Painfully slow Sony Vaio

[Janet444]

I didn't think I had any choice but to force shutdown. It seems like some sort of Vaio programs are running in the background. But then, if I leave it alone, eventually it shuts down on its own, so I'll try that. I had no idea about the registry being flushed (largely because I don't know what that means). I wonder if that explains they mounting difficulties over the years.

I went through the list in the PDF. Most of the items did not appear in services.msc.

I did defer start for PMBDeviceInfoProvider.exe
I did disable VCService.exe, VSNService.exe and VUAgent.exe.

None of the other items appeared.

 

[Janet444]

A little while ago, I was on Facebook, commenting on a post. In the middle of typing, the computer suddenly flashed on a blue screen with white text and then shut down. If I remember correctly, it immediately restarted without me having to do anything.

At this point, the biggest question is: If the hard drive is stripped, will that solve all these problems?

My ex-husband plans to take this computer and his plan is to strip the hard drive. So if I can back up my personal files as well as the programs I use, I should be okay. At that point, it will be his problem. But I'd like to know if these problems will persist when he gets the computer. Should I continue to take actions to solve these problems?

Thanks for your help.

 

[DelJo63]

In the middle of typing, the computer suddenly flashed on a blue screen with white text and then shut down. If I remember correctly, it immediately restarted without me having to do anything.

That's a component failure with auto restart.

PLEASE STOP forcing shutdown - - this can get so destructive that the system will not boot! we need to reverify and fix the hd. You may have already cooked your goose.

>> DISCONNECT from your router (disconnect the cable to it)
>> or shut it down if you're using the WiFi

runas /user:administrator cmd

• in the command prompt and enter
• chkdsk c: /f /r
• allow reboot

(this will run the shutdown sequence so watch and note how long it takes)

as it reboots, it will fix the hd, but take maybe up to 2hrs,
so pick a time that you will not suffer a power outage

You need a MS Install CD and to run SFC /SCANNOW

At this point, the biggest question is: If the hard drive is stripped, will that solve all these problems?

AFTER using the CHKDSK, yes. That will allow a fresh install.

So if I can back up my personal files as well as the programs I use,

Saving the personal files is easy, just offload \users\janet\documents to some other media, like a CDRW or copy to another PC using File Sharing.

the programs is complicated as that's three system directories

• Program Files
• Program Files (x86)
• ProgramData

PLUS stuff in the registry files (there's five) AND using a backup of these from this Vaio on another system WILL destroy that system.

Be content with your personal files

I'll continue with you, if it's still of any value to you - - you make the call.

 

[Janet444]

I'm trying not to force the restart, but I think it does it anyway. I'm not sure. I'm not clicking on that anymore.

Now that I know it is the "Task Host Window" I looked that up and it's a problem others have complained about. I found a "hotfix" from Microsoft. I tried to install it this morning, but I got a message saying it was wrong for this computer.

By following your instructions above, will I be stripping the hard drive?

I want to be sure, because I will need to be very careful to back up my most important files if I do this.

Thanks for your help. If you don't mind, I'd appreciate it if you'd hang around just a bit longer. I just want to be sure I don't screw anything up! Thanks!

 

[DelJo63]

I'm trying not to force the restart, but I think it does it anyway. I'm not sure. I'm not clicking on that anymore.

GOOD.

Now that I know it is the "Task Host Window" I looked that up and it's a problem others have complained about. I found a "hotfix" from Microsoft. I tried to install it this morning, but I got a message saying it was wrong for this computer.

leave it alone - - it should timeout and quit all by itself. I get that too, but it's less that one minute delay

By following your instructions above, will I be stripping the hard drive?

absolutely NOT! We're attempting to make the system stable and responsive.

I want to be sure, because I will need to be very careful to back up my most important files if I do this.

If you have a second PC or an external HD, we can capture your files - - DO YOU???

 

[Janet444]

GOOD.

leave it alone - - it should timeout and quit all by itself. I get that too, but it's less that one minute delay

Okay, good! Then what I'm starting to do now is okay. I just didn't know if it was being forced anyway.

absolutely NOT! We're attempting to make the system stable and responsive.
If you have a second PC or an external HD, we can capture your files - - DO YOU???

