Startup has become very slow

Jim8080 said:

I’m using a Dell Inspiron i3670 desktop with a 1 tb single hard drive (not a ss drive) using win10 Home (x640) V2009, build 19043.1466. The hard drive has plenty of free space. I have about 8gb of RAM. I use the computer for routine work. I am not a gamer. Windows updates are current.

Over the years, startup has become very slow, and now I wait about 15 minutes after startup before attempting to use the computer. Even then, I have may have much hard drive activity and slow operation at my first attempt. It has become a 2^nd computer, used when I want to look at two things simultaneously.

What should I do to make it a useful computer again? I hear that I should clean up my …., but what do I actually remove? I have compared these locations to another computer, and there is nothing that really stands out. I have heard suggestions that I should reinstall windows, but how to I proceed? Is there a means of not having to repurchase and reinstall my 3^rd party software. Another thought is to just purchase another computer, but it would be nice to avoid spending $500+ for a decent computer. My other computers are old, but work much better. I don’t want a bottom of the line computer

I’m not a sharp IT person; I’m a person in my 90’s who has tinkered with computers for years.
Jim

Easiest thing to try is an In-Place upgrade. It will repair any Windows problems, and leave your programs and file intact.

Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade



Here is the short version of the In-place upgrade tutorial...

DISABLE non-Microsoft:
a) antivirus software
b) firewall software
c) drive encryption software

Make a full OS backup with a program like Macrium Reflect (free)
Macrium Software | Macrium Reflect Free

Go here and get the Media Creation Tool and save it to your desktop.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/windows10

RUN the Media Creation Tool and use it to: Create an ISO image... save IT to your desktop.
This will be the latest version of the ISO image.




Right click the ISO image and choose: MOUNT
Open File Explorer and you will see a new drive letter. It will "look" like a DVD optical drive.
Double click the new drive letter to open it.
Find setup.exe and double click it to start the in-place upgrade.

Choose the Keep personal files and apps option.

After it's all done... to UNmount the ISO image, right click the new drive letter and choose: EJECT.


The ONLY thing you will lose is some of your personalizations. Your programs and data will be intact.

It could also be other things like maybe your hard drive is dying.

Hello Jim ,

Download and run Crystal Disk Info to check your drive's health.

See if any problems are found: Run SFC Command in Windows 10

1st step to make it useful would be to clone the HDD to a SSD assuming the boot drive is a HDD and it's otherwise health. n/a if you have a SSD boot drive.

You can try running "chkdsk /scan /perf C:" overnight to let it check for drive errors.

Further advice will be given based on results/comments from above.

I don't want to overwhelm you with other things we can do right now

I'm working on an HP from a couple years ago, so far have only isolated a problem with 2 users with both using the same name but different passwords, think maybe it's confused about which profile to use, there is only one of them listed in C:\Users. It's running a 1TB Toshiba HDD.

Hello @Jim8080,

Jim8080 said:

What should I do to make it a useful computer again? I hear that I should clean up my …., but what do I actually remove? I have compared these locations to another computer, and there is nothing that really stands out. I have heard suggestions that I should reinstall windows, but how to I proceed? Is there a means of not having to repurchase and reinstall my 3^rd party software.

There are a few options available as a start for you if you have NOT performed these already . . .

> How to Free Up Drive Space in Windows 10
> OPTION TWO - To Open and Use Extended Disk Cleanup

This might be the best option . . .

 In-Place-Upgrade - Repair Install

Information & Tutorials:

This is a Non-Destructive Process which keeps ALL your Apps, Programs, and Personal Data etc Intact . . .

IMPORTANT: This is an extract from the Tutorial below . . .

• You will only be able to do a repair install of Windows 10 from within Windows 10. You will not be able to do a repair install at boot or in Safe Mode.
  
• You will need at least around 10 GB + what Windows is currently using of free space available on the Windows drive.
• The installation media (ex: ISO or USB) must be the same edition and same or newer build as your currently installed Windows 10. If it's not, then the repair install will fail.
• The installation media (ex: ISO or USB) must be the same base language (aka: system default language) as your currently installed Windows 10. If it's not, then you will not keep anything.
• If you have a 32-bit Windows 10, then you must use a 32-bit ISO or USB.
• If you have a 64-bit Windows 10, then you must use a 64-bit ISO or USB.

> How to Do a Repair Install of Windows 10 with an In-Place Upgrade

Basically . . .

[1] Download the ISO to the Desktop.
[2] Right-click the ISO > Mount.
[3] Open File Explorer.
[4] Double-click the Mounted Drive to open it.
[5] Double-click setup.exe.
[6] Choose the Upgrade option.
[7] Select Change what to keep.
[8] Select One of the following . . .

• Keep Personal Files and Apps.
• Keep Personal Files Only.
• Nothing.

[9] Unmount the ISO by right-clicking the Mounted Drive > Eject.

The only downside is that you could POSSIBLY lose some of your personalizations.

Recommendations:

DISABLE:

ANY Non-Microsoft . . .

• Antivirus Software.
• Firewall software.
• Drive Encryption Software.

Temporarily Disable Secure Boot before performing the In-Place-Upgrade - Repair Install to be on the safe side.

---

I hope this helps.

This may be Solved, but the HDD still has an issue. try a Clean Boot, if that works, you can leave it this way, or you can add one startup item or service at a time until the computer takes a long time to boot again. Then you will know what the culprit is.
If that doesn't work, then that is an indication that the HDD/SSD is in the beginning stages of failing. Download DiskGenius in my signature. Or Crystal Disk Info. Select your Disk and go up to theToolbar to Disk/View SMART Information. This will give you a quick snapshot of the health of your drive, You can also go to View or Repair Bad Sectors/Start Verify. This will take much longer. If you have bad sectors it will show them on a map. If you have more then a couple, the drive is starting to fail and should be replaced.