Computer Randomly Became Very Slow

[ItsMonkey]

Hey guys, so I had made a post about the infinite Windows 8 loop that I had problems with. I did not have my install disk so the only thing I could do is pay for it to get fixed. I took a look at some legit computer 'fixing' establishments near me, and found one that seems pretty cool. I spoke to the owner when I got there and he seemed pretty cool. It didn't cost me too much to fix the computer, which is awesome. It now works and everything, however, I can notice some mayor performance issues. I have no idea why, but the computer now has a slow startup and gets a few lag spikes on games such as Minecraft and also on Skype. It'll just freeze, and after a few seconds unfreeze. Is there any way to fix this? I doubt it since I don't know exactly what's wrong or have any idea on how to fix it. Help is very appreciated, thanks!

 

Other Info:

- Taskbar changed from normal squares to rectangles: http://prntscr.com/5ak9dv Whenever I open any program, it'll turn into a rectangle, but it's a square in my taskbar (Also help me fix this :< )

- He showed me that he turned off the windows auto updater, but I doubt that could be a problem with performance

 

THANKS!

[ItsMonkey]

This may explain the taskbar problem better: http://prntscr.com/5akc7d

[ItsMonkey]

bump

[thorpj]

This may explain the taskbar problem better: http://prntscr.com/5akc7d

right click on the taksbar -> properties. 

Change the option circled below to one that makes the "ugly rectangles dissapear"

 

\

 

As for the performance isuses, i once had this problem, not entirely sure how i fixed it. Enter the BIOS and make sure that the sata mode is set to AHCI,

 

Let windows update by itself, otherwise you leave your PC unsecure.

[Birdhunter]

You could run Taskmngr while playing / skype to find out, if there's a process (like Antivir) suddenly overloading your PC.

[Agent 47]

Try installing Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and scan and check for viruses or any other malicious programs slowing down your PC.

Also update windows just in case.

[ItsMonkey]

ok, so I now remember I had messed with a few BIOS features to fix the infinite loop. I went into Advanced BIOS features and modified the Boot Device to USB -FDD. I do not remember what the default state was, can anyone tell me? This may be the problem.

[ItsMonkey]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[ItsMonkey]

Still waiting for a response

[Tetters]

set your primary  boot device to the HDD with the OS installed. Should be one of the choices on you list.

 

Switch on windows update

 

make sure all your other (graphics) drivers are up to date also.

 

As Birdhunter mentioned, have task manager running so you can see what is swallowing up resources, this could highlight what is slowing you up

[ItsMonkey]

set your primary  boot device to the HDD with the OS installed. Should be one of the choices on you list.

 

Switch on windows update

 

make sure all your other (graphics) drivers are up to date also.

 

As Birdhunter mentioned, have task manager running so you can see what is swallowing up resources, this could highlight what is slowing you up

Alright, I put my primary boot device to HDD, but still getting the same performance issues. In the task manager, I found this: http://prntscr.com/5d0dav

However, this is ridiculous. How can disk be at 99% when things aren't even taking any 'space' so ti speak. I also have a bunch of free space. http://prntscr.com/5d0dxw

What else could be wrong?

[thorpj]

Alright, I put my primary boot device to HDD, but still getting the same performance issues. In the task manager, I found this: http://prntscr.com/5d0dav

However, this is ridiculous. How can disk be at 99% when things aren't even taking any 'space' so ti speak. I also have a bunch of free space. http://prntscr.com/5d0dxw

What else could be wrong?

So Task manager shows disk utilisation as 99%, yet looking at the programs using it, only 1.6MB/s is being written/read. What does it say for your disks under performance in task Manager?

 

have a look through services & details, perhaps something in there is fully utilising the disk.

 

Can you think of any programs that you've installed recently? I instaled True Launch bar, and didn't like it. After uninstalling it, my brand new 4690k and OS install slowed to a crawl. Only a system restore could save me.

 

Have you checked to see if all windows updates are installed?

[thorpj]

Does the problem occur in Safe Mode?

[Tetters]

Can you think of any programs that you've installed recently? I instaled True Launch bar, and didn't like it. After uninstalling it, my brand new 4690k and OS install slowed to a crawl. Only a system restore could save me.

