Dell inspiron 531 4gb ram 64 bit OS running very slowly

[Vivi]

Hi all, I've just recently upgraded my Dell Insprion computer to a Windows 7 ultimate 64 bit operating system, and ever since then the computer's been loading very slow. Very slow, it takes 5 minutes to log into windows, then when it does log in, everything freezes and crashes. it has 4 gb of ram, and all this doesn't make any sense, really.

[stj]

Re: Dell inspiron 531 4gb ram 64 bit OS running very slowly

4gig is just undercoat for microsoft.

[RJARRRPCGP]

Re: Dell inspiron 531 4gb ram 64 bit OS running very slowly

Sounds like slow-laptop-HDD-syndrome.

[Vivi]

Re: Dell inspiron 531 4gb ram 64 bit OS running very slowly

Oh, but its a desktop computer, these are its specs:

Recently its gone through a ton of Windows Updates. like 192 updates, most of which were like updates for windows 7 x64 based system, a few on hardware and software. After doing all those updates, logging onto windows and loading up is just ridiculous. 5-10 minutes to log on? Then windows explorer freezes and crashes after logging in? Is this how these new computers behave like as well? Should I be aware before I consider getting a brand new one from stores?

by the way what does HDD stand for?

[goontron]

Re: Dell inspiron 531 4gb ram 64 bit OS running very slowly

sounds like slow HDD to me.... i would come help you out since we are both in CO, but im currently in southern CO for the week.

pop open the device manager so we can see what you actually have....

[Vivi]

Re: Dell inspiron 531 4gb ram 64 bit OS running very slowly

okay, (I'm guessing) these are all the devices I have on the computer itself.

[c_hegge]

Re: Dell inspiron 531 4gb ram 64 bit OS running very slowly

2 possibilities.

1. The HDD. Run a test with Seatools for DOS (which boots from a live CD)

2. The chipset. The Inspiron 531 looks to have an nVidia chipset with a Socket AM2 CPU (possibly the MCP61 nForce 430i chipset). Those chipsets have known manufacturing flaws, and slow disk access is a problem I've seen a few times on them when they fail. There is no cure for this, other than replacing your motherboard.

[goontron]

Re: Dell inspiron 531 4gb ram 64 bit OS running very slowly

hdd is known slow as molasses in January (sorry, TC), and chipset is known to be a dog.
oops, chegge beat me to it!

[Vivi]

Re: Dell inspiron 531 4gb ram 64 bit OS running very slowly

that's confusing, so you mean, I have to replace the motherboard for the all things to run faster without these current problems?

[diif]

Re: Dell inspiron 531 4gb ram 64 bit OS running very slowly

Have you installed the correct chipset driver ?
Install HDtach and see what speed your drive is running at.

[Vivi]

Re: Dell inspiron 531 4gb ram 64 bit OS running very slowly

I have no clue what chipset driver is, nor do I still know what HDD means.

[diif]

Re: Dell inspiron 531 4gb ram 64 bit OS running very slowly

Chipset driver comes from Dell. The chipset controls the communication between the cpu, memory and peripherals. HDD is hard disk drive
http://www.hdtune.com/download.html instead of HDtach.

[diif]

Re: Dell inspiron 531 4gb ram 64 bit OS running very slowly

You will need to install the Vista 64 drivers. Chipset drivers is bundled with the ati video driver.

[diif]

Re: Dell inspiron 531 4gb ram 64 bit OS running very slowly

We had over 300 of these laptops at my last place. They don't have the nvidia nforce chipset. AMD690T and SB600.

[Compgeke]

Re: Dell inspiron 531 4gb ram 64 bit OS running very slowly

These aren't laptops. I own a 531 myself - it's a desktop with the nForce 430 chipset.

Mine doesn't have any such issues even with Windows 7 x64 or Server 2012 R2, however, I replaced my stock hard drive with a Seagate 7200.12 160 gig.

I would run something like Crystal Disk Mark and screenshot that. If it's not the hard drive it gets a bit trickier to diagnose.

[c_hegge]

Re: Dell inspiron 531 4gb ram 64 bit OS running very slowly

I hate it when companies do that - use the same series name for both desktops and laptops. Dell didn't used to do it, but they do now.

I missed the bit about it occurring after an upgrade. Try doing a clean install of windows (ie, save your data to an external drive, format the HDD and start again).

[diif]

Re: Dell inspiron 531 4gb ram 64 bit OS running very slowly

My mistake, D531 is the laptop,

[Vivi]

Re: Dell inspiron 531 4gb ram 64 bit OS running very slowly

I'll have to do all that? just to solve this problem? I officially know nothing about computers.

[c_hegge]

Re: Dell inspiron 531 4gb ram 64 bit OS running very slowly

^
I'm afraid so. There is not likely to be any very simple solution to your problem.

My mistake, D531 is the laptop,

Yup. I used to have a D531 too. Bear in mind, though, that the D531 is a Latitude, NOT an Inspiron. I really liked it in the old days where the range name clearly identified it as a laptop or desktop. The laptops were either Inspiron (for Consumer) or Latitude (for Business), and the desktops were either Dimension (Consumer) or Optiplex (business). Nowadays, Inspiron and Vostro can be either.

[Vivi]

Re: Dell inspiron 531 4gb ram 64 bit OS running very slowly

would it be shameful if I just said: forget it! I'll deal with the slowness?"?