Need help: slowness in a 2 years old Vostro1500, win xp sp3

Hi all,

I have a vostro 1500 (T7300, 2GBx1 ram, nvidia 8600m GT gfx). It's about 2 years old and warranty just finished. OS is win xp sp3.

Recently I feel the computer becames really slow, especially after I opened BT downloader. I first thougth it is hdd problem, so I swapped the original seagate 160GB with a new WD 500GB, OS and all software cloned to the new drive using seagate's diskwizard. I didn't do a clean install because I have quite a few software that is troublesome to re-install and re-configure. The problem didn't get solved. I then checked the hard disk with seagate tool, no problem found. Did de-fragmentation, no improvement. checked the DMA mode and it's normal. I even opened up the laptop to clean the dust in vent and noticed a temparature drop when full loaded from 86C to 75C. But that doesn't solve the slowness problem.

So up to this point, I think maybe I have to do a fresh install. But before I do that, I hope someone can help me with other alternatives, to identify the problem or solve it.

the symptoms are like: slow startup, slow reaction to almost all actions, like opening browser, opening windows explorer and folders, opening applications. Once it is opened, performance is normal. I also tried copy large size and quantity of files from the hard drive to external hard drives and vice versa. For large size files, speed is normal, but for many small sized files, speed is terrible. It looks like disk buffer is not enabled or sth, but I don't know how to check that. After all, the new drive I just switched to shall be a good one because I used it on another laptop and it's fine.

sorry for the long description, hope to hear some suggestions from experienced fellow forumers.

Thanks a lot!

 

As you can see in my sig I own a Vostro 1500 that's also going on 2 years old. I recently took it apart and replaced the thermal paste and cleaned out both of the heatsink fins.

There are many reasons for a slow computer. Anything from viruses, spyware and the like to a computer that's running very hot and needs to throttle down to cool off.

Your temps seem a little high to me. My temps max out at 60c. OK let's go over the basics:

1) How many tasks are currently running on your computer?

2) Is your Anti Virus software up to date?

3) Which Anti Virus software do you use?

4) When was the last time you checked for viruses?

5) What Anti-Malware software do you use? Is it up to date and when was the last time you checked for Spyware?

6) When did you first notice things slowing down?

7) Did you install any type of software or did you make any changes to your computer around that time?

8) Have you checked for Registry errors with a free program like CCleaner - Optimization and Cleaning - Free Download

 

Thanks for the advice. think I'm gonna try the thermal paste thing next. I did notice that the paste on CPU is fully dried out, maybe need to replace. btw: do you recommend thermal paste on GPU? I followed DELL's online manual and GPU is a big brick with pipe. Maybe need to unpack the GPU assembly to reveal the chip? is that safe to do?

1) there's like no additional application running in background other than windows' own as far as I can tell.
2&3&4) yes, I'm using antivir the free edition, I did full virus scan after I first feel the slowness, which is about 1 month+ back.
5) I don't have this one.
6) about 1month+ back, and it's gradually becoming slower & slower.
7) cannot remember, but most likely no.
8) I'll give this a try later when i get home. thanks!

 

No, that's not necessary. When you remove both heatsinks that's where you'll probably find more lint and dust covering the fins on the heatsink. I was shocked and amazed how much accumulated on both my heatsink's even though I blew them out with compressed air.

As for the CPU heatsink you'll notice Dell uses a thermal pad for the chipset. Do not REMOVE IT ! What I did was I cleaned off the old paste on the chipset then I applied a generous amount of thermal paste (I use Artic Silver Ceramique as it's non conductive).

On the CPU I used the standard amount which is the size of a bead of rice. Also Dell sells that heatsink which does come with a new thermal pad. If you don't break the thermal pad you should be fine. My laptop now idles in the 40-45c range and peaks in the 60c range. Also I once notice a nice sound of exhaust air since the heatsink is no longer clogged by a layer of dust.

 

yes I noticed the thermal pad on the chipset. thought it was the dried up paste. lucky see your post before I remove that and throw away. I visited a local computer store but they only have coolermaster thermal compound. I bought this premium one as it shows the highest thermal conductivity among all available models, not the most expensive one which comes with a nice scrub. I'll replace the old dust-like thermal paste with this new one and see how it goes.
Thanks for the advice.

 

update: I cleaned up the old dried up thermal paste on CPU today, and applied new one I bought yesterday on both CPU and chipset (it has a thermal pad which I kept it there but applied a thin layer of thermal paste on the chip, hope it won't do bad things if not help in anyway).

I also took the risk and opened up the GPU assembly, there are four thermal pads on the vedio ram chip, and thermal paste on GPU, so I replaced the with new one.

I later did a temparature test and noticed CPU full load temparature to be 69-70C, from the 76C before I replace the thermal paste. So I guess the new thermal paste helped. Not sure about the GPU part as I didn't record GPU full load (by running 3Dmark06) temparature. But the current GPU full load temparature is 72C. Guess that's fine.

I still have the slowness problem. But now I can fairly be certain it is not temperature, I'm doing a re-install of OS on a spare drive hopefully it solves the issue.

 

btw: the 8600m gt + C2D T7300 +3GB ram all at default clock give the following 3dmark06 scores, just in case some one interested:

1024x768 no AA no AF: 43xx
1440x900 no AA no AF:34xx
1440x900 8xAA 16xAF:14xx