This is probably a "Heavy" winxp system question.  I monitor my PC's with GLINT - watch resources consumed, am fully aware of all the common issues (assigned network resource issue, etc.).  I can see, after a period of time or maybe after some event which I don't know, that doing anything like clicking on a desktop icon, switching windows (from media player to IE, for example) take a very long time.  During this time, I see the disk almost completely idle, low cpu use, disconnecting from the network makes no difference.

A reboot will clear this until "the next time".  What is the resource/lock/whatever that winxp is using that is creating these big delays?  If I could find a roadmap/tools to monitor the workings within the OS, then I could watch over that, too.  Possibly find a solution for those of us who have to hear over and over, defrag your disk, it is a virus, get more memory and on and on - as relevant as "is your modem plugged in".

If this is too deep, do you have a pointer to where I can ask such a question?  It drives me crazy, both the problem itself and that I can't monitor or see whatever this is that is murdering these PC's.  I'd love to have that info.

Thoughts or help?  Thanks!!

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Answer from Richard Rost:

Well, since you mentioned it, I'm assuming you HAVE tried all of the basics: virus scan, defrag, etc.

I'm afraid in this situation, what I do 9 times out of 10 is just wipe the machine and install a fresh copy of Windows (or restore if you have a clean image file).

To me, it's not worth the hours it can take to try and diagnose or troubleshoot a problem like this. A fresh wipe fixes just about ALL software errors. And, if you install your fresh copy of Windows and the problem persists, you know it's a hardware issue.

Sorry I can't be of more help, but this is really something I would have to sit down behind the machine (probably for an hour or two) to figure out. It's nearly impossible to diagnose things like this remotely.

Trust me: keep a fresh, up-to-date image copy of your hard drive. If you have serious problems in the future, just reinstall it. You'll save yourself a LOT of time. I do this to my wife's laptop like once every quarter. :)