-pops- Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 Win XP Home SP2. The machine I do my video work on. Only connected to the Internet for updates, regular full A/V and anti-malware checks, even though they are unlikely. Over the last week or so it has become slower and slower to the point of being completely useless for video processing. A couple of days ago I shut down and switched off at the mains - normally I just shut down and leave the mains connected - with the intention of re-installing from backup today.Well, switched on, booted up and everything started up as it should and apparently completely normal - speed is OK and everything works as it should.Does anyone have an explanation as to why a power down for a couple of days should rejuvenate a system in this way?Not an urgent problem, just curiosity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason.b.c Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 Well powering it down for a couple of day's probably had nothing to do with it , But just the fact that you shut it off and let it cool down...How long do you leave this computer running...?? Hours .? , Day's at a time...???Remember , just because it has cooling fans dosen't mean the computer cannot become "Heat Soaked"..! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irene Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 Does anyone have an explanation as to why a power down for a couple of days should rejuvenate a system in this way?Not an urgent problem, just curiosity. I can't believe I am replying to one of your posts, pops. :0 However, I was once told that each time you use your pc, the ram does not clear completely unless you power down altogether. Consequently, you machine gets slower and slower.I am sure that someone may well now shoot me down in flames, but that is why I always turn off each night before bedtime. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted February 27, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 Good thinking there, Jason. It does run for long periods - days at a time sometimes and it rarely gets powered down completely - that is have the mains disconnected.Another good thought Irene. I can understand that but I've not met it before in any other machine. This one is a bit different to my norm, though, in that it is a micro-ATX motherboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irene Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 Another good thought Irene. I can understand that but I've not met it before in any other machine. This one is a bit different to my norm, though, in that it is a micro-ATX motherboard. Thats all greek to me, pops. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason.b.c Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 I can't believe I am replying to one of your posts, pops. :0 However, I was once told that each time you use your pc, the ram does not clear completely unless you power down altogether. Consequently, you machine gets slower and slower.Not really...! , When you turn off the power on your computer - either by normal windows "shutdown" or by normal shutdown and either unplugging it / flipping the switch on back ( where applicable ) the Ram does get completely wiped.....If there is no power to support the data stored in the ram then how can it stay there...???Good thinking there, Jason. It does run for long periods - days at a time sometimes and it rarely gets powered down completely - that is have the mains disconnected.Also , How clean of a computer are we talking about...? i know from experiance with mine, Because i have a dog and from normal house cleaning here ( vacuuming and such ) that an awfull amount of hair and lint builds up inside my computer , eventually causing it to slow to a snail's pace roughly once a month....Just because you can't see the dirt and lint inside the prosessor's heat sink dosen't mean it isn't there...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted February 27, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 I don't think it's dirt although we do have a large dog.I am quite diligent about cleaning the grime from inside the machine on a regular basis.I have to differ with your switching off thoughts to Irene, though. Shutting down via the Windows Turn off screen leaves a trickle current flowing through the motherboard - as shown often by an LED on the motherboard. That could quite easily enable the RAM to retain memory. My normal shut down procedure was to do that and leave the mains connected.I have to say as well, that the machine is several years old and this is the first time it has happened but I'm quite prepared to accept the explanations that have been given -thanks :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Man Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 Just curious, does it use onboard video or a video card?The reason I ask is, I had a myriad of problems with my ATI 9600 card, which after installing some extra heat sinks and a rear exhaust fan has all but disappeared.My computer would constantly lock up, restart, click into 640x480 @ 256 colours. After addressing the video card issues, it has rebooted itself maybe twice.Also make sure the video card (if there is one) is securly fastened down. I had problems with it being a milimeter unplugged and causing all kinds of problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted February 27, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 It's an on-board graphics card. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Man Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 Check bios settings for the following:Bios Caching / Shadowing - set to offPlug and Play OS - set to no Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason.b.c Posted February 27, 2007 Report Share Posted February 27, 2007 I don't think it's dirt although we do have a large dog.I am quite diligent about cleaning the grime from inside the machine on a regular basis.I have to differ with your switching off thoughts to Irene, though. Shutting down via the Windows Turn off screen leaves a trickle current flowing through the motherboard - as shown often by an LED on the motherboard. That could quite easily enable the RAM to retain memory. My normal shut down procedure was to do that and leave the mains connected.I have to say as well, that the machine is several years old and this is the first time it has happened but I'm quite prepared to accept the explanations that have been given -thanks :)I'm preaty sure the only reason a trickle of power exists there is for the power on function from the power button wired to the motherboard...With that trickle of power a signal is sent to the computers power supply telling it to go from "stand by" ( powered down mode ) to fully on , First by sending current to the needed locations of the motherboard and then waiting for the motherboard to send back the "Power Good" signal along i believe the purple and white wires located in the main bundle connected to the MOBO...But as far as that trickle of power retaining info in Ram..? , Ask yourself this , Why would anything need to be retained...??? Although i could be totally mistaken , and i am ready to accept that too... