Latitude C640 problems

1. click on start
2. run
3. type msconfig
4. go to the startup tab
5. uncheck everything else except

• ScanRegistry
• TaskMonitor
• SystemTray
• LoadPowerProfile
• Your antivirus program (trust me, you won't have a hard time figuring out which one is your antivirus program. It is pretty obvious.)

Since you need these startup items to be running all the time in order for your computer to work properly, make sure there is always a check mark next to all of these startup items.

If you don't see one or two these items in your list of startup items, that's cool. For example, some people may not have a LoadPowerProfile while others may have two. The big thing to remember is that you don't want to uncheck any of these files if you have them.

The rest of the startup items, however, are completely optional. Whether you leave these optional startup items on or turn them off is completely up to you. A good rule of thumb is to disable only those programs that you recognize and don't need to have running all the time. When in doubt, leave it on. Or, better still, check out Paul "PacMan" Collins' huge "Startup Applications" list at http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_pages/startup_full.htm

 

Ok sorry for not being 100% clear when saying I am an ADVANCED CIS person. So I guess I will tell you I already did all that plus some.

 

 

Thanks for the attempt, and not to be rude, but I already did that along with:cleaning registry, deleteing programs, BIOS config, System performance tweeks, .INI checks, driver downloads, driver tweeks, ..... the list can go on.

Anyone have any better ideas?

Dont be afraid to get technical.

Message Edited by nuffsaid420 on 01-07-2004 11:32 PM

I've heard some similar stories... I think it's actually a hardware problem.  Something to do with the HD not spinning up to the proper speed so it keeps trying to read over and over.  Then eventually it gets to proper speed and everything works correctly.  I don't know it this is caused by a short somewhere, bad bearing, or something else... although something like that could account for the excessive noise also.  If you can get your hands on another HD you might wanna try it.

onlymoblie411 said: "I think it's actually a hardware problem.  Something to do with the HD not spinning up to the proper speed so it keeps trying to read over and over.  Then eventually it gets to proper speed and everything works correctly. "

 

I think you might be onto something, but it never eventually gets to proper speed. This is why I am so annoyed. It will continue to make the HDD 'think' the whole time I am working on it. Now to be clear, the processor load is NOT

continous. It will jump from 0% to100% when working on my computer.. consantly. Regardless of whether I am just looking in windows explorer or working on a 5MB graphic design program(which I expect the CPU to have to work).

I guess I will have to get another hard drive! And see if that fixes the problem, but it also seems to have something to do with my processor.

 

 

 

To be blunt, your hard drive is shot.  That is the problem.  Its possible there is something else too, but your hard drive is the first problem.

And for the reason why the HD keeps making noise even when the CPU is idle is because hard disks are always constantly spinning. 

Hi, I'm an IT professional.  I bought a C640 for the company I work for a year ago.  It has never worked properly, but I have had a hard time tracking down the issue....Till I came across this post.  It describes EXACTLY the problem I've had.  The hard drive is constantly working (the sounds it makes are normal sounds, but it is accessing the disk far more often than it should).  Also, at times the processor just works at 100% and doesn't devote any time to applications that need it.  Its quite frustrating for my client.  I don't think its a hard drive issue...I think the computer may be ACCESSING the hard drive BECAUSE of the issue though...the same way it would if it ran out of RAM, it would use the page file...but there's plenty of RAM...and all the RAM is good, I ran memtest86 3.0 on it.  I updated the bios to the newest version.  The problem is intermitent and I think its either chipset or processor related.  Any other thoughts?

 

Best Regards,

Matt Gulino

When you open Task Manager, in the Processes, check to see if Ati2evxx.exe is running and taking up most of your CPU time.  If it is, upgrade your video driver with the one on Dell's site.  I have seen a lot of Latitudes running constantly at 100% and I upgraded the video driver and it seemed to fix it.  It may be unrelated to your problem, but its worth a shot.  Your computer will no longer run at 100% with the new video driver but if it had been running full throttle for a while, it may have done a number on your HD.  Also, if you have that video driver, there is a setting in the display properties, advanced options that keeps the video driver running in the system tray and it will help to keep that unchecked.  Let me know if these things help at all.

I will give that a try and let you know what happens, thanks for the help.

 

Matt