Worth Replacing Laptop Hard Drive?

[ultrarunner]

It's 64 bit and will try again... always gets to 99% and then stops.

Hundreds of failed attempts...

I spoke too soon above... it locked with Fire Fox too but start up is way faster with Fire Fox...

 

[MossRoad]

It's 64 bit and will try again... always gets to 99% and then stops.

Hundreds of failed attempts...

I spoke too soon above... it locked with Fire Fox too but start up is way faster with Fire Fox...

Now that you're sort of back...

Download that free version of CCleaner I mentioned and run it.
Then download the free version of Auslogics disk defragger and run it once, then a 2nd time but choose to optimize the drive.

Trust me, windows disk defragger is not very good at all and won't pack down your files and consolidate your contiguous space.

Even though your drive says its 60% free space, each one of those "free" sectors will have data in it.

Are you familiar with how Windows manages files?
If so, ignore.
If not, please read this overly simplistic analogy....

When you work on something, say your car collection file, you go to your file cabinet, fine your car collection folder, pull all the pages of the car collection file, and you work on it.

Lets say you work on it a bit in your office, a bit while you're making dinner, a bit while you're eating dinner, a bit while you're surfing TBN, and a bit while napping in front of the TV.

When you are done, you gather all the pages of the file, put them together, then put them back in the car collection folder, so you know exactly where it is when you're done.

Seems logical.

Windows isn't logical.

It takes your car file and it doesn't store it in your car files folder. It leaves pages scattered all over your hard drive. Some in the office, some in the kitchen, some in the dining room, some here, some there, etc.... and then it writes a list of all the places it left the pieces of your file and puts a pointer to that list in your car files folder!!!

The next time you want to work on your car file, windows has to go get that list, find all the pages of your car file that it left scattered all over your hard drive, assemble them, then let you work on it.

That's why, over time, all windows machines grind to a stinking halt!!!

THE ONLY REASON WINDOWS WORKS IS BECAUSE THE PROCESSOR SPEEDS HAVE COME UP SO HIGH THAT THEY CAN NOW COMPENSATE FOR THIS HORRIBLE OPERATING SYSTEM!!!

That's why you need to first, clean out all the crap (That's what the C in CCleaner stands for).

Then run Auslogics to optimize the drive. This assembles all of the pieces of the files that are scattered all over the hard drive, puts them right next to each other, and packs them to one end of the drive, freeing up all of your contiguous space.

Another thing that can and does happen with windows is that the swap file (the space where your computer puts things it can't put in memory while its working on them) gets fragmented.

When that happens, the machine becomes slower than dirt as well.

About the only way I know of degragmenting the swap file is to first eliminate it, reboot, and then create it again, but tell it to be a set size. Don't let windows automatically grow and shrink the swap file. But that's a subject for another discussion.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

About the only way I know of degragmenting the swap file is to first eliminate it, reboot, and then create it again, but tell it to be a set size. Don't let windows automatically grow and shrink the swap file. But that's a subject for another discussion.

There are several utilities that will defrag the swap file. Glary Utilities is pretty good. Free, too. IIRC, Auslogic's defragger will do it, too. It's very good.

 

[MossRoad]

There are several utilities that will defrag the swap file. Glary Utilities is pretty good. Free, too. IIRC, Auslogic's defragger will do it, too. It's very good.

Yep, but the best way to get rid of the problem is to destroy it, make a new one, and fix its upper and lower limits to the same size so it never grows and shrinks. Then it'll never get fragmented again.

 

[ultrarunner]

Can only run in safe mode now... not able to download anything in normal... so if my posting stops you will know why.

Funny thing is I was given an old XP machine loaded with software and it runs like a champ... fast, no hesitation, no notchyness and I have it at work right now.

 

[aczlan]

Try opening Windows Update and switching it to manual updates only.

Aaron Z

 

[truckdiagnostics]

Try opening Windows Update and switching it to manual updates only.

Aaron Z

not going to work. google "win update stuck". it is a common problem if you have not been keeping up with your win 7 updates. Also fairly recent issue. when we have to reload win 7 operating system we have to load the two files i mentioned above to get win updates to run. It works every time! my guess is now he has part of sp1 loaded, he really needs that service pack. if you can get it into safe mode try going back to a restore point. then install the two files and run windows update.
your not seeing the issue because you kept up with win 7 updates, he hasn't. we get this issue on almost everyone of our PC as we do not have win update turned on. as for only operating in safe mode can't explain that.
His hard drive may still be failing so there might be two things going on. There should be tests for the hard drive in the BIOS. which on his PC is f2 while it is booting up. Running the hard drive test will help with the decision on moving forward.
IMO defraging hard drive isn't going to fix it.

