Shaddus2009-02-02 01:18:37
I've been having problems with my pc for the last 5 months or so, and I can't figure out what's wrong. Hoping someone can give me some ideas.
First off, I'm running some sort of Compaq Presario hybrid something I bought from Rent-A-Center. 256 Ram, 2.46 Ghz processor, 64 Meg video, 80 gig hard drive with about 15 gig free. I can offer specifics if needed, but I'm not really a tech wiz, this is off the top of my head. Windows XP, and in my task manager, have about 32 processes running.
Anyway. At random moments during the time I'm using it, my computer will start to bog down. When I check, one of the following files is starting to take quite a bit of memory usage up: Mush, IE, or SVCHOST.EXE. When I shut down the SVCHOST.EXE, my sound stops, leading me to believe that's my sound driver. And when I say it takes up a lot of usage, I mean that it's up to 122,000 k at times. Sometimes, I will watch it go down, then up again. Once again, all random.
I've ran virus checks, deleted cookies/history/whatever, and it doesn't help much. Defrag, nothing. I'm not doing any one thing when it happens, and as much as I'd like to wipe the HD and start fresh, my wife has a bunch of stuff on it and I can't afford another hard drive.
Any thoughts?
First off, I'm running some sort of Compaq Presario hybrid something I bought from Rent-A-Center. 256 Ram, 2.46 Ghz processor, 64 Meg video, 80 gig hard drive with about 15 gig free. I can offer specifics if needed, but I'm not really a tech wiz, this is off the top of my head. Windows XP, and in my task manager, have about 32 processes running.
Anyway. At random moments during the time I'm using it, my computer will start to bog down. When I check, one of the following files is starting to take quite a bit of memory usage up: Mush, IE, or SVCHOST.EXE. When I shut down the SVCHOST.EXE, my sound stops, leading me to believe that's my sound driver. And when I say it takes up a lot of usage, I mean that it's up to 122,000 k at times. Sometimes, I will watch it go down, then up again. Once again, all random.
I've ran virus checks, deleted cookies/history/whatever, and it doesn't help much. Defrag, nothing. I'm not doing any one thing when it happens, and as much as I'd like to wipe the HD and start fresh, my wife has a bunch of stuff on it and I can't afford another hard drive.
Any thoughts?
Charune2009-02-02 01:35:53
I believe (this is from memory) svchost is just a process for various services. You can use an app called Process Explorer to check each service under it.
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial129.html may help.
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial129.html may help.
Xavius2009-02-02 02:11:56
QUOTE (Shaddus Mes'ard @ Feb 1 2009, 07:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I've been having problems with my pc for the last 5 months or so, and I can't figure out what's wrong. Hoping someone can give me some ideas.
First off, I'm running some sort of Compaq Presario hybrid something I bought from Rent-A-Center. 256 Ram, 2.46 Ghz processor, 64 Meg video, 80 gig hard drive with about 15 gig free. I can offer specifics if needed, but I'm not really a tech wiz, this is off the top of my head. Windows XP, and in my task manager, have about 32 processes running.
Anyway. At random moments during the time I'm using it, my computer will start to bog down. When I check, one of the following files is starting to take quite a bit of memory usage up: Mush, IE, or SVCHOST.EXE. When I shut down the SVCHOST.EXE, my sound stops, leading me to believe that's my sound driver. And when I say it takes up a lot of usage, I mean that it's up to 122,000 k at times. Sometimes, I will watch it go down, then up again. Once again, all random.
I've ran virus checks, deleted cookies/history/whatever, and it doesn't help much. Defrag, nothing. I'm not doing any one thing when it happens, and as much as I'd like to wipe the HD and start fresh, my wife has a bunch of stuff on it and I can't afford another hard drive.
Any thoughts?
First off, I'm running some sort of Compaq Presario hybrid something I bought from Rent-A-Center. 256 Ram, 2.46 Ghz processor, 64 Meg video, 80 gig hard drive with about 15 gig free. I can offer specifics if needed, but I'm not really a tech wiz, this is off the top of my head. Windows XP, and in my task manager, have about 32 processes running.
Anyway. At random moments during the time I'm using it, my computer will start to bog down. When I check, one of the following files is starting to take quite a bit of memory usage up: Mush, IE, or SVCHOST.EXE. When I shut down the SVCHOST.EXE, my sound stops, leading me to believe that's my sound driver. And when I say it takes up a lot of usage, I mean that it's up to 122,000 k at times. Sometimes, I will watch it go down, then up again. Once again, all random.
I've ran virus checks, deleted cookies/history/whatever, and it doesn't help much. Defrag, nothing. I'm not doing any one thing when it happens, and as much as I'd like to wipe the HD and start fresh, my wife has a bunch of stuff on it and I can't afford another hard drive.
Any thoughts?
What you're describing (random, commonly used processes suffering resource management issues) sounds an awful lot like an OS corruption. Someone who's really good at that sort of thing may or may not be able to find the bad file and overwrite it, but the general advice on this is to reinstall.
I have a networkable external hard drive that I can make accessible if given a couple days' notice. If you don't mind me having free access to your data, it's got more than 80 GB sitting free.
Shaddus2009-02-02 03:08:53
Thanks, Charune, the program looks decent. Not sure if it will help, but it can't hurt, and it will teach me a bit, I' sure.
If it were only my pc, I'd go for that. But if I screwed it up somehow she would kill me, almost literally.
So, what you are pretty much suggesting is reinstalling the OS? Would putting in my windows cd and just reinstalling over the exsisting OS work?
QUOTE (Xavius @ Feb 1 2009, 08:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I have a networkable external hard drive that I can make accessible if given a couple days' notice. If you don't mind me having free access to your data, it's got more than 80 GB sitting free.
If it were only my pc, I'd go for that. But if I screwed it up somehow she would kill me, almost literally.
So, what you are pretty much suggesting is reinstalling the OS? Would putting in my windows cd and just reinstalling over the exsisting OS work?
