LOD_TARGET_FPS=16 not changing

[Dan Morera]

You are correct this is a 5150. The memory sticks I had them placed as you mention.

Here are the results from Prime95:





Checking the bios now. will get back to you

[NickN]

Dan

I just found out there is a bug in that version of Spybots I posted which makes it start up very slow



Here is the fix:

http://www.safer-networking.org/files/b ... -84-85.zip


After you install Spybots and it completes its initial update and then you close it, Download that file, unzip it and copy/past the included file and folder directly into the:

C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy

folder and allow them to overwrite the originals, then reboot and run Spybots as I laid out above.

Sorry about that, I just found out about the issue and did the fix myself here after I updated SpyBots

[NickN]

You are correct this is a 5150. The memory sticks I had them placed as you mention.

Here are the results from Prime95:





Checking the bios now. will get back to you

Ok, good

that tells me speed-step is functioning correctly although I usually turn it off to avoid any stutters that may come from the BIOS dynamically raising and lowering the multiplier on the processor.

I would like you to make the BIOS changes I mentioned if you fell comfortable doing that. I dont see you screwing anything up but if for some reason you are unsure of something, ESC the BIOS and select NO to save changes, then reboot and go back in to make the correct changes.

The areas I pointed out are really the only ones that may help, especially the HDD Acoustic Mode set to PERFORMANCE

If you dont feel comfortable looking into the BIOS, just leave it and work on the Spybots install, scan and post the STARTUP list for me.

Also, as a reference for me, bring up the TASK MANAGER in Windows, click the PROCESSES tab, expand the box so it shows all running processes and grab a snag of that. Doing so I can cross reference the Spybots list to the process list and confirm things that way too.


I may not get to that until tomorrow as I am leaving for the evening soon. Grab/Post the screens -after you run the Bot check, which gets rid of bad stuff, and, I will go through the remaining items the screen-shots show. It is possible you have a combination of critters and startup junk bogging you down. Once we get that checked out and fixed the next step is to verify a few other settings and last is to make sure the system is correctly defragged.

[Dan Morera]

Sorry it took me a bit to get the spybot scans done. all ok now. Oh before I forget my hard drive is connected to a sata port.

here are the processes from task manager and spybot.

Now I'm going to do the bios changes no big deal.

[Dan Morera]

Update, the only change needed on the bios was HDD Acoustic Mode to Performance. All others where already there.

Wow I have never gone this deep into any computer before  :)

Thank you Nick. Let me know if there is anything else I should do.

Dan

[NickN]

Did Spybots find any critters in the Seach and Destroy "Check For Problems" area?

I assume you did run the scan and immunized the system.


The list does not look bad but I do see some things we need to deal with.


One of the items is CTFMON. It is part of the advanced language support for the system. Typically it can be shut down unless you use the advanced language features, which I believe is mostly oriental language support, and something that is a bit strange is that it has 4 startup lines. They could be there for different users but I need to look all this over and make a rundown list for you to delete lines.

The adobe stuff is history and I need to know what "WatchDog" is and if it is critical and needed at boot.

After we get the startup in order I want to go through the Windows setup thread I posted and make sure you have all the items in order from that list. I may suggest a few others.

Last, the defrag and it needs to be set up right and run correctly. I prefer O&O defrag version 8.5 but I can not seem to locate that version. It seems everyone is posting version 10, which is OK but there are advantanges to the older version I prefer.

I will post more tomorrow after I look the lists over

[Dan Morera]

Did Spybots find any critters in the Seach and Destroy "Check For Problems" area?

I assume you did run the scan and immunized the system.

Yes sir, it did have a few things, but after doing the process a second time it was clean. I had spybot already but not with the patch you gave me so I am familiar with it.

There are 2 users in this computer. And the system is installed in spanish (my wife's idea)

I'll wait for your instructions.

Thanks
Dan

[NickN]

I need to know what "WatchDog" is (looks like a phone software) and if it is critical and needed at boot

if you are unsure I will look it up


I will check into CTFMON and see if it is actually needed for Spanish. The last time I checked I thought it was for Oriental language support but I may be wrong.


I dont see anything major in the list so I think what this is going to come down to is verifying Windows tweaks and correctly defragging.. after that is done correctly there is not much I can suggest past getting rid of Dell

See you tomorrow

[Dan Morera]

No idea what watchdog is, I can tell you it popped out of nowhere. was wondering about it myself.