 

Have you checked to see if all windows updates are installed?

 

As Thorp says, have you installed anything recently, even something as innocuous as launch bar or search bar?

 

Once we have got to the bottom of the issue, you really need to partition your drive to safeguard against loosing data etc.

 

The 99% is something I haven't seen before, so one program somewhere must be guilty.

[ItsMonkey]

So Task manager shows disk utilisation as 99%, yet looking at the programs using it, only 1.6MB/s is being written/read. What does it say for your disks under performance in task Manager?

 

have a look through services & details, perhaps something in there is fully utilising the disk.

 

Can you think of any programs that you've installed recently? I instaled True Launch bar, and didn't like it. After uninstalling it, my brand new 4690k and OS install slowed to a crawl. Only a system restore could save me.

 

Have you checked to see if all windows updates are installed?

everything I've done just won't work. I honestly do not mind losing my files, so is there any way I can delete my entire C: drive? I want it to be completely clear.

[thorpj]

everything I've done just won't work. I honestly do not mind losing my files, so is there any way I can delete my entire C: drive? I want it to be completely clear.

You haven't reinstalled Windows yet have you. Excuse me if i've just missed it when i read over the previous comments.

[ItsMonkey]

You haven't reinstalled Windows yet have you. Excuse me if i've just missed it when i read over the previous comments.

The guy who fixed my computer might have. It was stuck in the infinite windows 8 loop, and I just sent it to get it fixed. 

[thorpj]

The guy who fixed my computer might have. It was stuck in the infinite windows 8 loop, and I just sent it to get it fixed. 

I think its clear by this point that we shouldn't trust this guy. I didn't see the post about the infinite loop, what was that? I'm thinking that reinstalling win would be a good idea.

[ItsMonkey]

I found this: http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000186.htm

I was going to do it but I do not have the windows install disk. Will it install automatically? I have my windows product key, but that's it

[thorpj]

I found this: http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000186.htm

I was going to do it but I do not have the windows install disk. Will it install automatically? I have my windows product key, but that's it

You don't need the ISO. Go down to (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-AU/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media) and Scroll down to create ISO, and run the program (its from microsoft) select the version of Windows that you have. use a USB, and you'll have a bootable version of windows. There are plenty of guides online for the process. In  You will need your windows 8 product key

 

As far as i understand, if you have an OEM version, you will need to call microsoft to have it reactivated.

 

You can use the windows 8 process that you found at that url, But really all you need to do is boot from the USB, go through the process, and when selecting where to install windows, choose the hard drive you have windows on at the moment, reformat it (this will wipe it) and install

[RossMadness]

OR before you nuke it from orbit, have you tried the basics?

Degragment

CMD: 
SFC /SCANNOW

CHKDSK

 

Also, in Windows 8 you can tell DISM to clean the image from CMD

 

DISM /ONLINE /CLEANUP-IMAGE /RESTOREHEALTH

 

See if any of those find/fix any errors.

[ItsMonkey]

OR before you nuke it from orbit, have you tried the basics?

Degragment

CMD: 

SFC /SCANNOW

CHKDSK

 

Also, in Windows 8 you can tell DISM to clean the image from CMD

 

DISM /ONLINE /CLEANUP-IMAGE /RESTOREHEALTH

 

See if any of those find/fix any errors.

to be honest I've been planning to nuke my computer even before this all happened. So yeah... can you please guide me through? Using the page above, will I be able to nuke my computer and everything will be fine afterwards? Do I still need the windows install disk? Or can I use my serial key that I have? Thanks!

[thorpj]

to be honest I've been planning to nuke my computer even before this all happened. So yeah... can you please guide me through? Using the page above, will I be able to nuke my computer and everything will be fine afterwards? Do I still need the windows install disk? Or can I use my serial key that I have? Thanks!

Just go to the link i mentioned: ((http://windows.micro...t-refresh-media) You will need your windows 8 product key)

 

The program will make the USB bootable. Then you restart (having done a backup of your files) and go through the very simple Windows installation. Select the drive, reformat and continue. Its very simple.