Computer Completely Unusable

Question

Hello,

I have a Windows 8.1 (purchased as an 8 seven years ago) that is running so poorly, I am not even sure where to go from here. I'm planning on taking it to someone who can repair it, but was wondering if there were fixes I could attempt first to save time and money.

I actually just need to pull some files off of the computer at this moment (thank God I have a Windows 7 that is older and cheaper yet works like a charm and always has), but it's so unusable I can't even manage to do that. I've had problems with this computer since the beginning, but they've only progressed to get worse. I strongly believe it is not due to a virus, and I do not have too many files as there is still plenty of space.

The main issue seems to be that the computer is always low or completely out of free memory. Even when all programs are closed, Task Manager says that the memory percentage is always 100%. This issue has plagued me, and I've tried every method that I could think of and feel comfortable doing. I am able to perform basic changes to my computer, but I am not confident enough in my knowledge to change anything detailed. Off the top of my head, I know I've done things such as disabling "superfetch", stopping a process which I believe was called "Windows Installer," booting in safe mode (which the computer is, somehow, running too poorly to even be able to do anymore), and so forth. I would do a complete reset but really need something to just get the computer minimally usable so I can ensure my files are safe and copied prior to resetting or repairing. Also, if I get to the point where I am ready to reset, I do not have a disc to reinstall the system, and have no previous experience doing so. I imagine Microsoft helps in this situation?

Although I just mentioned it a million times, I think it's safe to emphasize just how poorly this computer is running and how out of options I feel at this point. I'm surprised it manages to even turn on anymore. Ergghhhh!

Addition: In the midst of my ranting and explaining, I never really gave a clear picture on what the computer exactly does. Basically, it's extremely slow if not completely frozen during all times it runs. A program will take at least 3-5 minutes to pull up when you click it, pressing buttons usually causes the program to freeze for a few minutes and then crash, cursor freezes up in one spot, etc etc. There are times when it's okay (not great) upon initial startup, and, as it heats, it becomes awful as usual. If one is brave and patient enough to even use the computer like this, it will eventually just die out of nowhere (power immediately blacks out, everything's done.)

I've also had some odd problems over the years that have came and gone. Perhaps they're unrelated and irrelevant, but here they are anyway: a while ago the computer gave me boot failures (blue dialog on DOS-like screen with black background). I believe it stated that the boot manager was missing. When I pressed "OK," everything would start as normal. It has not done it over the last year or two. 

The power blackout thing I mentioned also would happen from time to time, even when the computer was running just fine.

During the early days when it was a Windows 8, it would go into fits of "your computer is low on memory." Doing odd things, such as simply restarting or taking a DVD/CD out of the disc drive would send this pest away.

Answer 1

I but was wondering if there were fixes I could attempt first to save time and money.

Doing a fresh installation of Windows 10 should fix your problem. You will need to purchase a licence from your loacal dealer.

Answer 2

Thank you, Bill and Frederik! I have some great news and updates concerning this issue.

As it turns out, I only needed to look in the right places for help and have a little more patience with the device. It was recommended to perform a chkdsk, so I went ahead and did it. I believe I had done this before unsuccessfully, which is why I had doubts, but went ahead and tried it again, since the symptoms seemed to point to a chkdsk being appropriate. The process took four or five hours, but I simply left my PC alone during that time and accomplished other things. It seemed to never get past 17%, but I just continued to leave it alone, and came back to a currently perfectly performing computer. I am both thrilled that it's working so well and appalled that all it took was a short process to resolve all of the suffering I have endured over the past few years with this thing. The disk is no longer at 100%, and I am experience absolutely no freezing. Haven't used it long enough to determine if the random shut down is still an issue, so, if possible, I'll keep you posted on the computer's performance. Thank you all for your help.

TL;DR for anyone having the same problem, run a chkdsk and leave your computer alone, even for 5+ hours. It worked wonders for me!

Answer 3

You don't just rush out and buy Windows 10 without doing checks for your computer.

If you wanted to I can show you how to clean reinstall 8.1, not 8, or have the possibility of getting Windows 10 for free from Microsoft.

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Or if you want to go out and buy 10:

But first make sure that you have the correct system requirements and that your Computer Manufacturer supplies the correct Drivers for 10 for your Model Number.

