Windows 7 gets really really slow

[Jens]

I know this isn't a computer help forum, but there are lots of intelligent people...

I recently installed Windows 7 on my old computer (it was running Win2K). So I put Windows 7 on a different disk, so technically it has two systems, but that's no problem.

The problem is with the sound. When I installed Win7, sound refused to come out. I think it's because of a compatibility problem (the motherboard is an Asus P5VD2-MX, and doesn't have a driver for Windows 7. So that's one problem. I've found forums where people have complained of the same thing, so it's not just me.

So to try to get sound, I installed a sound card, but whenever I try to install the driver the system gets really, really, really slow, like I can see the animation of windows getting maximized and minimized. Any ideas on what I might try? I'm sort of resigned to not having any sound or getting a new MoBo, but neither of those are really attractive options.

The one thing I haven't done is disable the onboard sound before installing the driver for the PCI sound card. Could that help?

[orionjim]

I have a similar problem with a HP laptop. The CPU meter never drops below 50%. The following fixes the problem; at least until I upload a Microsoft service pak, then I have to go back and do this again.

-Open the control panel

-On the very top bar you will see the words Control Panel with a drop down arrow to the right

-Click on the drop down arrow; the top option will give you a list to All Control Panel Items (select this).

-Double Click on Administrative Tools

-Double Click on Services

-Click on Audio Service

-On the upper left side of the screen click on Stop Service

See if this helps…

If it does then go back and restart the audio service.

Jim

[tdvance]

A new motherboard isn't that expensive (by which I mean, doesn't have to be, plenty of modern, decent if not superlative, cheap motherboards, that may well be better than an old one that was once state of the art)---though it's a bit of screw-drivering to install. Oh, and it might cost to get parts compatible with it if what you have isn't--either that or look hard for a mobo compatible with your CPU if not the memory as well. In the end, it may very well be the best option if softwarish attempts ultimately fail.

[Jens]

If it does then go back and restart the audio service.

Thanks, I'll give it a try. But I'm a little confused. When you restart the service, doesn't the problem come back? Or does turning it off once make the problem go away permanently?

Incidentally, the CPU doesn't run high, so it's probably not the same problem. I even used Process Explorer to see if anything funny was going on, but nothing there. At first, I thought it might be a RAM problem (originally I only had 512M!) but I got 2 G of memory and it still does the same thing).

[Jens]

A new motherboard isn't that expensive (by which I mean, doesn't have to be, plenty of modern, decent if not superlative, cheap motherboards, that may well be better than an old one that was once state of the art)---though it's a bit of screw-drivering to install. Oh, and it might cost to get parts compatible with it if what you have isn't--either that or look hard for a mobo compatible with your CPU if not the memory as well. In the end, it may very well be the best option if softwarish attempts ultimately fail.

That may be what I'll end up doing. The screw-drivering is a bit bothersome (I have a micro-atx case so it's kind of a pain to take everything out and in), but mostly it's as you mentioned the compatible stuff. I don't want to have to buy a new CPU and new RAM. The socket is 775 so maybe it's not that old. . .

[LotusExcelle]

The last time I ran into a sound card slowing a system down it was a faulty sound card. Try it in another system first I'd say - make sure it isn't a simple hardware issue.

[Metricyard]

The one thing I haven't done is disable the onboard sound before installing the driver for the PCI sound card. Could that help?

It would free up some resources and avoid conflicts. I would definitely disable on-board sound devices.

And don't forget to check for any bios updates for the motherboard. It might fix any problems for windows 7. Or not.

[orionjim]

Thanks, I'll give it a try. But I'm a little confused. When you restart the service, doesn't the problem come back? Or does turning it off once make the problem go away permanently?

...

The problem (on my computer) is a driver problem. I think disconnecting and reconnecting the driver gets it in a different location in the driver sequencing helping it get released from a task. I picture the problem as being - the driver never gets released and keeps trying to perform a task over and over using up the CPU’s resources.

I did a quick check on the motherboard and like you said it appears to be a common problem. I ran across this on one of Microsoft’s answer sites:
http://social.answers.microsoft.com/...2-c1a75e2a8241

They referred them to:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/w...rking-properly

Jim

[pantaz]

Perhaps there is a conflict between the new sound card and the on-board sound. Check your motherboard manual for how to disable the on-board sound (could be in the BIOS or a jumper on the board.)

[Ara Pacis]

Sounds like a conflict between emotion and CBA. It might be cheaper and simpler and less time consuming to just purchase a new computer.

[Jens]

Sounds like a conflict between emotion and CBA. It might be cheaper and simpler and less time consuming to just purchase a new computer.

CBA meaning cost-benefit analysis? That may be part of it, because I just bought two RAM chips and don't want to have to throw them away basically unused. You may be right. But that would mean reinstalling everything. I'm sort of leaning toward a new motherboard at this point. Though it's a pain to think about taking the CPU out and putting it back again and then stuffing everything into the box again.

[Van Rijn]

The problem is with the sound. When I installed Win7, sound refused to come out. I think it's because of a compatibility problem (the motherboard is an Asus P5VD2-MX, and doesn't have a driver for Windows 7. So that's one problem. I've found forums where people have complained of the same thing, so it's not just me.

Are there Vista drivers? If so, have you tried them?

Have you tried contacting Asus and asking them what they would recommend?