HP Pavilion 6640c, reformatted, was OK for couple of days. Now is slow again

[Mark]

The friend of mine has HP Pavilion 6640c.
I beleive it is Windows 98.

He has complained that computer was slow.
I have reformateted hard disk with FDISK and reloaded everythin from 2
original CDs, that came with a computer several years ago.
Everything was good for several days. Then he called me and told that
now it is bad again; like it was before.

What is going on?
He was using computer for many years and it was OK. Nobody has
installed anything. I know that because I just reformatted the
computer. My friend is not very friendly with computers and would not
install anything by himself because He is afraid to rock the boat. And
it was working OK.
So, what could be wrong?

I hate to go do same reformat and get a call from him next 2-3 days
asking for help?

[Ben Myers]

Most likely possibility, especially with an older computer, is that the hard
drive is slowly going south. Determine the brand of hard drive in the computer,
download the manufacturer's hard drive diagnostics and run them. The
diagnostics will tell you the condition of the hard drive. If the drive has any
bad sectors, replace it. If the diagnostics report any problem at all, replace
the drive.

BTW, Microsoft scandisk is a poor, poor second choice as a hard drive
diagnostic. It does not provide adequate information as to the condition of the
drive... Ben Myers

On 7 Sep 2005 09:45:33 -0700, "Mark" <tentimes5@hotmail.com> wrote:
The friend of mine has HP Pavilion 6640c.I beleive it is Windows 98.He has complained that computer was slow.I have reformateted hard disk with FDISK and reloaded everythin from 2original CDs, that came with a computer several years ago.Everything was good for several days. Then he called me and told thatnow it is bad again; like it was before.What is going on?He was using computer for many years and it was OK. Nobody hasinstalled anything. I know that because I just reformatted thecomputer. My friend is not very friendly with computers and would notinstall anything by himself because He is afraid to rock the boat. Andit was working OK.So, what could be wrong?I hate to go do same reformat and get a call from him next 2-3 daysasking for help?

[Mark]

Thanks.
<<Determine the brand of hard drive in the computer>>

Can I found this without openning the computer?

[Ben Myers]

If you are running Win 2000, Win XP, or Linux, yes. Control
Panel->System->Device Manager, then look at hard drive (Windows only).

If you are running Win ME, maybe. I do not remember, and I try real hard to
avoid ME.

If you are running Win 95 or Win 98, no.

You can also download and run an all-purpose IDE hard drive diagnostic like
Hitachi's, run it. It will identify all IDE devices in a system, and it even
runs with non-Hitachi/IBM drives. But, better to use the diagnostic from the
actual drive manufacturer... Ben Myers

On 7 Sep 2005 12:30:47 -0700, "Mark" <tentimes5@hotmail.com> wrote:
Thanks.<<Determine the brand of hard drive in the computer>>Can I found this without openning the computer?

[Mark]

Thanks a lot. I will try experimenting.
Now, idea came to my mind. You are saying that IDE hard drive
diagnostic can diagnose if anything is wrong with the drive.

What about other parts and functions of computer. Maybe I can diagnose
and download some kind of utility that will tell me ---- it is
motherboard that goes South? So then I will not throw good money after
the bad , and will just suggest to buy a new good computer for my
friend? Is there any diagnostic utility that will help me to do it. As
a matter of fact if it is not free, I will not mind buying it. I have
found that I can get from E-BAY good software, but at 1/4 price.
Can you, please, suggest one?
Again, appreciate very much your help. I am trying to think how I can
in return do something good for you.
I and mine friend live in San Diego. If you ever decide to come to San
Diego for vacation, you have a place to stay.

Regards.

[Ben Myers]

For a superb and free memory tester, download MEMTEST-86. In the process, it
MUST exercise a lot of the motherboard hardware, so it also serves as a
respectable motherboard/CPU/memory test.

But look at the hard drive as a point of failure first. The slowness of the
drive on an aging system is a typical symptom of slow deterioration followed by
complete failure of a drive... Ben Myers

On 8 Sep 2005 07:25:36 -0700, "Mark" <tentimes5@hotmail.com> wrote:
Thanks a lot. I will try experimenting.Now, idea came to my mind. You are saying that IDE hard drivediagnostic can diagnose if anything is wrong with the drive.What about other parts and functions of computer. Maybe I can diagnoseand download some kind of utility that will tell me ---- it ismotherboard that goes South? So then I will not throw good money afterthe bad , and will just suggest to buy a new good computer for myfriend? Is there any diagnostic utility that will help me to do it. Asa matter of fact if it is not free, I will not mind buying it. I havefound that I can get from E-BAY good software, but at 1/4 price.Can you, please, suggest one?Again, appreciate very much your help. I am trying to think how I canin return do something good for you.I and mine friend live in San Diego. If you ever decide to come to SanDiego for vacation, you have a place to stay.Regards.