Strange problem with my laptop

I am having a strange problem with my 15x, and it came out of nowhere. Now, I have had my system since june of last year (So still on warranty, thank god), and always had minor issues. Lag while on my main screen (games were fine once I figured out about a special stealth mode ). I would open chrome, firefox, whatever, and it would lag, I could hardly even run farmville (yea yea, ). I knew something was up, but figured who cares since I can still game on WoW, aoc, etc. fine.

Now, lately it seems to be getting slower and slower, I have even formatted a few times and each time called Dell to have them manually get into my laptop and update it . Incase something went wrong haha. However maybe a week ago (Give or take), when I opened my computer, windows update stayed at 0% forever, until it finally updated and I entered my password - logged in.

Once I logged in, it took about 15 minutes for everything to load (I even got angry and rebooted to see, same result). During this "loading" I could open nothing. Even attempting to press the Start button would result in (explorer?) crashing. That bar where start menu is crashing, entire thing.

Then it started working for a few days after that, I figured whatever it happens. But then yesterday, I couldn't even log in. I enter password, get to desktop, everything is -slow-. It loaded fine, but everything just wasn't opening after (tried icq, msn, etc,). Would take say 2 minutes for ICQ to finally open, then another 2 for it to actually load contacts, couldnt do anything (and the start menu thing was crashing left and right anytime I clicked it, folders crashing).

^^^^^^^^ I formated. Now I can open the laptop fine. However, the lag is still there although not as bad. I click on my computer, c drive, whatever. Takes ~20 - 25 seconds for it to open. I ctrl alt delete it takes about 15-20 for it to even go to the blue screen section to allow me to select something. I still get the start menu freeze up now and then even with a complete fresh install (And everything updated from dell site). I try updating games, and game will freeze when updating, then nothing else works. Open chrome, nothing loads (internets working fine, its a lag type wont load if that makes sense).

Also, if I install the alienware theme, it just kills the system and the crashes are rampant, with it uninstalled it's better, but still have problems. It's better since the format, but still happens now and then but I'm afraid if I send it to tell, they will just boot up, and say "ok no problem" and call me a liar. I know there's something wrong but now that it's a little better, it's harder to reproduce the problem (usually).

I'm sorry for the terrible explanation, but its the best I can do with whats going on. I'm thinking it's a hardware issue... but I know nothing about laptops or computers so I'm hoping someone here might know a fix, if not I can get dell to do something about it maybe.

Thanks if you read trough my wall of text ))))


EDIT: I have a 4gb intel core i5-540m 2.53 ghz, radeaon hd 5850 . I hope that helps.

 

I am assuming that you are running Windows 7. There are a number of potential issues:

You could have a virus - make sure your antivirus software is up to date, and that your machine has been scanned. There are a number of viruses that can cause dramatic slowing and crashes. WHen it is running slowly, do ctrl-alt-del and enter the Task Manager - see if there is any process that is taking up a lot or processor time. While you're there, you can check to see if Windows is seeing both cores. (Under Performance - set view - history - to one graph per CPU.

You should also get a copy of hwinfo32 - HWiNFO32 Download - this can tell you if your processor is running at the correct speed.

In addition, it sounds like you might have an internet access problem -are you using wireless access, or are you connected directly? What sort of access do you have? If you're using wireless, what card do you have? What is your router?

Lots of questions, but the answers may help us get you pointed in the right direction(s).

Joe

 

Can you post your temps ? I also think it is some hardware issue. Since you already reinstalled your OS, I think you should go for a complete factory state restore.. this erases a lot of errors... and did the system freezing happen after you updated your windows ? I think a lot of users are experiencing problems like yours after updating to SP1...may this is it.

But first of all, you should try to do a power drain trick. In case you already didn't know it, it resolves a lot of glitches in an Alienware or any other laptop for that matter and this is how you do it:
1. Shutdown your system.
2. Remove the AC adapter.
3. Remove the battery.(you can also remove the CMOS battery if you want but you need to open the service cover to get to it..completely your preference but I always power drain by removing it as well )
4. Press the power button abd hold for 45-60 seconds.
5. Plug in your battery and the AC adapter and switch on the system.

That's it . The idea of doing this is to discharge all the static energy that may be left over in the system and your are draining off all the unwanted power. Hopefully this will resolve your issues. Let us know what happens.

 

I actually had that exact same update issue just the other day. Update stayed at 0% for about 10 minutes then declared a big fat "FAIL" and carried on as normal. Worked the next time I booted up though, and I haven't noticed any adverse effects or unusual behaviour. I really need to turn those automatic updates off. They just get right under my skin with the whole "you gotta restart RIGHT NOW! And you can keep hitting that LATER button as much as you want, but I'm gonna get you!!!!". Bloody Windows...

 

One of the -net updates has a tendency to fail. There is actually a fix - if you write down the error and google it, you can find an update that fixes all hte various versions (am not at home, or I would pass along the name). Once that file is installed, then the net update went fine. I usually set updates to let me know, but not install until I look at the list - there are some things I do not want updated...

Joe

 

I just got off the phone with dell after 8 hours.... ugh. Finally after all their pointless troubleshooting they are sending me a new hardrive (Kept getting hardrive errors, and hardrives scans kept giving errors).

Happy about that, hopefully it fixes my problem. but, they still after nearly a year of having my laptop, won't send me a new windows 7 cd key even though the one I received from them (attached to the laptop) is invalid and doesn't work. Lol. >.>

 

You should'nt need a cd key. Your bios should have a slic table (version 2.1) which should allow for an install without a key. That is if you have your Win 7 Alienware disc on hand, then again any Win 7 Alienware disc will do the job.

 

I always darn afraid to do the automatic update. I set to download it, but let me choose what to install. You just cant trust Windows and their screwups these days.

 

ah yes, I got my new hardrive and installed with the windows 7 alienware cd, sweet . I do have 1 more question! please, if anyone can answer. Should I download any windows updates? Dell rep raged on me for updating system =x. Didn't realise it was a bad thing.

So should I download any of these automatic windows updates or just never bother? Thnx. And also, when I press my stealth button, the little icon in middle of screen doesn't show up for some reason, anyone know what I need to install from dell site to see that again?

 

windows updates are fine and recommended, but i recommend setting so you can choose when to install it. i install most of my updates within windows, so it doesn't pop up and try to install it when your shutting down, i really hated that.

 

@seronic: You're looking for the OSD application (On Screen Display)... here you go: Drivers and Downloads

I highly recommend the Windows updates... Change the settings, like Inap said... My setting is "Check for updates but let me choose whether to download and install them". I almost always install the "recommended updates".

 

thanks everybody for the answers . One last thing if -maybe- someone would know the answer. My warranty is almost over so I want to get a 1 year extension, but my question is so I have to get the TOTAL coverage (the one that covers accidental spills), right away? Or can Iget the regular warranty, and then in 3 months, decide to upgrade my warranty to add the accidental part? )