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cozofdeath Posted March 1, 2007 Report Share Posted March 1, 2007 It could also be prefetch hogging. The longer Windows runs the more programs get used the more remain and get added to memory via prefetch. This article has some good info on the prefect "feature" and how to configure some of its settings and clear it.http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_...refetch-XP.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irene Posted March 3, 2007 Report Share Posted March 3, 2007 It could also be prefetch hogging. The longer Windows runs the more programs get used the more remain and get added to memory via prefetch. This article has some good info on the prefect "feature" and how to configure some of its settings and clear it.That's an interesting website, cozofdeath. I see that I also have a prefetch folder in XP Home. Would it also be prudent to apply the clear out on an occasional basis in XP Home? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted March 4, 2007 Report Share Posted March 4, 2007 The Prefetch folder has a max limit of 256 files, and Windows will clear it out by half when that limit is reached. There is lots of controversy around the handling of the Prefetch folder, but the experts usually agree that the Prefetch folder should not be touched by the user.CCleaner has an option (that has also been subject to much controversy) that allows to clean out Prefetch entries that have not been used in a long time (60 days, I believe). I personally think that this is the better option that Windows' own cleaning, but I am not going to recommend it with all the controversy involved. B) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted March 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2007 Regarding the original problem, it has not returned and, by switching it off occasionally at the mains, the computer continues to run in the way it is supposed to.I didn't need to alter the BIOS or empty/alter the prefetch folder and I would have been reluctant to do either of those anyway considering the machine had worked for several years without a problem.Thanks to all who replied :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted March 4, 2007 Report Share Posted March 4, 2007 I am a bit lost here, all this talk about trickle currents etc. For safety sake, after closing down each night, I turn my computer and cable modem off at the wall. Is this wrong, and if so why? In the past I have been away from home, with everything switched off for as long as three weeks, and everything has turned back on fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted March 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2007 My problem arose, andsome from exactly the opposite of what you are thinking. The machine was almost never turned off at the mains but left in a "switched off at the computer" stage where there was still a small amount of power flowing through it. It was when I turned off completely and let it have a rest with no mains power to it at all that the problem was solved.The way you are running things seems to be the best. Even though my "problem" machine runs for long periods at a time, I make certain now that it is turned off for a few hours at least once a week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted March 4, 2007 Report Share Posted March 4, 2007 Phew! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cozofdeath Posted March 5, 2007 Report Share Posted March 5, 2007 I see that I also have a prefetch folder in XP Home. Would it also be prudent to apply the clear out on an occasional basis in XP Home?I agree with Pat for the most part. You can delete the contents of your prefetch folder in XP Home. Its up to you if you want to. There is controversy as to whether it actually helps. Its just a tiny performance boost if any in some cases. It can also, if corrupted, cause problems when loading applications. Therefor it would need to be deleted. Some times deleting the hidden layout.ini file can help but its best to use the command defrag -b to defrag the prefetch. If you do decide to delete the prefetch for some reason remember that the first 1-2 boots will be slower as it will be regenerating the paged prefetch files. After that it will supposedly be faster. I wouldn't worry about it to much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irene Posted March 5, 2007 Report Share Posted March 5, 2007 I wouldn't worry about it to much. Thanks very much for the info. In view of yours and Pat's advice, I don't propose to do anything.I am always interested in the advice and remedies offered, and how it might or might not benefit my system. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thos Posted March 5, 2007 Report Share Posted March 5, 2007 I, too, had looked at all this info with a good deal of interest. I had a look at my prefetch folder and decided to leave well alone. Like andsome, I had never considered NOT switching off completely at night or indeed when I am out of the house and will now continue that practice.I learn a lot just reading these posts.Thos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted March 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2007 Some people switch their computer on and that's the way they stay until they buy a new one.The reason why that machine gets left on is that it often is left working through the night and sometimes that continues for weeks on end - which is what happened when it did what is the subject of this thread. My other machines are switched off regularly at night.I have now made it a policy to power down regularly (as explained above). It certainly seems to have done the trick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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