a casual description of my latest computer issue

[Mudcat]

I recently attempted to start using an old laptop that had been sitting idle against a wall for at least a couple years. To the best of my recollection it had been adequate when I used it before.

Okay but now it is slow as fuck. Like say I was looking at gamelive on it, I would click on a thread - then I might as well go make a sandwich waiting for the whole thread to load. Slight exaggeration there - but it's bad.

I took it to my computer guru. He takes it in the back room to test it out and says it seems fine. I go back there and lo and behold, I am zipping around the internet quick as you please. I'm like WTF? He sez it must be the cable I'm using. I sez, "Really? The cable?"

He sez, "Well as you can see the computer is fine and if your other computers work, the problem is not with your internet provider and system. Must be the cable."

"I'll be damned," I sez.

He sells me a cable. I was too stunned to realize I already have all kinds of spare cables around this joint but whatever.

So I bring the computer home and start it up with the new cable. Like at the store, I am navigating around crisply. I am happy. I figured I was going to need a $200 repair/upgrade or else a whole new laptop so a $10 cable feels like a good deal.

Long story short: as time passes, the computer slows down. Soon it is as slow as ever.

Perhaps significant: it is hot on the underneath. Really quite hot.

It had probably cooled down when it was being tested out at the guru's place, and also when I first tested it out on returning home. Maybe the heat relates to the slowness???

All my computers are warm to some extent but it is the hottest. In any case, it is too slow to tolerate.

So I just thought I would casually mention it in case anyone has some casual thoughts.

 

[wal66]

I had a venting issue with one of my larger laptops Muddy. I purchased one of those platform deals they sit on with the fan built in and it definately helped out the overheating.

 

[MrX]

Your processor could be slowing down because it's overheating, but I think it's more likely that some other process is overloading the processor, which is causing the computer to slow to a halt and also causing the heat.

Try this: When it starts to bog down, press <control><alt><del> to go to the task manager. Click on the Processes tab, and see if one process is using up a very high percentage of the CPU.

 

[roguejuror]

You're processor could be slowing down because it's overheating, but I think it's more likely that some other process is overloading the processor, which is causing the computer to slow to a halt and also causing the heat.

Try this: When it starts to bog down, press <control><alt><del> to go to the task manager. Click on the Processes tab, and see if one process is using up a very high percentage of the CPU.

Its "Your processor" MrX. You're complicating yourself MrX.

+1 Team Dum Dum (fivey, Bread, Juror)

 

[MrX]

Holy crap! Thank God you got this in before my edit window was up. Now you need to edit your post to something innocuous like "Good info, MrX". Then I'll edit this post, and all evidence will be gone.

Let's make the magic happen!

 

[betplom]

You're processor...

Some fucking pro.

 

[rito]

I like this thread.

 

[MrX]

Some fucking pro.

Jesus, no. This is getting out of hand.

Plommer, what's it gonna take to get you to remove that post in the next five minutes?

 

[MrX]

Maybe I can guess Plommer's password. I have a couple ideas.

 

[MrX]

Fuk. Not even noon yet and my day is ruined. How could I be so stupid? First word in the whole post, too.

Now I have to find another $20 forum to build a reputation at.

 

[betplom]

Maybe I can guess Plommer's password. I have a couple ideas.

Googluck with that, I don't even know my password, I have a password manager that fills forms and logons for me.

 

[roguejuror]

Googluck with that, I don't even know my password, I have a password manager that fills forms and logons for me.

This is why your ghosts keep getting busted on SBR you dum dum.

 

[betplom]

This is why your ghosts keep getting busted on SBR you dum dum.

Wha?

I use different passwords pal.

 

[MrX]

Wha?

I use different passwords pal.

Most people's passwords don't look like "1Fel56GhH31"

 

[Saulty]

Me thinks you were taken for a ride for a $10 unnecessary cable. If your car engine is bad a new transmission won't help it much.

 

[betplom]

Me thinks you were taken for a ride for a $10 unnecessary cable. If your car engine is bad a new transmission won't help it much.

One thing I learned is that you can count on Pavy to post a good news message.

 

[roguejuror]

Muddy you need a new table.

 

[Mudcat]

Your processor could be slowing down because it's overheating, but I think it's more likely that some other process is overloading the processor, which is causing the computer to slow to a halt and also causing the heat.

Try this: When it starts to bog down, press <control><alt><del> to go to the task manager. Click on the Processes tab, and see if one process is using up a very high percentage of the CPU.

Hmm. If we're talking about the number in the CPU column, the highest number is clearly firefox.exe. I click to navigate somewhere on the internet and that number bounces around on an upward trend and gets as high as 95. Then once the page is done loading (6 days later), it settles into the 10-20 range (with sporadic hiccups outside that range).

I am only using this computer for the internet right now. Just for the hell of it, I looked at some Word and Excel files and those seemed to operate as crisply as any other computer. Now that is using files from a memory stick, not the computer memory itself - if that is significant.

But anyway I go back to internet navigation and it is still bogged right down and the pattern with the CPU number is as I described it before.