"Windows 10 System Requirements"

https://www.thurrott.com/windows/windows-10/3884/windows-10-system-requirements

https://www.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/windows-10-specifications#sysreqs

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Detailed information on Minimum hardware requirements:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/design/minimum/minimum-hardware-requirements-overview

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Some Manufacturers have listed Model Numberss tested with 10 at their website:

ASUS - Windows 10 - Which model supports upgrade to Windows 10?

Acer - Windows 10 Creators Update

Dell computers tested for Windows 10 October 2018 Update and previous versions of Windows 10

The following Gateway laptops, desktops and tablets have been tested as being suitable to install Windows 10 Creators Update

HP Products Tested with Windows 10

Lenovo devices tested for Windows 10 version 1809 (October 2018

Samsung - Find out if your system runs Windows 10.

Sony - What do I need to install Windows 10 on my PC?

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Answer 4

See if this assists you to improve performance.

Scan for Malware with the FREE version of this Program.

And do not accept the "Pay for version" Trial option during installation

Download, install, update and scan your System with the free version of Malwarebytes AntiMalware::

http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes\_free

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You can clean up your Hard Drive using these two methods.

"Delete files using Disk Cleanup"

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/delete-files-using-disk-cleanup#delete-files-using-disk-cleanup=windows-8

Using the Free CCleaner Program:

http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

Under NO condition use the Registry cleaning Option in CCleaner

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Make sure that you have the latest updated Drivers:

Go to your Computer or Hardware Manufacture's website > Driver and Software Support Section > look up your Computer or Hardware Model number > then your Operating System > locate the correct Drivers > download and install them.

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Speed up your computer:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/help/3064207/speed-up-your-computer

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"How to Optimize the Performance of Windows 8 and 8.1"

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/37511-optimize-performance-windows-8-a.html

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This is worthwhile reading too:

"How to Optimize Windows 8.1 for a desktop PC"

http://www.howtogeek.com/167013/how-to-optimize-windows-8.1-for-a-desktop-pc/

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**"**Performance & maintenance"

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/performance-maintenance-help#performance-maintenance-help=windows-8&v1h=win8tab1&v2h=win7tab1&v3h=winvistatab1

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And I would check to see if there are corrupted System Files.

Each Method/step below progresses to the next if the first does not fix any corrupted files that are found, etc.

"Use the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files"

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/929833

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And these eightforums.com Tutorials are very detailed for problems resulting from SFC Scan:

"How to Run "SFC /SCANNOW" Command at Boot or in Windows 8 and 8.1"

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/3047-sfc-scannow-command-run-windows-8-a.html

Read this Section there in conjunction with the rest of the information they give in above link.

   Note

If SFC could not fix something, then run the command again to see if it may be able to the next time. Sometimes it may take running the sfc /scannow command 3 times restarting the PC after each time to completely fix everything that it's able to.

If not, then run the **Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth**command to repair any component store corruption, restart the PC afterwards, and try the sfc /scannow command again.

If still not, then try using OPTION ONE above to run the sfc /scannow command at boot

If still not, then you could do a refresh of Windows 8, or run a System Restore using a restore point dated before the bad file occured to fix it. You may need to repeat doing a System Restore until you find a older restore point that may work.

If still not, then you can use the steps in the TIP box in the OPTION THREE section to manually replace the files that SFC could not fix.

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"How to Refresh Windows 8 and Windows 8.1"

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2293-refresh-windows-8-a.html

Refreshing your PC goes like this:

• The PC boots into Windows RE (RecoveryEnvironment).
• Windows RE scans the hard drive for your data, settings, and apps, and puts them aside (on the same drive).
• Windows RE installs a fresh copy of Windows.
• Windows RE restores the data, settings, and apps it has set aside into the newly installed copy of Windows.
• The PC restarts into the newly installed copy of Windows.

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"How to Reset Windows 8 and Windows 8.1"

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2302-reset-windows-8-a.html

"When you reset your PC, the drive will be completely reset, and all your apps and files will be removed from it. Windows 8 will be reinstalled, and you'll need to change any settings and reinstall any apps that you want to get back after resetting. If you know if any files that you don't want to lose, then you should back those files up before starting the reset"

Cheers.