3 Posts
0
798
March 27th, 2021 16:00
Dull Vostro or expensive paperweight???
TLDR: Laptop memory and disk usage maxed out causing ultra-long bootup.
I bought a Dell Vostro 15 3568 in 2019 to replace an old ( but very reliable ) Toshiba Satellite. It had problems from day one but I had an in-home warranty so, I thought, no problem. Wrong. The tech shows up but doesn't have the proper repair parts. He orders parts and returns a week later and installs the parts only to find that the repair doesn't work. I sent the unit to Dell noting that not only was there no sound but the computer took an inordinate amount of time to boot up and be usable. Something beyond 30 minutes. They (allegedly) repaired all issues and sent it back. No joy. I had sound but the booting issue was still there. I sent it back again. They said it was repaired again. Less joy, same issue. I called and returned the laptop again and they (allegedly) sent a new laptop. Anti-joy. Same issue with booting. I then threw it in the closet and decided I had taken an expensive class in why not to buy a Dell product again. Fast forward to this week. I need another laptop to run Windows 10 for some specific software and dragged out the old Dell. Dusted it off and reset to factory condition. Loaded only bare minimum software and am in the process of timing the cold boot right now. I'm at 35 minutes and counting. The basic issue is when booting, the Task Manager tells me that the Disk is running at 100% and the memory is at 80+% all the time. This makes the unit almost impossible to use, Any ideas why or what can cause this and any possible remedies?
TLDR: Laptop memory and disk usage maxed out causing ultra-long bootup.
JOcean
9 Legend
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12.6K Posts
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March 27th, 2021 17:00
How much RAM do you have installed and do you have an HDD or SSD? Start tapping F12 at boot up and run a full diagnostics to make sure that you do not have a hardware problem. Then I would format the drive and clean install Windows 10 to make sure that you do not have an app or software slowing down the system. Also run a full antivirus scan to confirm that the system is clean, though after a clean install that should not be a problem. A 35 minute boot indicates severe problems of some sort and probably a drive problem. Any time I purchased a Dell system my first step was to wipe the drive clean with a format then clean install Windows so as not to have any bloatware or troublesome software installed. Also have a look at this site as it has a number of suggestions to reduce memory and drive usage.
ejn63
10 Elder
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30.8K Posts
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March 27th, 2021 17:00
The Vostro 3568 is a 2017-vintage system - so it was either used when purchased, or old stock. It's also a very basic, entry level system -- if it has any two of the three performance killers (i3 CPU, 4G RAM, spinning hard drive), it's never going to be a stellar performer. Windows 10 needs 8G RAM and a solid state drive -- and if it's been sitting on a shelf for four years, it's also going to have major Windows updates needed (which could explain the disc being pegged).
j_a_wolfe
3 Posts
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April 2nd, 2021 03:00
I bought the unit new a few years ago and it had problems from day one. A couple of service calls and sent the unit to Dell. They (allegedly) sent me a new one and it had the exact same problems. When I was still trying to make it a working machine, I had all current Windows updates. The drive runs at 100% for an hour before I get tired of timing it and give up. I realized it was not a rocket when I bought it but it was to be used running a cloud based process via LAN's wherever we were working so it didn't need to be particularly strong.
Jim
ieee488
4 Operator
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11.1K Posts
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April 3rd, 2021 07:00
@j_a_wolfe
A reiteration of complaints without you actually doing anything and returning with results of what was suggested leaves you NOWHERE.
.
j_a_wolfe
3 Posts
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April 3rd, 2021 10:00
ieee488,
My second post was not a "A reiteration of complaints" but rather a response to a well intentioned suggestion by a previous responder. As it turns out, the second suggestion led me to a website with a dozen suggestions on how to remedy the problem. I'm in the process of working through them so not exactly "without you actually doing anything". But please feel free to add any additional suggestions you might have that might prove as useful as this one.
Jim