, spywareblaster, Bazooka Spyware scanner, driver reinstall disk, and Transport Tycoon Deluxe. Windows ran normal up untill Ive installed MSTS (The Microsoft Train Simulator disks are still in good condition).

This isn't really the best route to go for a newly reformatted system.

 

[GenMarshall]

Ive just installed SpeedFan 4.20 and I have gotten a warning plate near the "Raw Read Error Rate". Can anyone decipher that one?

 

[GenMarshall]

Well, I just did a full scandisk and I have discovered hundereds of sectors that are very errorness. It looks like I should drop off my laptop to the Computer Help Desk in college. I dont realy have anything important installed in this computer (after doing a full reinstall of windows).

@Jeratain - The solution you gave me does not work since it only relates to software (This is just my preception). The problem I am having (which I have a gut feeling) is that the problem is more on the physical scale. I am getting the feeling that there is damage on the hard drive's plates after seeing a sequence of sector errors in the scandisk.

Now I have numorus questions now.
How is the Hard Drive going to be replaced on a laptop?
Does the replacement Hard Drive have windows already installed in it?