Thanks man I'll check on the thread tomorrow.

Dan

[NickN]

Ok Dan, here is what you can get rid of for sure...

Start Spybots, go to the STARTUP list in the TOOLS section

What is marked in RED you can click on ONCE to highlight the line and then click DELETE.





NOTES:

msnmgr is MSN Messenger startup. You DO NOT need messenger starting with the system and the network-TCP/IP activity it takes up is not good on CPU cycles.

You can still start messenger MANUALLY by placing an icon on the desktop, and if you want to re-enable auto startup that can be done in the MS Messenger settings.

The new version of Nhancer no longer needs to start with Windows. The service Nhancer installs runs without booting the program itself, delete the startup line. It can be re-enabled in the program settings when ever you wish.




What is marked in ORANGE we need to discuss unless you are sure:

DMXLauncher

[NickN]

Please post the Device Manager list so I can review everything however here are items I know need to be addressed:


Intel 945 Chipset Driver: 8/2/2007

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/confirm ... s&lang=eng

The download should start automatically

download and run the application, reboot when complete


================================================

SATA/RAID/AHCI Storage Controller Driver:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_ ... n&lang=eng

Select either the English or Multilanguage version, your choice and follow the screens to download, the run the application, reboot when complete


================================================

Urgent storage update from Dell:

Hard Drive power management issue, whereby the hard drive goes into a power-save state reducing drive performance or causing other problems.

The following resolution was issued by Dell

NOTE: ONLY If you have one of the following hard drives installed: (check the device manager list under DISK DRIVES)

Maxtor 6V080E0, 80GB, SATA, 3.0Gb, Maxtor 6V160E0, 160GB, SATA, 3.0Gb, Maxtor 7V250F0, 250GB, SATA, 3.0Gb

http://support.dell.com/support/downloa ... eid=167510

Download BR126083.exe, run it with a blank floppy in the drive. You are making a boot floppy. After the floppy is made, leave it in the floppy drive and reboot the computer. The system should boot to the floppy and FLASH the hard drive fixing the power management issue. Follow any onscreen directions and when the job is complete in DOS, remove the floppy and reboot the computer.


Also, I would run the Windows based utility they provide as well just to be sure:


http://support.dell.com/support/downloa ... eid=167511

Download R126083.EXE, run it and it will decompress to C:\dell\drivers\R126083. Run: NoDoze.exe and allow it to complete.

Reboot

=================================================


This one I hesitate to have you do because it is a BIOS update. BIOS updates can be dangerous. If a bad flash occurs, the computer is dead and there is no way to fix it, other than send it in to Dell Service.

Most BIOS flashes go without a hitch but this is one area I am going to leave up to you. After a BIOS flash and system reset it is possible everything will need to be reset in the BIOS including time, date, boot order, performance settings, etc.

It is possible Dell designed the update to not change the settings and only update the BIOS but I can not say if that is true or not.

You are on BIOS A05. Dell pulled BIOS A06 for issues and replaced it with BIOS A07

Fixes and Enhancements: Improve OROM Initialization

FYI: The OROM is the SATA BIOS/Controller. Meaning, they may have found a problem with the BIOS which controls the SATA boot ROM. I can not say if this update will improve anything or not. They do not list it as CRITICAL and only OPTIONAL.

If you do decide to upgrade the BIOS, make SURE the power in the house is stable. If the power were to go out for any reason in the middle of a BIOS flash, the computer will be DEAD.

After the BIOS has flashed and the system rebooted you should reboot again, enter the BIOS and make sure the settings we discussed earlier are correct and also check the time and date as well.


I will leave it up to you as to if you wish to attempt this operation.

Reboot the computer to ensure a clean start

Download D5150A07.EXE

[JBaymore]

Nick,

Wow... what a thread.

[NickN]

I dont know if anything we go though will fix the issue or not.

All we can do is go down the list, check it twice and the rest is up to Dell

[Dan Morera]

Everything done except these:

If you completed the entire list with the exception of the defrag and use of registry mechanic

Another thing is that the windows update didn't give me a list of things it just went ahead and installed (KB892130) just that.

here's the screen shot of teh decive manager page. Not sure if I got what you need here since it is in spanish I had to guess some of them



I got a head ache  ;)

Let me know if you need more info from me.

Thank you again
Dan

[Dan Morera]

Before I forget, can I reinstall the 512 kb  ram sticks I took out?