 

[truckdiagnostics]

Can only run in safe mode now... not able to download anything in normal... so if my posting stops you will know why.

Funny thing is I was given an old XP machine loaded with software and it runs like a champ... fast, no hesitation, no notchyness and I have it at work right now.

nothing wrong with xp it is a nice operating system. only reason I would go to 7 would be if your xp machaine was on a network. Since you are not on a network xp would work fine for your application. We have several xp pcs still running xp we just don't run them on the network. Since most of what you are doing is on the web on the xp pc i would stay away from ie as your browser and use chrome, we have had good luck with it anyway on our older xp PCs. Haven't tried firefox, may work also, just haven't tried it.

 

[aczlan]

not going to work. google "win update stuck". it is a common problem if you have not been keeping up with your win 7 updates. Also fairly recent issue. when we have to reload win 7 operating system we have to load the two files i mentioned above to get win updates to run. It works every time! my guess is now he has part of sp1 loaded, he really needs that service pack. if you can get it into safe mode try going back to a restore point. then install the two files and run windows update.
your not seeing the issue because you kept up with win 7 updates, he hasn't. we get this issue on almost everyone of our PC as we do not have win update turned on. as for only operating in safe mode can't explain that.

I have had that problem both with 7 and Vista (fresh installations or ones that haven't been updated). If you switch to manual updates, auto update stops looking and lets you at least use the computer to download manual updates like the ones you suggested so that automatic update will work again.
It can temporarily make a computer that's unusable usable enough to run updates.

Aaron Z

 

[ultrarunner]

Still working in Safe Mode...

I always had auto update on until this month when the problem started... never realized that it had dozens of failed attempts to load.

This computer has been spot on reliable except for the first month when I bought it and Acer had to change out the hard drive under warranty.

I've loaded all the malware and cleaners suggested... nothing pops up from the scans... I then revert back to an earlier version... the earliest was December 24th... now the earliest is February 15th.

Maybe simply running in Safe Mode is the future?

I did look at some new computers...

The Chrome Books would take care of 90% of what I need... I'm guessing my HP Printer would work for scans and printing.

Also guessing Chrome Books would not work for Microsoft Office which I do need Excel on occasion.

Never tried anything on Windows 10... also see Dell will ship with Windows 7 Pro.

I have 3 computers at work plus my own.

Windows 2000 Pro for the environmental controls for the building... it has been stripped of all other functions.

Windows 98 for Bosch Key Card Access that is only hooked up once or twice a year to add Door Access Cards

Windows 7 Pro which is only 18 months old and will be crushed in a few weeks along with about 40 others in the Hospital as the new company states they are a security risk...

Then I have my fully loaded XP machine that I brought in with permission about 15 years ago... it is NOT on the network but has a separate DSL

 

[aczlan]

Still working in Safe Mode...

I always had auto update on until this month when the problem started.

This computer has been spot on reliable except for the first month when I bought it and Acer had to change out the hard drive under warranty.

I've loaded all the malware and cleaners suggested... nothing pops up from the scans... I then revert back to an earlier version... the earliest was December 24th... now the earliest is February 15th.

Maybe simply running in Safe Mode is the future?

I did look at some new computers...

The Chrome Books would take care of 90% of what I need... I'm guessing my HP Printer would work for scans and printing.

Also guessing Chrome Books would not work for Microsoft Office which I do need Excel on occasion.

Auto update sometimes gets messed up and stops working. I have seen several computers that have had auto updates on, but it missed Windows updates for months.
Chromebooks can do Excel files with Google Sheets (and, I think Microsoft might have a Word and Excel app for Chrome). It's not quite the same as Excel, but if you aren't doing super complicated spreadsheets with lots of formulas referencing data back and forth they should work.

I wish you were closer, l would go over and take a look at it.

Aaron Z

 

[ultrarunner]

One thing I noticed which might not mean anything???

My operating system is 64 bit...

When my computer boots up in safe mode everything is 32 bit as in line after line.

Seems odd that a 64 bit machine would have a 32 bit program... no idea if this is why the 64 bit Service Pack gets to 99% and then fails???

 

[ultrarunner]

Auto update sometimes gets messed up and stops working. I have seen several computers that have had auto updates on, but it missed Windows updates for months.
Chromebooks can do Excel files with Google Sheets (and, I think Microsoft might have a Word and Excel app for Chrome). It's not quite the same as Excel, but if you aren't doing super complicated spreadsheets with lots of formulas referencing data back and forth they should work.

I wish you were closer, l would go over and take a look at it.

Aaron Z

TBN members are the best...

