Really slow response! Rip/Burn/etc...

[tekkieman]

Seems with each new day, everything I do on this computer takes longer than the day before. My computer specs are in my profile with the only change being I exchanged my CD-ROM for a DVD-ROM. To give an indication of how bad this is, 3 months ago, a DVD rip using DVDShrink 3.1.7 would take about 20 minutes, and 15 minutes to burn. Today, 2 hours to rip, 2 hours to burn.

Here's what I've eliminated so far.

DVD-ROM and DVD-R/W same rip speeds.
Both drives Ultra DMA2. HD Ultra DMA5.
No viruses, adware, or spyware detected. Had a few worms after this problem started, but totally clean now.
Only HD defragged with 30G free.
Repair install of XP Pro.
Burn speeds same in Nero or Stomp Record Now.

What am I missing? Any help appreciated.

[808smokey]

Is it just rip/burning movie that slow down or every program used on the computer?

[tekkieman]

Is it just rip/burning movie that slow down or every program used on the computer?

Mostly rip/burn. I play a few low end games that run fine. Internet surf/DL is fine. I don't use this particular machine for much else.

One strange thing is that if I take the opticals out of the equation by ripping to HD, then shrink, shrink still takes just as long. To me, this would indicate an IDE issue, not a problem with the ROM or burner.

I made some configuration changes last night, and after a reboot, seems my burn time is now down to about 50 minutes (4x burner/4x Sony media).

Both the opticals had been set on CS, so I changed them to master/slave. Today, I've added another 60G HD, and also changed that from CS to master/slave. I haven't run a test yet with this config. I added the new 60 to write off some important stuff, thinking I might just reformat next.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

PS - Thanks for the reply. I was starting to think nobody cared!

[redwudz]

Sometimes when all else fails, a reformat is the way to go. Nothing comes to mind that would just effect the optical drives that you haven't already checked. You could run something like SiSandra to benchmark the drives.

[Ripper2860]

Worth Checking into...

Do you have a way to check CPU temp when Ripping or Burning? These are very CPU intensive processes and it could be the P4 Thermal Throttling kicking in. If possible check temps, or check the throttling setting in BIOS to make sure that the Thermal Throttling Temp is not set too low. You also may just need to use canned air to blow out any accumulated dust in the heatsink fins and CPU fan and possibly remove the heatsink and re-apply some thermal compund. If it is Therma Throttling, these could do the trick.

[tekkieman]

Thanks for the suggestions!

@redwudz - First I thought it was just the opticals, but in my last post I mentioned that if I ripped to the HD, and ran Shrink on the HD files, same problem. Weird!

@Ripper - CPU temp not supported on this system, can't check. I did try with the case open and a fan, as well as at first power up after being off all night. No difference from when it's on all day. I did blow out the case, but the heatsink/fan is inside an exhaust duct, and that could still be clogged up. I'll remove the duct, blow it out, and add some new thermal paste. Haven't seen a throttle in bios, but I wasn't really looking for one. I'll go back and check again.

Finally, I added a second HD, reconfiged everything as master/slave, not CS. 2 HDs on primary IDE, ROM and burner on secondary with burner as drive 0. Started a rip, and watched it start at 24 minutes remaining, climbed to 1hr 35mins within 5 minutes of starting the rip.

Hate to reformat (Visual Studio .NET is almost a 2 hour re-install!), so I'll try the given advice before surrendering to the reformat.

Thanks for the help.

[808smokey]

If it's a heat thing, I'd remove the duct and get a bigger CPU cooler. Just to try it out take the duct off and put a floor fan blowing on HIGH right into the case (with the side off) and see if it keeps it cool. I used to do that with mine. It would run great for about 5 minutes then (35 minutes remaining) then jump to 12-14 hours. When I added the floor fan it worked just fine. I would suggest removing the CPU and using thermal paste, not the peel and stick square on the bottom of the Heatsink. I would also get a larger CPU cooler, the stock Intel ones don't cut it for me. That's actually part of the reason I use AMD now. But that's another story

CS (cable select) should only be used for server type setups, i've read that in several forums and sites, do a search on google to find out more.

Make sure DVD-RW is the master on the 2nd IDE channel and the DVD-ROM slaved to the HD on the 1st IDE. I had a burner that did very odd things when it was the slaved to anything

Good luck, have fun

[tekkieman]

If it's a heat thing, I'd remove the duct and get a bigger CPU cooler. Just to try it out take the duct off and put a floor fan blowing on HIGH right into the case (with the side off) and see if it keeps it cool. I used to do that with mine. It would run great for about 5 minutes then (35 minutes remaining) then jump to 12-14 hours. When I added the floor fan it worked just fine. I would suggest removing the CPU and using thermal paste, not the peel and stick square on the bottom of the Heatsink. I would also get a larger CPU cooler, the stock Intel ones don't cut it for me. That's actually part of the reason I use AMD now. But that's another story

I'll give it a try, but I decided to go ahead with the format anyway. Will have to wait until after I get it running again.

CS (cable select) should only be used for server type setups, i've read that in several forums and sites, do a search on google to find out more.

