sluggish mx6421...only had it a week

so, despite having the hottest laptop in town (temperature-wise), i've noticed this machine ain't that fast! here are some things i've noticed:

1) CPU spikes. i look at task manager from time to time and its just seems high. like right now, i am typing this message and nothing else, and the CPU usage is at 24% and holding there.

2) slow application startup. to just startup firefox, it takes about 10 seconds.

3) slow boot up. takes about 3-4 minutes to get to the main screen and be ready for use.

any ideas here? i've scanned for spyware and don't have any. i've only had this machine about a week. i am frustrated and disappointed! help me!

 

Sounds like there is stuff going on in the background, maybe spyware or a virus, but it could also be the software that comes preinstalled on your pc. You can try uninstalling all unnesisary software, or you can use msconfig to keep all of that stuff from loading when windows starts. Go to Start>Run and type in "msconfig", go to the Startup tab and click the disable all button, then restart your pc and see how it works.

 

If you've only had it a week, then go ahead and do a system restore on it.

Occasionally, the initial image might even be a little wacky. Not common, but it happens. Also...who knows what could have happened while you've been using it this past week.

Just do a system restore and check it out then. If you've only had it a week, do it now...before the 14 day return period is up, so you can just exchange it if it continues to give you a problem. Otherwise, you're gonna end up shipping it out if you find a hardware problem later on.

 

If none of the above solutions work, I would reformat.
And this probably won't help you yet, but make sure that you always update the spyware and virus definitions before scanning.

 

Make sure you have a way to re-install Windows before re-formatting.

 

so far i've run a full spyware scan and macafee runs all the time in the background. i've cleaned out the startup stuff (msconfig), taken all the pre-loaded gateway stuff off the machine. i really can't return it to best buy cause best buy sucks and they would not find any fault with it. i am kinda stuck with this machine.

 

What did you use to scan for spyware?

 

i used adaware pro and macafee is currently running. i've only had the thing about a week and am pretty knowledgable about spyware, so i don't know what could have gotten on there already.

 

i really don't want to reformat. i am hoping the added 512mb will help with performance. either way, i plan on selling it once it's paid off. i am just not impressed with it's performance. my emachines M2105 was faster!

 

A faster hard drive will help with the slow application starting.

 

try using partition magic and create a seperate install drive for programs so it's not running all the programs on the same drive windows is on. also the ram increase will help a lot. that's what i did and my MX6421 is running great.

 

i am hoping the ram increase works, too! i should be getting in a few days here. i guess i am keeping this laptop for now!

 

You might want to try defragmenting your harddrive too, if you haven't already.

 

after only a week?!?! i did check the fragmentation and it's only at 9%. i'll give it a try though.

 

Are you trying to acess a weak signal network? Mine runs a little more sluggish when it's got a low signal.....not just internet, but it seems everything i do is more sluggish. But at home i have excellent signal and it's not sluggish..

 

hmm...i don't know. i'll have to look at that. i always thought my signal strength was excellent, but i've been through a few laptops in the past week. i don't remember. thanks for the advice though.

 

I really don't think that your computer should be running as slow as you make it sound. I would recommend a reformat if the speed is unbearable.
I think it is your last hope.

 

it's not unbearable, but it seems slow. i don't know. it's hard to compare it to anything, since everyone's setup is different.

one thing that might be slowing me down is all the **** that macafee must be performing in the background. it seems to be a monster of a program.

anywho, i am selling it in a few weeks anyway. got a dell.

 

What Dell did you get? Just curious.

 

after doing a bunch of research, i settled on the XPS M140. found a 10% off coupon and got it for $850. 512MB/60GB/DVD burner/Brite screen/9 cell battery. i've never had a dell before, but it got good reviews and was within my budget.

i am afraid i am going to take a loss on selling the gateway though. i intend to try and replace the power cord since when charging, it's hot as an oven, but i want that thing gone! every time i look at it, i think of best buy and how i just bought the thing to get out of the store quickly.

 

Any ideas on keeping the fan on to keep it cooler? Linux shows the CPU temp hovering around 50C. The AC adaptor does get very hot (they should recall -- fire hazard?).

Under Linux (FC5) it seems to perform well, but only 512M is a bit small for a 64-bit CPU.

 

i don't keep the AC adapter on the floor. i honestly worry about it. i think i am selling the gateway soon anyway. ugh.

 

Just to note, the adapter would do harm to it'self (preventing it's work from carrying on) before burning a house down You have no need to worry about burning a house down. Besides, they all come with thermal sensors inside the brick. If anything goes wrong, it will cut the power by it'self. If that happens (which you shouldn't worry about), I'm sure BestBuy would take care of it.

 

not our best buy! our best buy totally stinks and they couldn't care less about the customer. besides, the laptop is out of the 14-day return period and there's no way i could have taken it back anyway.

the adapter, when at its hottest, can't even be held. i have to think it's not a good idea to set something that hot on carpet. i just don't want to chance it. i'd hate to try it out and come home to find my apartment burned to the ground.

as a note, the adapter only gets this hot when it's charging the laptop from a low battery. most of the time, it's not that hot.

 

I can't remember if you ever said if you did, but did you contact Gateway about this? They should probably know.

 

yes, i did. they gave me some runaround about how it's normal for a brick to heat up, yadda, yadda. i then wrote back and told them i was worried about my apartment burning down and they said they would ship me out a new one, but i'd have to contact them and authorize a $75 charge on my card until they got my ac adapter from me. blah.

"In order to send out the part we will need to pre-authorize a Credit
Card for $75.00. The $75.00 is only pre-authorized and will not be
charged to the Credit Card unless the defective part is not returned
with in seven days. If the defective part is not returned within 7 days
your credit card will be charged $75.00. Included with your replacement
part are instructions on how to install the defective part. You will
also receive a shipping label, which can be used to return the defective
part to us without any cost to you."

i will be doing this soon, before i sell it. however, i am guessing the new ac adapter will do the same thing. i wish i had some way of measuring the temp of this thing. it just seems abnormally hot.

 

Hmm. We will have to see.
I honestly don't think it will be any better though. You said that your machine runs hot? Maybe it is drawing more power than needed
What is the power brick rated at (60 or 90 watt?) My 90 doesn't get very hot at all.

 

65 watt power, i believe.

 

Maybe Gateway should go the route of HP and put fans (yes, fans) in the power supply (I am refering to an old HP btw)

 

I just purchased one from Best Buy also and have the same problems. I added 512 ram and that didnt help. I reformatted that didnt help either. I disabled all unneeded programs from msconfig and that didnt help either. I feel that a 5400 rpm hard drive is the answer. I just ordered a WD Scorpio 80 gig and i will repost after that is installed. im just hoping that media center reinstalles ok with this drive.