PC slowdown

[Markoman01027]

When I boot my PC. It usually takes a little bit more time than usual to get "My Computer" showing correctly. So I figure OK it is probably just loading into RAM. But once it is loaded into RAM, it comes up wicked fast.

I have 256MB of PC2100 RAM, and in my power options, I do not have Turn off Hard Disk in 1 hour. Sometimes, when I leave my computer running at idle, and I come back after a few hours or so, it takes a little bit more time to open up "My Computer" or even Control Panal(rather than blasting fast after it's loaded into RAM) But "My Computer" was already loaded into RAM.

I have replaced the RAM a little while ago, so I don't think it's the RAM. Could it be my hard drive maybe going south? I defrag about every 2 months or so. The hard drive is a 80GB ATA 100 7200RPM. Yes, I do have DMA enabled with the hard drive, and I am using ATA 100 Cables for my hard drive.

Also run AMD Athlon XP 1800+, Windows 2000.
Thanks!

[Floppyman]

Hi,

Do you have any power management enabled in the bios? After you come back can you still hear your harddisk running or does it spin up? HTH

[Markoman01027]

What options are you talking about in the BIOS? After I come back, I can still hear the hard disk running.

Although, I think if I come back, and I try to open up My Computer. I would hear the hard drive click. But it would be like a quiet click. To me it sounds like the hard drive is going to die soon.

In the power options of the control panal, I only have turn off monitor after 20 minutes. I do not use Standby or turn off hard disc after 1 hour(or whatever you set it too).

If you can tell me what options I should have ENABLED in the power management section in the BIOS. I can tell you if they are enabled or disabled. I can do a quick reboot as soon as you can tell me what options.

When I built my PC. I left the BIOS settings as default.

[Markoman01027]

I could hear the hard drive spinning when I try to run "My Computer" after bootup.

Here are the options that I have set.

IPCA FUNCTION=YES
ACPI STANDBY STATE= S1\POS
CALL VGA AT S3 RESUMING=DISABLED
USB WAKEUP FROM S3=DISABLED
POWER MANAGEMENT/APM=ENABLED
POWER\SLEEP LED= SINGLE LED
SUSPEND TIME OUT(MINUTES)= DISABLED
CPU CRITICAL TEMPERATURE= I have it set for a certain CPU temp
DISPLAY ACTIVITIY=IGNORE
POWER BUTTON FUNCTION= POWER OFF
AFTER AC POWER LOSS= POWER OFF

Also. I am on a LAN, and when I try to enter SUSPEND mode in WIN2K, it says that it cannot enter Suspend Mode because my NIC is using a driver I guess. I was always able to enter suspend mode until I setup my LAN. I don't know if the setting in the BIOS for DISABLED Suspend time does anything with that.

Hope that helps!