I have an external hd, but when I backed up files a few days ago, it took about a day. So it's very slow (not the external hd, but the computer). And for some reason, my system doesn't allow me to open it up and just choose files to drop into it. Still, it did back up my files from a few days ago. I have newer files created since then, but at least I know I have a backup of most of my files.

Relieved to know I can do this without losing my files. I doubt I'll get to it today though.

Thanks!

 

[DelJo63]

I have an external hd, but when I backed up files a few days ago, it took about a day. So it's very slow (not the external hd, but the computer).

(1) GOOD

And for some reason, my system doesn't allow me to open it up and just choose files to drop into it.

(2) That should be straight forward to fix - - it's the NTFS permissions

Still, it did back up my files from a few days ago. I have newer files created since then, but at least I know I have a backup of most of my files.

(3) go here http://allwaysync.com/download.html download and install Allway Sync. This allows a quick update between the main files and the backups by copying only NEW and CHANGED files. However, we must fix (2) to make this work. We need to create a target directory on the extHD for it to use (eg MyDocs\ )

You need to login as the Admin

click on the start->Computer
that shows all the devices - - find your extHD
right-click on it->Properties->Security Tab
In the upper Group / user names - - we show user ids and group ids
in the lower Permissions we have types of permissions
Click on a name in the upper and in the lower you will see the permissions for that user

ok, now we add a new user; click on the Edit button
click on the Add button
under Enter the object names, type EVERYONE and then click Check Names, click OK
highlight Everyone in the upper list
in the lower box perms, [x] full control
click the Apply
click OK

now verify by clicking the Advanced button to the right of "For special perms..."
find Everyone and it should read

Allow Everyone Full Control <inherited> This folder, subfolders & files.
​

<inherited> doesn't really matter as long as
This folder, subfolders & files. shows up
click ok, ok, ok and exit the Properties
​

Now you can create dirs & files on the extHd

logout of Admin, login as Janet
dbl-click Computer
dbl-click on extHd
look for the New Folder link just under the window Help menu item
click New Folder and create MyDocs

Now you can drag-n-drop into it or use Allway Sync to perform an efficient copy

​

 

[Janet444]

I'm terribly sorry. After all your hard work, my ex and I needed to switch computers right away.

Your advice on the external hard drive will probably still be very useful. For one thing, the hard drive never did capture the files I requested and I'm having trouble with the method my ex used. So I may need to grab back my Vaio and get back some files.

For another, this will help me back up files on this computer (I'm using my son's old HP now - if I were a teenaged boy I'd be in heaven, what with all the Steam games and the Minecraft. ;-)

Actually, I"m in heaven just using a computer that doesn't constantly do scary things like blank out.

JOBeard, Bazz2014, and GirlDownUnder, thanks very much for all your help. I hope you don't feel it was all for nothing. Certainly when I started this thread, I didn't think I'd have the option of a new computer. And apologies for all the confusion.

Janet

 

[bazz2004]

Unless you work out good housekeeping arrangements for looking after your new computer you will find problems arising along the line and will be back. As jobeard pointed out switching off the computer by the switch is an invitation to disaster. Make sure you understand about AV protection (freeware is fine) and only have one security program active at a time. If there's software that you are never likely to use uninstall it. Make use of CCleaner to tidy up the registry and reclaim space on the hard drive. The occasional defrag is very useful too. Backup important files and documents to a usb stick or external hard drive. You do need to know a little bit to run a computer but not much. There should be no need to reinstall Windows if you use common sense..

 

[Janet444]

Thanks for the tips.

Just for the record, I never just shut off a computer without logging off. The Vaio always gave me a message saying background programs needed to close and did I want to force the shutdown. I didn't think I had a choice, not realizing that I could wait it out. But now I know.

I've used computers for decades now, but it's gotten more and more confusing!

I just installed Avast and I definitely need to get better at backing up files. I think this computer will make it easier to back things up. The Vaio did weird things and I don't know why.

Thanks again for the tips and thanks, everyone, for your help!