Acer Aspire Laptop Slows to a Halt

[DetectiveDoctor]

Hi. I'm new to CTH, so I'd like to apologize in advance for insufficient information or accidental misuse of this forum. I'll do my best to avoid these issues.

Problem:
I've got an Acer Aspire Timeline 5810TZ-4657 laptop running Vista Home Premium that I've been using for some-odd years. Since I've owned it, it's been a Piece of ****. However, lately it's taken a downhill turn.

Until recently it would start up at 100% CPU and nearly instantly crash unless I was in safe mode. Even then I had to immediately end all non-vital processes the keep it going briefly. I attributed this for a long time to certain very bad habbits I have with computers... Namely to do with the registry, defraging, caches, history, porn, updates, etc. Years and years of noob mistakes that I've since learned from.

The laptop will get quite warm, so for a while I used a homemade external cooling system consisting basically of water in a bag. Worked well for a while, but I noticed the laptop would crash even without being hot and it was difficult to keep all the water in the bag over periods of time, so I gave up on it.

About a week ago I did a factory default reset. This seemed to make all the difference for about 2 days, in which time the only thing I've downloaded is Visual C++. Now, I'm lucky to get 20 min out of a session without it slowing to a complete halt and having to hard-reset the damn thing. Hoping upgrading to XP will help some.

Just ran Windows Memory Diagnostics Tool and got no results.

Being that my next best computer-like device is an outdated Android phone, Finding a solution to this issue has been remarkably hard. Just writing this has taken me two sessions. -.- Note that I'm not very software-inclined, I'm more of a mechanics kind of guy, but I can probably find whatever info. you need if you ask. My next step would be to take it apart and dust it out thoroughly. It's pretty old. But I thought I'd come to you guys first. Thanks.

[deltatango]

I am not an expert as others here are and could help you more (why I come here) but its possible you have a damaged hard drive.

I have dealt with friends computer/laptops that have picked up viruses or trojans that have set up home in the "users" file block, say downloads or music folders these cause damage I think to the page.sys file (sorts out load up of many things and is Huge). XP and Vista (similar file structure in this area, 7 is a bit different) the system tries to sort out this damage as it is designed to do, sadly in my cases they lasted about 6 months before failing to boot up and give up and get hot.
During this period physical damage occurs through rapid dithering of its hard drive arm which makes things worse, plus I find if you reload Windows it will load up again near this damage (data loss due to surface problems) and the problem starts again.

If I had your laptop my first action would be to remove its hard drive and connect to another system via a USB link up (to keep at arms length so to speak) and run an antivirus full scan on it then run scandisk type surface check (in both cases have a book and drink with biscuits handy, a long job). If it has surface damage I find that it will be 1/4 to 1/2 the way in and you will see the numbers slow down to a stop almost. Then should all be clear on those you can find a freeware drive checker program to test for read/write errors etc. If faulty of course it needs a new one.

Beyond this I would think other computer hardware failures, including Bios back up battery (change it) nothing like a bios corruption through some data loss to mess up a system, its power supply can get faulty (rough supply rail due to component failing or lower voltage output) this shows up best during latter stages of boot up (drivers and goodness knows what is loaded up) as this is a heavy power drain.

Otherwise we may be moving towards a new laptop? others here as I said may help you more with better specific guidance.

All the best from David

[Murf]

Welcome to CTH

Since you did a factory reset, which basically brings it back to the start (out of box from factory), and it ran good for a couple of days then it started again.

I think HEAT is the problem, laptops run hot due to their design, if the vents on the bottom are plugged up or the processor fan is really dirty, the laptop will not cool sufficiently and will heat up and either freeze, or shut down.

I would first get some compressed air and blow into those vents to see if you can clear them. Obviously, taking apart and a through cleaning would be in order but should not be left to one that has never done it before.

As for any software maintenance, start with the hard drive. Run the built in error checking program.

HERE is a step-by-step that will save me a lot of typing..

Once that is done then defrag the drive Step-by-Step

Your Service Manual HERE

[deltatango]

All good advice as I have seen great wedges of fluff between the fan and heatsink fins such that fan removal to clear it was essential, more so if it is Not an Intel based chipset.

Again I am not an expert and will say sorry to those who are for my message here, I have only seen a "modern" system have 100% cpu through being busy at some software type issue (or overclocked). A virus like event in the MBR (one was having a pop at the free space readings and windows was frantic to sort it out) another was filling up the drive with a never ending writing to a file. The only other time was a laptop loaded with a version of Linux and I noted there were no "wait states" (rest periods) so was On the go all the time.

I am still drawn (right or wrong) to the hard drive, with the drive removed also its DVD/CDR,wireless module etc, plus say leave one memory stick in it, it should boot up just to Bios and stop "cold" as it has nothing else further to do. If it rants on, getting hot then it may be time to get a new laptop as the other main thing to drag a cpu down is its graphics chip due to their more close link up, beyond this is the motherboard faults in general none of which are worth it to fix.

If it is alive and "cold" then put the bits back save for the hard drive, try again if still happy check its fans fluff level.

Hope this helps you