Agreed, but that's the way it arrived, and I just left it that way. Since this problem developed recently, I am fairly certain that is not the cause of the problem, but I have already reconfigured it (see previous post).

Make sure DVD-RW is the master on the 2nd IDE channel and the DVD-ROM slaved to the HD on the 1st IDE. I had a burner that did very odd things when it was the slaved to anything

DVD-RW is master on the secondary. Can't move the DVD-ROM now since adding the second HD (without getting a PCI card).

Anyway, thanks for the additional input. After the reformat, I'll test again, see if it helped at all, and then back to testing the suggestions if the problem still exists.

Thanks.

[808smokey]

Formating is the best way to go IMO whenever there's mysterious hickups like the one you describe but it takes forever sometimes to get all the apps back unless you have ghost or someother backup utility. It does make sense to reformat after thinking about it again. The CS thing would have been screwed from the get go if that was the problem, but it will eliminate that from future bugs.

[tekkieman]

Well, the reformat is complete. I can't say yet if the problem is resolved, as I still need to reinstall some apps. Got my drivers, my AV, my Windows updates --just don't have my desk. Soon as I finish building the desk, and get the computer set back up, I'll run some test and let you know the results. (Yes, the computer I'm using to post is the one! First things first. Had to get back to the forums!)

I should be able to run the test tomorrow. If nothing else, I got rid of two years worth of reg entries!

[devinemi83]

Yeah sounded alot like bitrot. Sometimes windows just needs to be rebuilt to keep running smoothly.

[stiltman]

Yeah sounded alot like bitrot. Sometimes windows just needs to be rebuilt to keep running smoothly.

HUH?...bitrot?

I have 3 different systems that have never been rebuilt......install---uninstall all tons of crap and they still run just fine.... I bet this can all be narrowed down to the different burn software that's been installed/uninstalled or if things are in DMA or not or just a system not setup correctly with the motherboard drivers.

I never have bought into the reinstall cause I can't figure it out method....sorry but that's just my opinion

[stiltman]

I should be able to run the test tomorrow. If nothing else, I got rid of two years worth of reg entries!

That's one of the neat things about windows....messin with the registry...

Many MANY moon ago I had a problem with Forte Agent and the spell checker....A friend sent me a reg file and said "right click and merge" ever since then, I learn everything I could about the registry....


here's an easy one.....change the word "start" on the start button

Yep it's not in the registry <evil laugh>

[808smokey]

here's an easy one.....change the word "start" on the start button
Yep it's not in the registry <evil laugh>

http://www.theeldergeek.com/change_text_on_xp_start_button.htm

[stiltman]

here's an easy one.....change the word "start" on the start button
Yep it's not in the registry <evil laugh>

http://www.theeldergeek.com/change_text_on_xp_start_button.htm

yes, the first hit on google...not impressed

[808smokey]

here's an easy one.....change the word "start" on the start button
Yep it's not in the registry <evil laugh>

http://www.theeldergeek.com/change_text_on_xp_start_button.htm

yes, the first hit on google...not impressed

Ass, i wasn't trying to impress anyone unlike yourself :P

[tekkieman]

.... I bet this can all be narrowed down to the different burn software that's been installed/uninstalled or if things are in DMA or not or just a system not setup correctly with the motherboard drivers.

I never have bought into the reinstall cause I can't figure it out method....sorry but that's just my opinion

Sorry stilt....you lose the bet. Before I get to the solution, I want to express my opinion of your opinion. While you may have three systems...blah, blah, blah, I had one system with Win98 and three years worth of crap on it. Before pawning it off on a family member, I reformatted, and reinstalled. It ran like a brand new machine at twice the speed. I almost kept it after that.

Yes, I had several different burning apps, but as I said, ripping was also a problem. Ruled out the burning apps right there. The whole process of troubleshooting, is to eliminate possibilities until what is left is the problem. This includes the OS!

Now.....

Thanks Ripper (suggested it first), and 808smokey(also suggested). Anyway, the reformat did not solve the issue. So, as per your suggestions, I removed the exhaust vent to clean the fan and heatsink fins, and to apply some thermal paste. Under the vent. laying on the motherboard, was one of the clips to the heatsink! One of the plastic holder pieces snapped, and the clip fell off. The heatsink was still on the processor (or at least half the processor). Removed the heatsink, applied thermal paste, reattached heatsink and clips (best I could), and retested.

Result - No more than 30 minutes to rip! Haven't tested the burn yet, but now that rip speed is back to normal, I'm sure burn speeds will fall back in line.

Thanks again guys!

Now, I wonder if that the will solve the problem of not being able to burn those Ritek G04's (purple spindle)

[stiltman]

OK, I admit, I was wrong....
Glad you got you system up to speed too.

BUT, I still stand by what I do...In almost every case I never do a format reinstall of an OS...Guess it's just me.

[tekkieman]

@stilt - All suggestions were appreciated!

[stiltman]

@stilt - All suggestions were appreciated!

Just lettin you know that I'm not too big to admit when I'm wrong, which in this case I was