win7 disk cache

Forums › Microsoft Windows › win7 disk cache

GGJohnstone

86 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 5

#240148 23-Aug-2018 10:23

This is my fault I was forced to deal with because it became totally disruptive. To begin with more than 2 years ago the issue was "Display driver has stopped", and restarted itself. Also sometimes the computer cold start was missing anti virus systems at boot. Eventually the system began crashing and restarting itself randomly and seemingly at idle times as far as user input was concerned. Often the power supply had to be switched off / on to enable restart. Whatever was doing this was not going to end well if ignored as far as ripped up disk fats go I am guessing.

I tried re configuring bios thinking of compensating for an aging CPU. I installed a video card. I seriously slewed clock time around graphics.

More vacuum cleaning and new heat grease under the fan block.

I ran an anti virus program all night long in Win Safe Mode without difficulties and after reboot to bios I could see the hardware monitors were "cool".

In desperation I have asked windows to stop using disk caching. That might be it.

Asus is more than 10 year old and has been vacuumed several times. {you bad person}

Western Digital drives about 4 years still pass smarts.

1101

3141 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1143

#2077949 23-Aug-2018 13:57

Very hard to understand your post .
......so.....guessing.....

Smart tests only mean it passed smart. Faulty drives can pass smart .
Very unlikely to be a CPU issue

"10 years old" : I would guess failing hardware . Motherboard, RAM or Power Supply... assuming it has a new vid card installed

GGJohnstone

86 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 5

#2077963 23-Aug-2018 14:34

Thanks for your interest and help.

I have four sticks of ram and the problem existed with any one of them. Just the 2G on its own was a bit dodgy with normal things running but good as gold with help from any other of the 4G sticks.

It is a horror thinking of replacing the mother board and or CPU. AM3 CPU still current? The mother board AsusM4A88T-M has lasted long enough to have seen a hard disk fail.

I hope everything stays stable with the windows disk caching disabled. If it is the hardware disk cache or the windows management of it, I will be quite happy to wait for the Armageddon of the P.C.

Starting from scratch with new will be the likely result. My printers are old Bother 1250 & HPB110a and many other bit and bobs are from very ancient machines that the Asus main board can handle.

xpd

Geek of Coastguard
14116 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4578

Retired Mod

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2077983 23-Aug-2018 15:04

I find most issues with older hardware generally come down to the RAM or motherboard failing - if the RAM has tested OK, you'll prob be looking at the motherboard. Try running a Live Linux CD for a while and see if problems still appear - if not, probably just needs a fresh install of Windows.

Ive got a 10 year old Dell Vostro running as a home server, hasnt missed a beat but I am wanting to replace it, just because I want something faster running everything :)

XPD / Gavin

LinkTree

1101

3141 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1143

#2078342 24-Aug-2018 10:33

Its going to be very hard to fault find at home, unless you have access to parts .

You need to part swap : test with NEW ram , test with new power supply.
As above RAM motherboard or power supply are the usual cause the issues you have.

It can sometimes also be silly things like CPU heatsink loose , USB ports broken (visually check each USB port for damage) , PCI cards not seated properly etc etc
One easy thing to try, is remove & reseat the RAM several times. You might get lucky .

AM3 PC's are past being worth the cost of most repairs , given how cheap complete (used) i5 PC's can now be bought for

My PC is AM3+ btw. Its obsolete but still does the job.
Mine faults every few months or so , not worth fixing so I put up with it .

GGJohnstone

86 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 5

#2078705 24-Aug-2018 19:03

Running windows safe mode with System Suite 15 anti virus [continuous disk activity] completed in just over 6 hours. Many times longer than the expected interval of fault free run that had developed.

With the disk write cache un ticked there has not been another crash.

This does not eliminate age related MB but not looking great for the Hard Drive.

I wonder if it is possible to clone a replacement drive It would be a pita to configure a new install of Windows to accommodate all the old peripheral junk I use.

Linux Mint might probe some of my old stuff and would be a great way to go with an ex lease HP I bought but have not used. When I get back home I will give Linux a go.