Computer Slows Down, Won't Start Up at times

I'll describe my problem. Basically, my computer is completely fine for a month, month and a half. However, it'll suddenly, without warning slow down drastically. I don't do anything, I swear. The only things I install on it are AVG Antivirus, Coffecup Software, Microsoft Office 2003, and CS2. And the firefox, Windows Updates. And Guild Wars of course. But, I do all of this the first day I do the HP system recovery thing, and from that point on I don't install or uninstall anything.

It's working fine, I defrag with JKDefrag everyday. I shut it off. I wake up next morning. It'll boot and stay at the splash screen for a long time, I type in my password, and it logs on very slowly, I'm talking 5 minutes. Then, it'll be really slow. I'll do my stuff, then I shut off. I try to turn it back on...and it does the dreaded thing. It stays at the splash screen 15-20 minutes, goes dark for another good while, then reboots and starts the process over. 2 times I had to reinstall using the HP Recovery disc. This isn't a gradual thing, it's instant.

My ideas on the sources:
-Overheating PSU. I feel it. It gets hot. Really hot.
-Overheating of any other component.
-Not a virus, I ran many scans.
-Faulty hardware (I doubt that too, because why would it work fine for awhile?)

There's my rant. Ty for any help

EDIT: System Specs:

HP Model Number: irrelevant, but if one needs it m9250f
Processor: q6700
RAM: 4gb DDR2 800 ram
PSU: 350w (not sure the brand)
Video Card: 8600gt
Windows Vista Premium 64-bit Service Pack 1

Yeah i guess the problem is overheating, try use window open or someting. and there is some computer heat meters where you can see that, try em.

It could be faulty RAM. Perhaps one of the RAM modules on your board has a faulty chip somewhere, else some fault onm the motherboard.

It might be worth updating your motherboard driver and your graphics card driver as well, especially if you have Vista, as there are known issues similar to what you have described with the latest revision of the MS OS.

Overheating could also be a problem, make sure your system fans are all working properly. Try using a can of compressed air from your local PC shop to clean the innards of your machine. Also, make sure your machine has room to breath, basically that air isn't blocked at the front or back of the box.

With JKDefrag, make sure you're only doing fast defrag everyday, otherwise your HDD will probably die a slow death. A rebuild of your system will generally fix your HDD problems for a while, but over-defragmentation can be more harm than it's worth. If you run JKDefrag at its default then you should be ok, just don't run a defrag -a all the time or you'll wind up in trouble.

I'd say YES there is something wrong with your computer. If I understand correctly and based on my quote, your computer is rather new? If so, you should really consider contact the place where you got it.

The system restore discs restores the system to it's delivery state, and if there was a software issue, it should have been resolved by sthe system restore.

Faulty RAM or overheated Power Supply is highely likely, but if I were you, I'd try to get them to give you a brand new computer using the warranty. Even if the swap the RAM and the Power Supply, you will never know if there is something else in there that was damaged as well by whatever happened to your little electronic friend...


Good luck, I sure hope all turns out well!

Let's get more infromation, such as your OS, service pack, etc.

One problem is JKDefrag.

Taken from the Known Issues section.

Did you add a new gfx card to the machine? Many of the standard machines come with barely adequate PSUs as it is and adding any further load will overheat the PSU as well as slow the gfx card (not being able to get the current needed).
I have HPs too and had to replace one of the PSUs when I put a decent graphic card in.

I would suggest from what you say, that checking out newegg or similar for a new psu would be my first option (even if its software related, from the sounds of your psu is needs help anyway).
Good luck!

Oops. I knew I forgot something. Will in a sec. I wasn't ever sure if JKDefrag did anything negative to my computer. Should have checked. I know that's not why it didn't boot though, because it did this when it was brand new 7ish months ago before I started using JKDefrag

No. I wish. I know for a fact that the stupid standard PSU on HP's can't support the video card I am searching for right now. It has an 8600gt that came included with it, but the PSU meets its requirements.

I'd call the manufacturer because you're bound to have a 1 year warranty minimum.

No, that might not be true. I have bought refurbs that have only 90 days warranty and if changes have been made to the hardware then that could invalidate it too.

I am making the assumption that the OP would have gone down that avenue if it was available (have you tried to deal with some of the warranties too? - I remember the good old days when customer service meant something.. ).

Yeah, refurbs often have much smaller warranties, though it seemed a good suggestion since they did say it was brand new 7 months ago:

Have you tried measuring the Hardware components temperatures?

Look for a programm called HWmonitor on google (or maybe soemone can link you to this or a similar programm) and post a picture of the temperatures here.

Quite often drastic slowdowns are coppled with too high temperatures... although they usually also come with loads of BSODs (which you didnt mention).

But with prefab systems your only solution is to claim on the warranty service, because if you change anything you run the strong risk of loosing the warranty completely.

I'd add my vote to overheating. You say the PSU gets hot. Have you checked to make sure the fan in the PSU is working? Have you blown the dust out of it?
While you're at it, open the computer up and make sure ALL fans are working and blow the dust out of everything.

Yep, I did all of this. They all work. The PSU gets hot, yes. It might have to do with the fact that it's enclosed in a fairly small space in my desk. Roughly a 7.5x15x16 computer in a 11x16x24 space (the front is open). I don't have anywhere else to put my computer unfortunately, so I'm just thinking about getting a new PSU.

My computer was not a refurb, brand new bought around april-may. It still has factory warranty, but if it's cuz of overheating, I'd rather switch out the PSU myself. I was going to anyway along with adding a new video card. My parents hate sending stuff through the mail because of cost/risk however small. I think I'm just going to add new parts, since there's absolutely no other reason why it would do that. Everything else is fine but the PSU.

I did have a BSOD happen to me twice I think, but I didn't really think much of it. I should have

EDIT: Screen shot of monitor


I don't think they're too high. Are they?

No.
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Core0 is getting a bit warm, and if those temps are not under load, that might explain it. My guess is RAM instability though.

I'd remove it from that small enclosure and allow it to get more air. It should lessen dust buildup too.

Since the computer is in such a small area, it might help to add an exhaust fan to the back (inside) of the case, if there is a space for one. It may already have a fan at the back, or there may not be a ready-made space for it, but alternately there could be a space at the front of the case to put a fan (blowing in).

Depending on when that shot was taken, the temps look way too high, If that was after idling for a while at least.

This is my comps temps are after idling about one day in comparison;



Ill post another one after gaming later, but Ive never seen my GPU ever go above 60°c, or my CPU cores go over 35°.

wow, I'm such an idiot, that was while playing gw. I'm amazed at my stupidity Here's the one while idle...



It still is kinda high, according to what ^^^ said anyway.

Hmm, your idle temps look OK. The CPU is still slightly warm, but the parts arent dangerously high.

Maybe just try taking the computer out of the small enclosure fro a while to see if i improves the situation.

Computers are usually built to suck in air at the front, blow it past the GPU and the extra CPU cooler before blowing the warm air out of the back. If oyu have the exhaust blocked or restricted, then warm air can build up pretty fast after a while and that will impede performance.

If that simple step doesnt work, then Id deffinitely send in the computer for repair so that yu can beneift from the Waranty.

No, those temps are fine. My CPU idles higher than that, and we all know I would never let my system fall into danger zone.

Get a read out of your voltages from your PSU. They are always in question with this type of issue.

Think yourself lucky. Depite the help of virtually everyone on this forum with a brain, my temperatures are always like this:

Running at stock speeds, undervolted the memory, stopped running my 8800GTXs in SLI - nothing makes the slightest bit of difference.

Sod it; it works :/