what could cause this?

[beefhole]

I went away to California for three and a half weeks and when I came home a couple weeks ago, my computer was (and still is) really messed up.

In short, it's running really slow.  As I type this, the letters are lagging behind, as if I don't have any vid drivers.  There's also another very, very strange problem-when playing games, if I hold a key down, the screen freezes.  If I hit another key, for example to change the view, it starts running again.  As soon as I release the key and then hit and hold it again, it freezes again.  To clarify, this is not an alt+f4, end now type freeze, as soon as I release the key the game runs normally again.  However, for obvious reasons, this problem makes it more or less impossible to play any games.

I'm the only one that uses my compter-the only usage in the three weeks I was away was my little brother doing a few quick searches.  I've literally run AVG, Spybot and Adaware about ten times since I've been back and I've defragged twice.  So far I've ruled out an overheating vid card, bad RAM and something weird happening with the vid drivers.  Now I'm worried it may be a deeper rooted hardware problem, which would suck.

Anyone have any ideas?  If I need to explain the freezing problem more just ask, it's really weird.

edit: I would have ruled out a problem with the vid card sooner but I thought I had given away my old 5200.  Apparently not, just spotted it on the shelf.  I'll do that now.  All help appreciated.

oops, specs:
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ ~1.8GHZ
GeForce 6800GT 256mb
2048mb RAM
Win XP

[Brett_Henderson]

I'm a dummy when it comes to this stuff.. But I learned a long time ago not to spend too much time trying to de-bug or repair a Windows install. Even if you do nail down the problem at the time; once Windows gets buggy.. it tends to stay buggy..

I know this is cowardly advice, but I'd do a format / re-install. That's the best way (that I know of), to eliminate software, or a virus, as your problem. As much of a pain as that would be... it'd be better than spending nearly that much time chasing bugs.. and then ending up having to do it anyway..

No doubt, one of the gurus will be along shortly and maybe save you all that trouble..  

Good luck..

[beefhole]

I figured it was a windows problem, but then I couldn't figure out why it would have just started the day I got back.  One of the cool things about prebuilt HP platforms is that they have "system recovery"-you can do a complete reinstall of windows without touching any files on the HDD.  I may do that once I geta  bit more input, thanks Brett.

[beefhole]

Anyone else feel free to jump in here, this is kind of time-sensitive

[Pcyco]

1st off, there is no reason to reformat. You need to find out what is taking up your system resources. Run MSConfig and look to see what is running for startup. Look at your system processes and see what is running and what amount of resources those are taking up. Defrag your computer. Get rid of all your temporary files. Go into computer management and look for errors or warnings. Scan your computer for spyware/virus's. Lastly, look at what video drivers your video card is using. Download the latest drivers for your card, not Microsofts.

Hope this helps.

PS..learn and understand what makes your computer run. Most problems can be traced down with just knowing where to look. Start with Microsoft and whatever tweak sites you can find. Books, etc...

[Jared]

I know this probably won't solve the problem, but have you tried cleaning it out? IE blowing the dust that doesn't ordinarily collect outta there?

I know if I don't use my pc for a few days the extra added dust makes it do weird things...

Sorry I don't have more useful information, but it's all I could think of at the moment

[beefhole]

Hi pcyco-Everything you wrote were good suggestions and I've also done every one of them at least five or six times.  There is no process taking up system resources, and I've been over the start list in regedit about a million times.  As I said, I've defragged a bunch of times and I've cleared up about 30 gigs of space since I've been back, and it hasn't helped at all.  I know computers, (I work IT) and I've never encountered anything like my freezing problem-that's why I posted it here, it's very odd and nonsensical.  To me, this screams "XP PROBLEM!"

And Jared, the very first thing that came to mind was that my vid card was overheating, so I thoroughly cleaned everything in the case.  Thanks for the idea though, I really thougth that was the problem to begin with. (I swapped in my old 5200 and confirmed it wasn't a vid card problem, and I've played around with the drivers)

It seems to me if this isn't an XP problem, it has got to be some kind of virus/spyware, but I've run adaware, spybot and AVG too many times to count.  Plus, like I said before, there's nothing eating up system resources.  CPU usage is at 2% right now.

edit: however, as I just noticed, when I type, CPU usage bounces up to 100%.  This has got to be either an XP problem or virus.

reedit: oops, forgot to try resetting the BIOS. will do that now.

[Brett_Henderson]

This where it starts getting into that point of diminshing returns.

You can easily expend the same time and energy de-bugging Windows, as you would formatting and re-installing..

And even if you find THIS problem;  Its cause.. or what damage it might have done.. are still lurking.

[Pcyco]

You may want to look to see if you have a root-kit embedded on your drive. You also may want to boot to a virus checker running from DOS. Have you looked into running Hijack this!. It could also be related to RAM. Have you run a RAM tester? It really could be about anything. I would also for the heck of it do a surface test of the H/D.  If it is not hardware related, you have a bottleneck somewhere. Check your swapfile and pagefile size. Check your virtual memory.

[beefhole]

I had forgotten to reinstall Hijack This after my last XP reinstall, I'll have to do that.  It's not a RAM problem-I normally run 1024mb and my buddy loaned me his brand new 2048mb which I have in right now, no difference.  I'm pretty sure I've tried everything else but I'll give it another go.

Brett, the problem is that if this a hardware problem, I will have reinstalled XP in vain.  Plus, the guy I have to get MS Office from is on vacation

I'd just like to re-stress that everything is related to typing-the slowness only occurs when I'm hitting keys, everything is normal otherwise.  Computer runs fine, games run at normal FPS, until I hit keys.

Thanks for everyones help so far.

[NicksFXHouse]

Computer runs fine, games run at normal FPS, until I hit keys.

Thanks for everyones help so far.

Hmmmmm... defective keyboard or keyboard port on the tower?


Do you have another one you can try?

[beefhole]

Hmmmmm... defective keyboard or keyboard port on the tower?


Do you have another one you can try?

Never even thought of it-I figured the keyboard couldn't have anything to do with a problem like this.  The one I have right now is PS2, I'll see if I have a USB keyboard lying around.

I'll make sure to check your thread too Alex-I've never heard of AVG causing anyone any problems before though.

[alrot]

It wasn't AVG....

[Brett_Henderson]

Brett, the problem is that if this a hardware problem, I will have reinstalled XP in vain.  Plus, the guy I have to get MS Office from is on vacation  

You're right.. and this just shows my caveman approach to this stuff  :-[  ...

The only way that I would feel comfortable having eliminated the software issues.. so I could go about chasing hardware gremlins, is to have a clean, new install.

It's kinda tough to put ALL brand new hardware in , But you can put in all new (install) software .. And even if that's not the problem.. a fresh install is kinda nice anyway  ;)

[beefhole]

Well, an update if this helps at all:

It's not the keyboard, hijack this didn't come up with anything unusual.  However, I just found another quirk-whenever I right click on an empty area on my desktop, windows explorer crashes (I get the "windows explorer has encountered an error and needs to close" send/dont send error report window and the toolbar and all the icons disappear before explorer restarts itself a couple seconds later).  As far as I know, right clicking does not do this at any other time.

Again, to me this seems to be an XP problem.