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Laptop repair advice

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904 views 14 replies 10 participants last post by  steveisfrowning 
#1 ·
I'm trying various things myself, but might as well give you good chaps time to think while I'm doing so...

I have a laptop which starts up very slowly, then quickly grinds to a complete halt and locks up. This happens too quickly to run anything really.

In safe mode, it runs perfectly well, so I suspect a software issue.

What steps would you take in what order to try to sort this out?
 
#3 ·
Seems a bit extreme. Plus I can't do that because I don't have an installation disc.
 
#5 ·
from safe mode open a command prompt and run the command

Sfc /scannow

Let it run, this replaces any corrupt or missing system files from the installer caches.

I'd also create a new user account to rule out account corruption, you dont say where it hangs, prior to logon or after, or whether you have auto logon configured.

You can also run a verbose startup to see where it halts, this may give you an idea but first step is sfc command above, specific instructions below.

https://support.microsoft.com/kb/929833/en-gb
 
#6 ·
OK, did the scan - found no issues. Opened a new user account, but had the same problems.

Have run a virus scan, spybot scan, and cleaned up the registry. Some effect (I think) in speeding it up.

Have also restored to a randomly chosen point a couple of months back (owner of the laptop can't remember when it slowed to a crawl).

It is now better I think (it's not locking up altogether). It is still fairly slow to do anything though. It's a few years old, but it's not doing anything challenging.

The next step would be to copy what documents are important to an external drive and do a full re-install, now it's working well enough for that to be an option. Will have to check with the owner what she wants keeping first though.
 
#7 ·
This thread inspired me to dig out this ancient Dell that stopped firing up months ago and bring it back to life. A new install and some fannying about finding drivers later (it's really ancient and is a bit like Trigger's broom) and it's working a treat (apart from the partially seized hinges and refusal to charge the battery).

This makes it marginally less **** than my work laptop.
 
#8 ·
We've established it's still pig slow, so when I can be bothered, full re-install it is. As it turns out, there aren't many documents on there, so won't be too much of a slog to copy them all off.
 
#10 ·
Install Linux Mint. Free from all that bloaty stuff, running very cleanly on my £100 second hand Morgan laptop off ter interweb (Dell 630) with a mighty 2GB of RAM. Running Firefox and Thunderbird and the usual free Office-alike software packages.

Will never willingly return to Microsoft.
 
#11 ·
the worst thing you can do with a PC is connect it to the web! We have a 6 year dell laptop here used for cad work. Never been connected to the web and runs as sweet as the day it was 1st used.

Of course not connecting it to the web - isn't really a practical solution though is it!!
 
#14 ·
Even factory reset, the laptop is still extremely slow (albeit improved somewhat).

Owner has given up and bought a new one.
 
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