Computer Extremely SLOW

[dfrav]

Let me start with the specs of my computer:

Intel P4 2.6GHz, 512K 800 FSB Socket 478 Hyper Threading
Gigabyte GA-81K1100, 875P Chipset 800MHz FSB, Dual Bios
512MB Patriot PC3200
MSI FX5200 Video Card
Maxtor 160GB HD 7200RPM (x2)
(I tried installing Windows on both of them alone to isolate the problem but it runs the same on both, I don't thinks its my hard drives)
Win XP Pro 2002 w/ all MS Updates

Now for my problem,
My system was running fine for about 3 Months after I put it all together. I normally just leave my system on all the time because I use it all the time. I have heard it is better to leave it on rather than turn it on and off everyday. The monitor goes to sleep but the HDs keep running. If that is not true, please tell me.
I went on vacation for Christmas for two weeks, so I shut down my system. When I came back and fired it up it was running slow. I reseated RAM and Video Card. Visual inspection of interior showed no signs of burnt components. No luck. Uninstalled BF1942 which was the prog that was giving me troubles. Still slow. (By slow I mean the comp freezes for about 30 second when I pull up the start menu and click a prog, or try to do anything where the screen is switching from one window to another). At this point after a couple more uninstalls of possible trouble progs, getting the new MS updates and trying system restore, I was getting a little aggrivated. So I reinstalled a fresh copy of Windows, erasing the Master HD. No Luck.
I completely erased and formatted my Slave drive to NTFS (which is the file system I was already using for both). I disconnected my master, switched the jumper to the slave to make it the master, and installed Windows on it. Now I only have 1 HD connected. I installed all Drivers from all CDs that came with my hardware and even looked for any updates on the internet. Installed all MS updates. It still doesn't run right. All installs are incredibly slow. Pretty much everything that my computer does is at least 15 times slower than it was before I went on vacation. Also, I am getting an error saying Spooler SubSystem App encountered and error and needs to close. I don't have any printer software installed or a printer connected to the comp, so I am not sure why I am getting that error. And, when I try to uninstall any of the MS updates, it comes up with and I/O error and Unistall has to shut down. Oh yeah, I do have surge protection incase you think there might have beent a surge while I was on vacation.
Sorry this is so long I just wanted to be as specific as possible. Please reply as soon as possible I am completely lost.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

Derrick

[athlonxpguy]

Just might be a heat related issue...

[kranich]

One quicky thing to check is to see whether or not you are geting the RAM you think you are getting. Right click My Computer > Properties and go to the General Tab to see if the number reported is what you think you have.

[dfrav]

RAM is fine. The CPU is at 42 Degrees C.

[athlonxpguy]

Have you tried running a chkdsk on the HD just to see if any problems are found?

Also, what is the CPU usage shown in Taskmanager?

[Uncle Bob]

May as well throw in my $00.02 . Have you run Spybot or Ad Aware? Do you have a lot of stuff running in the back ground?
Defrag? msconfig?

[rpertusio]

Uncle Bob, I would have suggested the same thing, except that the problems are seen even after a format.

dfrav,

Is your CPU reporting the right speed? The time on your clock set correctly?

I only ask, because the CMOS battery may have decided it wanted a Christmas break too, and died. If that happens, all your BIOS settings would revert to default, including the Front Side Bus speed and any other tweaks/settings you might have applied in the BIOS.

As far as the "Spooler SubSystem App" error, take a look at:
Article 324757 - "Spooler Subsystem App Has Encountered a Problem and Needs to Close" and "Operation Could Not Be Completed" Error Messages

It also might be a good idea to Check your memory with memtest86.

Does your Device manager show anything odd?( Start menu -> Run... -> devmgmt.msc )

What do the event logs say? ( Start menu -> Run... -> eventvwr.msc )

- rp

[The Real Bingo]

Yeah, I would say that would be a virus or something, but since he reinstalled Windows, wouldnt that get rid of everything?

[dfrav]

I have been using Norton System Works 2003. It couldnt find any problems with the HD. Task Manager shows no activity on the CPU until I try to open a prog. Once the Prog opens after the 30 second or so freeze the CPU Usage fluctuates up and down from 10 to 66% for about the next minute or two. No need to run MSConfig because it is a fresh install of Windows with no programs loaded except Norton. Checked it anyway and there are no unnecessary background progs running.

[Foggy]

Norton made some major boo boos last week see
"Anyone Having prob's with Norton AV ?" 1/9/04 Gen Tech forum.
It did some strange things on my computer, Hosed my network, made the right click take forever, and a lot of freeze ups and other little problems.