Laptop issue - overheated? [le~fixed]

[Massimo]

Well, I bought my laptop 2-3 years ago online, and got it sent to Denmark from America. Everything worked out great, and I ran FFXI/whatever other games I played back then, just fine on it. No problems at all.

Now, when I turn the power on, it just generally takes a lot longer to start than it used to, and once it's started it's staying at basically 80~100% CPU usage (It's at 100% right now.), even when I'm just browsing the net.
It randomly freezes up, mostly when using firefox or playing FFXI, and it can do it a lot, for a long time.. I've noticed it getting very easily overheated too, lately, and I'm just not sure what's causing it.

I'm a complete moron at this computer-shit, so I'm not really sure what to do. I got my hands on a free copy of Windows at some point, to just try and re-install the whole thing, which would be fine, if it'd work; but it ended up cockblocking me from doing so, cause it needed an Admin passoword, that I don't have and don't recall making.

Specs:
Intel Pentium M Processor 1.86GHz
512mb RAM
Mobile Intel 915GM/GMS, 910GML Express Chipset Family. (That's all I know, I can't remember if it's 128 or 64 MB, but it's not extremely fucking impressive.)

There's also a lot more processes starting, each time I turn on the computer, than there used to, I wondered if that had anything to do with it. Sometimes it can run like a charm, but sometimes it's the biggest bitch on the planet.

Any ideas? QQ

[Cephius]

You might have spyware and/or your fan is clogged with dust and not working. Try to get in there with a dust rag or a can of compressed air and dust everything out, unscrew it if you need to to make sure the airflow isnt blocked. Run some spyware scans and see if anything comes up.

You can also disable things from running at startup by opening a run window, typing in "msconfig" and then going to the startup tab. Disable anything you don't need.

[mootsfox]

You has teh spywarez from looking at too much danish pr0ns.

If you are ok with losing all your data, stick the disc in the drive and reboot. Hit F2, F12 or the DEL key, whichever it tells you to do to get into the BIOS or SETUP. Once in there, edit the boot order so that your disc drive is the first and only boot device. Hit F10 to save and quit. The computer will reboot and say something like "Press any key to boot from disc ...." Hit the any key and follow the instructions on the screen to re-format (do a full format) and install windows.

Depending on your laptop, at the starting screen where you would hit F2, F12 or DEL, you might see a "One-Time Boot" thing. If you hit the key that it tells you to for that, it will take you to a one time boot order screen where you can select to boot from your disc drive.

Finally, when you have windows installed, go back and set your Hard Drive (HDD) to the first and only boot device.

Just FYI, your graphics piece probably only has 8MB of RAM, but it can use up to 128MB of system RAM, which they call "Shared RAM".

[Massimo]

Well, it could sound like it's the fan, cause it's been making a lot of noise lately. I'll find some way to get in there, and clean it up. If that doesn't work, we'll, then I'll just reboot I suppose.

Thanks for the help.

Also; It's a Dell Inspiron 6000, if that helps anything. Lol.

[zoobernut]

I had this happen to my laptop it would peg at 100% cpu usage as soon as it was turned on and it was spyware! Got rid of the spyware and it started running normally again.

[Massimo]

Which program did you use? I've tried a few, but haven't had any real luck so far.

Also, I'm afraid to unscrew the laptop, to get to the fan, cause I might not be able to piece it back together again. D:

[zoobernut]

I used Spybot Search and Destroy I downloaded it from Cnet.com if that one does not catch them all then I run Adaware by Lavasoft.

On a side note anyone ever heard of the virtumond virus? It is the only thing my laptop is infected with I cannot get rid of. Any ideas tips hints?

[Sigi]

Format.
Reinstall Windows.


Problem solved.

[zoobernut]

I work a lot and am very busy I was trying to find a solution to this issue without having to do that. It takes a lot of time to format and reinstall windows on a laptop. A lot more drivers and crap to make sure is functioning properly than a desktop computer.

[Cephius]

I used Spybot Search and Destroy I downloaded it from Cnet.com if that one does not catch them all then I run Adaware by Lavasoft.

On a side note anyone ever heard of the virtumond virus? It is the only thing my laptop is infected with I cannot get rid of. Any ideas tips hints?

Use this custom tool, it's very good and made specifically to get rid of Vundo (virtumonde) so if it doesn't clear it, nothing will. Download and let it run.

http://vundofix.atribune.org/

[zoobernut]

Thank you. I will try that and if it does not work I will give in and just format/reinstall.

[Sigi]

I work a lot and am very busy I was trying to find a solution to this issue without having to do that. It takes a lot of time to format and reinstall windows on a laptop. A lot more drivers and crap to make sure is functioning properly than a desktop computer.

Try the solution Cephius posted, but in the long run... approx. 3 hours for full windows and drivers install on a laptop is better than 12+ mucking around in the registry. PS: the amount of drivers for a desktop and laptop are about the same. If anything, a laptop has less drivers than a desktop due to the limited possibility of hardware additions.

[zoobernut]

I did not count the drivers in particular but having done a full format and reinstall on my desktop and laptop in my experience it has been a much larger pain in the ass to get all the drivers installed and the touch pad working and the screen working and everything on my laptop than it is to get my desktop back up and running.

And yes I will certainly try the fix mentioned above but if it doesn't work I will bite the bullet and format/reinstall windows.

[Massimo]

You has teh spywarez from looking at too much danish pr0ns.

If you are ok with losing all your data, stick the disc in the drive and reboot. Hit F2, F12 or the DEL key, whichever it tells you to do to get into the BIOS or SETUP. Once in there, edit the boot order so that your disc drive is the first and only boot device. Hit F10 to save and quit. The computer will reboot and say something like "Press any key to boot from disc ...." Hit the any key and follow the instructions on the screen to re-format (do a full format) and install windows.

Depending on your laptop, at the starting screen where you would hit F2, F12 or DEL, you might see a "One-Time Boot" thing. If you hit the key that it tells you to for that, it will take you to a one time boot order screen where you can select to boot from your disc drive.

Finally, when you have windows installed, go back and set your Hard Drive (HDD) to the first and only boot device.

Just FYI, your graphics piece probably only has 8MB of RAM, but it can use up to 128MB of system RAM, which they call "Shared RAM".

I love you.

Re-installed windows the way you said it, and it worked. Now that i've found drivers for shit, it's running like a charm. Gonna try FFXI once it's done updating in 53272 hours.

Thanks everyone. :nikkei:

[mootsfox]

I love you.

Re-installed windows the way you said it, and it worked. Now that i've found drivers for shit, it's running like a charm. Gonna try FFXI once it's done updating in 53272 hours.

Thanks everyone. :nikkei:

Forgot about how FFXI updates

[Massimo]

I love you.

Re-installed windows the way you said it, and it worked. Now that i've found drivers for shit, it's running like a charm. Gonna try FFXI once it's done updating in 53272 hours.

Thanks everyone. :nikkei:

Forgot about how FFXI updates

No lag at all in FFXI, no spikes, no nothing. And I can actually browse the internet meanwhile now.

Everything's great. =3 Thanks again. Really made my life easier.



Edit: Oh, also; it takes it about 30 seconds to start up now, compared to the 5~ minutes it did before. :D