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Author Topic: fairly new laptop randomly acts slow for no logical reason  (Read 3535 times)

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mott1992

    Topic Starter


    Newbie

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    • OS: Unknown
    fairly new laptop randomly acts slow for no logical reason
    « on: March 03, 2012, 08:57:51 AM »
    Before you try to answer my question...

    First, if you are going to say I have a virus then don't even bother with this topic
    Second, if you are going to tell me to download "x program" from "x website" then don't bother with this topic.
    Third, if you are going to say "LOL WINDOWS SUCKS, USE A MAC n00b!" Then don't bother with this topic. I want to FIX my problem, not hear about how your laptop with a half-eaten apple printed on the side is so powerful and fast you could take over Russia with it.

    Okay, so I got my laptop in Sept 2011 (specs below). Today's date is March 3, 2012. In between now and when I first got my laptop, I have experienced this problem twice (and a few minor times that weren't as bad). What will happen, is I boot up my laptop one night and it runs PERFECTLY - super fast, smooth, and quiet (it doesn't make a bunch of "loading" sounds). The very next day, I will boot up my laptop, and (for no logical reasoning) it takes FOREVER to boot up; then once it boots up it lags (typing lags, frame rates lag, etc.) and it sounds like it's trying to have a baby (loud "loading noises", etc.). This "slow-mode" will go on for a random period, then eventually speed up again. Since everything is so random, it's hard to determine what's going on. A good way to describe my slow-mode is that my laptop acts like someone took out ALL my RAM and it's trying to move along but doesn't have the sufficient memory to do anything.
    I don't look up porn, I don't download anything w/o scanning it for viruses - in fact, all I use my laptop for is youtube, netflix, facebook, SECURE videogames (Steam games and other SAFE games like minecraft, League of Legends, etc.), and an assortment of other safe programs (guitar pro, visual studios c++, itunes, etc.). I am very safe with my computer and always am on the lookout for what bugs could possibly get inside, and I always make sure Webroot as a "check mark" beside sites before I go to them.

    A few things I've tried so far
    - Virus scan with WEBROOT, found 0 infections
    - Disk cleanup
    - Disk defragmenter
    - an assortment of other "memory" cleanups

    Some of these I'm doing as I am typing this out so it may solve the problem, but your answers and help will be highly appreciated.
    One last thing - my free Webroot antivirus trial ends soon. Should I (a) completely uninstall Webroot and download/install the free version of Avast! or (b) go ahead and purchase the full subscription to Webroot for $20-$30? In other words, paid-for version of Webroot VS. free version of Avast!.

    My Computer
    Toshiba Satellite P755
    600 GB hard-drive w/ 580 GB available at purchase
    Intel Core i3-2310M CPU @ 2.10 GHz
    6 GB DDR3 RAM
    Intel HD Graphics Family 1696 MB
    64-bit OS

    THANKYOU FOR YOUR HELP!!  :)

    Allan

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    Re: fairly new laptop randomly acts slow for no logical reason
    « Reply #1 on: March 03, 2012, 09:17:53 AM »
    May I make a suggestion to you please? If you are new to a forum and you're asking for help, don't give orders. It really comes across the wrong way. Your goal is to make us want to help you, not be offended by your style. Just a friendly suggestion, that's all.

    Next - what do you mean by "an assortment of memory cleanups"?

    Also, let's run checkdisk and a check of ram:

    To run checkdisk, right-click on a command prompt icon and open as administrator. In the command prompt window type: chkdsk /r  (then press ENTER). You'll be told the disk is in use and asked if you want to run checkdisk on the next boot. Say yes, exit the command prompt window, and reboot.

    To check the ram, download memtest (http://memtest.org/). Burn it to a cd using a dedicated .iso burning utility (http://www.petri.co.il/how_to_write_iso_files_to_cd.htm), make sure the cd drive is at the top of the boot order in bios, then boot to the newly created cd and run the utility.

    mott1992

      Topic Starter


      Newbie

      • Experience: Beginner
      • OS: Unknown
      Re: fairly new laptop randomly acts slow for no logical reason
      « Reply #2 on: March 03, 2012, 11:16:35 AM »
      Thanks for the help! This is the answer I've been looking for. I'm sorry for coming off as rude, but I've seriously asked like 90000 other people this same thing and all they can tell me is "you might have a virus". To me, saying "you might have a virus" is like saying "LOL I'm a n00b and don't know anything about how a computer works xD". I really appreciate your legitimate answer and will give it a shot. And, when I said "don't tell me to download 'x program'..." basically, on other forums all I get is people trying to sell me their product. That's the deal with all that. I'm just being really assertive because this issue is really aggravating, and I'm sick of listening to a bunch of n00bs say "oh you might have a virus" or "BUY MY PROGRAM IT'LL SOLVE ALL YOUR LIFE'S PROBLEMS."

      Finally, by assortment of disk cleanups, basically I just ran defragmenter, disk cleanup, deleted some old programs/files that I never look at, etc. Just cleaned up my hard drive of excess junk I'll never use.

      Thankyou for your help and I actually learned something from it!  ;D

      Salmon Trout

      • Guest
      Re: fairly new laptop randomly acts slow for no logical reason
      « Reply #3 on: March 03, 2012, 11:49:27 AM »
      LOL I'm a n00b xD" ...  a bunch of n00bs ... ;D

      I would go along with Allan's comments about tone, and add that throwing out comments about "bunches of n00bs" comes over as quite annoying and aggressive rather than just "assertive".

      patio

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      Re: fairly new laptop randomly acts slow for no logical reason
      « Reply #4 on: March 03, 2012, 01:19:42 PM »
      To add to whats been stated this is probably one of the few Help Forums out there that A) does not advertise any products because there are always (mostly) Free alternatives out there and B) nips anyone in the bud if they do attempt to give bad advice such as buying something to fix your ills ...those people do NOT last long here at all...
      So basically i'd say you're in good hands.

      Follow Allan's recommendations and Post back with an update.
      " Anyone who goes to a psychiatrist should have his head examined. "