Notebooks & Netbooks

[weebs67]

Hi All

I've got an Acer Aspire V3-571 running Windows 8.0.  For some time now it has been showing all the signs of a virus, ie running very slowly and doing unexpected things.  So I reset to the factory settings (twice !) but it's still running very slowly.  It takes perhaps 5-10 seconds from clicking before you get a response - and sometimes not at all - it just freezes.  I've installed no other software after the reset.  Hardware fault ?  Unfortunately, the machine is just out of warranty !! 

[JackE]

Any hardware or memory added/changed?

Jack E/NJ

[weebs67]

No - absolutely bog standard.

[JackE]

OK. First, check to see if Device Manager detects any device problems which I doubt since you factory re-set. If none, then I suggest following this video to review your bios settings for possible clues for explaining this lethargic behavior.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGiG1oljjZI

At this point, I can't tell you from afar what precisely to look for or bios settings to change. So, unless you know what you're doing, I wouldn't try to change anything yet. Just use your intuition and make a note of the existing settings particularly in the advanced or boot section. Report back.

Thanks

Jack E/NJ 

[weebs67]

Thanks, Jack.

Before I plunge into the BIOS, 3 other things have occurred to me :

1   I got so fed up with W8 that I installed an emulator back to W7.  When this didn't work very well, I reset back to W8.      Problems continued so I reset again (and again !). Could this be the root of all my problems ?

2   The factory settings came with McAfee, but as I already had Norton 360, I deleted Mcafee and replaced it with Norton. Of course, this didn't survive the reset, so shouldn't be a problem.

3   I originally installed driver software for a mouse - which seems to have survived the reset !

I didn't mention any of the above in my original message because I assumed that resetting to the factory settings should have taken care of it.

[JackE]

If you re-set with the save your data option, then unfortunately some unsavory things might've also survived. I assume you have no 3rd party anti-virus programs like McAfee or Norton installed or running right now. So at this point, I recommend downloading McAfee's standalone Singer freeware http://www.mcafee.com/us/downloads/free-tools/stinger.aspx and doing a full scan to see if it picks up on anything. 

While it shouldn't have caused the problem, what Win7 emulator did you use? And why weren't you satisfied with it?

Jack E/NJ 

[weebs67]

The last couple of times I re-set without saving my data.

Norton was removed when I re-set and I haven't re-installed it.  McAfee has been re-installed as part of the Acer reset process.

I downloaded Stinger and ran it - no threats.  I wasn't surprised, because I ran a full scan of Norton 360 (including Power Eraser) with the same result.

Sorry, don't remember the name of the emulator - it was nearly a year ago.

[JackE]

>>>McAfee has been re-installed as part of the Acer reset process.>>>

OK. Did you try to activate this installation? If not, next step would be to sleuth around the bios. You don't have to change anything so nothing lost --- maybe nothing gained either. 8^) But who knows?

Jack E/NJ