Only met a few in person and everyone is the kind you would want for a neighbor.

We have several local Fry's Electronics that offer data recovery and other services.

Mentioned to the IT guy that comes in on the weekends for the Hospital that I soon might not be able to check in from home as my home computer is on the Fritz... he said things like battery and fan and lint... all check out good.

 

[ultrarunner]

Does this mean anything? It corresponds to the last lock up

Problem signature
Problem Event Name: MpTelemetry
Problem Signature 01: 8007043c
Problem Signature 02: UpdateServiceManager->get_Services
Problem Signature 03: FallbackCheck
Problem Signature 04: 6.1.7600.16385
Problem Signature 05: MpSigDwn.dll
Problem Signature 06: 6.1.7600.16385
Problem Signature 07: Windows Defender
OS Version: 6.1.7600.2.0.0.768.3
Locale ID: 1033

 

[ultrarunner]

Update of sorts...

It's been 2 months since this lab-top became unstable and I have tried many fixes... sometimes I could get 15 or 20 minutes and other times seconds.

I noticed it often was having a hard time on my DSL modem and a few days ago it really didn't function at all.

I'm not a wireless person but the computer showed wireless available so I gave it a try...

The last week on wireless and not a single screen lock up...

I have no idea what it means except it is working.

The problem started after I came back from a business trip and used only wireless... when I was back at home and not wireless is when the problem started.

Always like to post followups...

 

[MossRoad]

Update of sorts...

It's been 2 months since this lab-top became unstable and I have tried many fixes... sometimes I could get 15 or 20 minutes and other times seconds.

I noticed it often was having a hard time on my DSL modem and a few days ago it really didn't function at all.

I'm not a wireless person but the computer showed wireless available so I gave it a try...

The last week on wireless and not a single screen lock up...

I have no idea what it means except it is working.

The problem started after I came back from a business trip and used only wireless... when I was back at home and not wireless is when the problem started.

Always like to post followups...

So you have wireless at your home that you've never used until now?
And were you using a wired connection before this?

Did you ever try using a different port on your DSL modem?
Did you ever try rebooting your DSL modem?
Did you ever try a different network cable?

Perhaps your wired network port on your laptop has a bent pin or is just going bad?

Anyhow, glad you are working again.

 

[ultrarunner]

One of the offices was tossing out a Net Gear Wireless for a more powerful version...

When the kids visit I plug it in so they have access... never used it for my laptop since it stays on my desk unless I travel.

The Net Gear is 6 inches from the laptop now.

I have had to replace the DSL Modem once and every 6 months or so I need to power down and restart... only one single port of my ATT DSL

Strange that it works on Wifi... unless it is an anomaly.

Conventional Wisdom said dump the computer but it just goes against the grain because I like to figure things out...

Went shopping and read reviews and it seemed there were always negative ones... most of the Docs and my family love Apple... kind of pricey.

 

[MossRoad]

So you normally have the laptop plugged into the one port on the DSL, and when the kids visit, you unplug the laptop from the DSL and plug the NetGear box into the port on the DSL where the laptop was, correct?

If you use the same cable for either the laptop or the NetGear box, then that eliminates problems with the cable and the port on the DSL box.

The problem is narrowing down to the network port on the laptop itself. You could have a flaky network card or bad connection.

One thing you could try is adjusting the speed of the network card in the laptop to a lower speed. That frequently resolves network issues in older hardware.

If you want to do it, take it off wireless and plug it back into the DSL directly.

Then:
Go to your control panel.
Network and Internet
Network connections.
You should see your local area connection.
Right click on it and select properties.
Go to the advanced tab and find Speed & Duplex
It's probably set to Auto Negotiate.
Set it to 10mbs Half dulex and OK and save everything.

See how that works.

OR....

You could just stay on wireless and be done with it! :laughing:

 

[MossRoad]

.....
Strange that it works on Wifi... unless it is an anomaly.

....

There's probably TWO network cards in the laptop. One is for the wired connection, the other for wireless. So the wired one is probably having issues, while the wireless one is not.

Another thing you can try (we may have done this already), is to shut down the laptop, remove the battery, remove the AC power cord, and try powering on the laptop several times with no power available to it.

Many times there are capacitors that hold network cards in the state they are in. Even when you turn off the laptop, it is never really all the way off. If the network card gets in a snit, the capacitors hold it in that snit.

Even if you remove the power cord and battery, the capacitors hold it in that state for a good, long time.

By pressing the power button with the AC cord AND battery removed, it'll drain those capacitors.

Then put the battery back in, and the AC cord and power it up and see what happens.

 

[ultrarunner]

Got to love TBN... always good people willing to help.

Thanks Moss.