Dell Precision M6800 very slow and ran out of ideas.

[Captainploo]

I got a refurbished computer around two weeks ago and it is an Dell Precision M6800. It was working fine the first few days and then after a while it started getting slower and slower. Now it takes around two minutes for the file manager to open up and it takes like five minutes for chrome to load up.

So, being the person I am, I followed the steps I usually follow if something goes wrong. Of course, I searched for viruses. I used AVG, SuperAntiSpyware, and Malwarebytes. Nothing was found on any of them. Then I ran GlarysoftPro, for any optimizations that need to be done, for example de-fragmentation and search for hard drive errors, and that didn't fix the performance issues. Even though it did find problems and fixed them with no problem, nothing was solved.

So, then I started to do other things.

1. I restart the computer ---> No change
2. I reset the computer deleting all personal files --> No change
3. I reinstalled a fresh copy of windows (factory reset) --> No change
4. I reinstalled the drivers and updated a few drivers --> No change
5. I ran insider preview --> Worked but for around a week then it slowed again.
6. I then reset the BIOS to default. --> It crashed once about a WATCHDOG error, but I couldn't remember it. Then, it crashed twice giving me the error BOOT_DEVICE_UNACCESSABLE. (This is all in the insider preview.) And, then I shut it down after it gave me a SQRTrails.txt or something. I didn't care, I was going to deal with it in the morning.

Then this morning it started working, so then I went on my phone, because the laptop was still not working, and people were arguing over disabling speedstep. So, the risk taker I am...

7. I disabled speedstep --> And it works really well, but it worked better when I first got it. I do feel the computer lagging here and there and I know that disabling Speedstep is NOT the problem. I have come to the conclusion that it is only a temporary fix.

So, I've thrown in the towel and I need some help. I've given some information on my computer below. Thank you.

UserBenchmarks: Game 15%, Desk 51%, Work 35%
CPU: Intel Core i7-4800MQ - 75.7%
GPU: Intel HD 4600 (Mobile 1.15 GHz) - 5.9%
HDD: WD Black 2.5" 500GB (2011) - 47.2%
RAM: Kingston KN2M64-ETB 2x8GB - 61%
MBD: Dell Precision M6800

NVIDIA System Information report created on: 01/31/2019 10:20:37
System name: KIT

[Display]
Operating System: Windows 10 Pro, 64-bit
DirectX version: --- 12.0
GPU processor: --- Quadro K4100M
Driver version: --- 412.16
Direct3D API version: --- 12
Direct3D feature level: --- 11_0
CUDA Cores: --- 1152
Core clock: --- 705 MHz
Memory data rate: --- 3200 MHz
Memory interface: --- 256-bit
Memory bandwidth: --- 102.40 GB/s
Total available graphics memory: --- 12240 MB
Dedicated video memory: --- 4096 MB GDDR5
System video memory: --- 0 MB
Shared system memory: --- 8144 MB
Video BIOS version: --- 80.04.E8.00.1D
IRQ: --- Not used
Bus: --- PCI Express x16 Gen3
Device Id: --- 10DE 11B7 15CD1028
Part Number: --- 2053 0502

[Components]

NvUpdtr.dll --- 2.11.4.0 --- NVIDIA Update Components
NvUpdt.dll --- 2.11.4.0 --- NVIDIA Update Components
nvui.dll --- 8.17.14.1216 --- NVIDIA User Experience Driver Component
nvxdplcy.dll --- 8.17.14.1216 --- NVIDIA User Experience Driver Component
nvxdbat.dll --- 8.17.14.1216 --- NVIDIA User Experience Driver Component
nvxdapix.dll --- 8.17.14.1216 --- NVIDIA User Experience Driver Component
NVCPL.DLL --- 8.17.14.1216 --- NVIDIA User Experience Driver Component
nvCplUIR.dll --- 8.1.940.0 --- NVIDIA Control Panel
nvCplUI.exe --- 8.1.940.0 --- NVIDIA Control Panel
nvWSSR.dll --- 24.21.14.1216 --- NVIDIA Workstation Server
nvWSS.dll --- 24.21.14.1216 --- NVIDIA Workstation Server
nvViTvSR.dll --- 24.21.14.1216 --- NVIDIA Video Server
nvViTvS.dll --- 24.21.14.1216 --- NVIDIA Video Server
nvDispSR.dll --- 24.21.14.1216 --- NVIDIA Display Server
NVMCTRAY.DLL --- 24.21.14.1216 --- NVIDIA Media Center Library
nvDispS.dll --- 24.21.14.1216 --- NVIDIA Display Server
PhysX --- 09.17.0524 --- NVIDIA PhysX
NVCUDA.DLL --- 24.21.14.1216 --- NVIDIA CUDA 10.0.243 driver
nvGameSR.dll --- 24.21.14.1216 --- NVIDIA 3D Settings Server
nvGameS.dll --- 24.21.14.1216 --- NVIDIA 3D Settings Server

If you need any information, I will do my best to give it to you. Thank you again.

 

[hang-the-9]

I would replace that 2011 hard drive with an SSD, then once things are all installed run some stress tests and monitor temps.

 

[King_V]

The symptoms are different, but that BOOT_DEVICE_UNACCESSIBLE makes me wonder if the hard drive (or SATA cable?) is starting to go.

Is there another drive you can swap in and do a clean-install of Windows to try out?

 

[Captainploo]

I have ordered an SSD that is compatible with the computer. Tomorrow and will see if that is the problem. But, so far, it's looking like that is the problem.