Slow Test

[rhrtech]

Hello,

I have an older P4 that is passing all the tests but it is very slow at each and every test. It took about 1 hour to perform the basic motherboard tests (option 1). What could cause this?

Thanks

[fwilson]

rhrtech,

The only thing that comes to mind is a heat issue throttling the CPU. 

-Fred

[rhrtech]

Yup, I thought that could be it. I applied thermal grease compound and it is still very slow. When I first got it in, it was not booting. It is on the extended hard drive test now, it does a sector and then it stops, then it does another sector. Very puzzling.

[fwilson]

rhrtech,

Hmmmm, I'd try unplugging all add on cards and devices, just have the bare essentials and see if that improves things.

Once, long ago I had a modem that would slow systems to a crawl.  I could only guess it was flooding the bus with IRQs, much like a flapping network card can slow an ethernet network to a crawl.

-Fred 

[rhrtech]

Hello,

Yup, I have the bare essentials, CD-Rom, CPU, one memory stick. I do not know what else to try.

Thanks for your help!

[fwilson]

rhrtech,

Try removing the CD-Rom and Hard Drive and booting to DOS from the USB Key.

-Fred 

[rhrtech]

I got it! It was a USB issue. I was using a KVM USB switch for the keyboard, mouse and vga. I removed it and plugged in a PS/2 keyboard.

[fwilson]

rhrtech,

Good Catch. 

-Fred