Windows 7 Are All of My HDD's Are Dying At Once?

[Asilee]

I don't know what's wrong with my baby but he's doing something crazy. The SSD that someone bought me is screwed. Meaning, it's slower than both of the HDD's that I have. I've since reformatted the SSD and I'm in the process of removing it from my computer. However, the 500GB isn't doing too hot, either. It's really slow. It hangs at the Windows splash window for at least 15-20 minutes. I have since re-installed Windows onto the 500GB. It was doing fine an hour or so after I installed Windows onto that HDD but, after a few restarts, it started lagging. The issue with the long load time at the splash window has been since before I re-installed anything, anywhere.
Then, when it loads I cannot do anything on it. I've re-installed Windows 7 twice in the last 72 hours to try and fix this issue but to no avail, it's still giving me the blues. I can't watch a video, load anything in a browser, update Windows, etc. My 1TB is going bad, too. It loads really slow and I can't seem to get past the first two folders to get to other files on the HDD. That's where all of my assignments, Photoshop work, videos and such are on. I did a virus scan and found that the HDD had two viruses on it and I've since removed them. I've tried loading up the computer in Safe-Mode but it hangs at classpnp.sys every time.
Also, when Windows load (after it the splash screen is gone) It does a request to CHKDSK for one of my HDD's - the 1TB one. Should I simply remove that one and see if there's any change? I'm shooting all kinds of bullets in the dark hoping something changes.+
What I haven't done is reset the bios or tried removing and then reinserting the RAM. Could it be the RAM? I don't know. Maybe it's the battery? Who knows but I DO know I am about to blow my top. All three of my HDD's can't be going bad at once, can it? Could it be a root-kit virus? If so, am I screwed? Please say no.
It's a rig I built myself and I recently had an MSI build but now it's something different.

Here are the specs:

• OCZ SATA II 90GB SSD - Vertex 3
• 4GB of RAM- DDR3
• 32-bit OS Windows 7 Ultimate
• AMD Phenom II X4 965 3.40ghz
• ECS - A885GM-A2 Motherboard
• Nvidia GeForce GTX 460
• Seagate 1TB HDD
• WD Blue Caviar 500GB HDD

When I try and install anything (I was using Google Chrome) onto my computer (which takes at least 10-15 minutes), it gives me an error "ShellExecuteEX failed code: 1460. This operation returned because the timeout period expired". It also doesn't recognize that I inserted a removable disk (flash drive), or it may have but it's taking a very long time to respond. Again, this is a clean copy of Windows.

 

[ChatGPT]

It sounds like you're facing multiple issues with the performance of your drives and system. Let's address each of the problems you've mentioned: 1. SSD Slower Than HDD: - If the SSD is slower than the HDDs, it could be due to various reasons like firmware issues, connection problems, or even faulty hardware. Since you've reformatted the SSD and it's still slow, it might be a hardware problem. - Before removing the SSD, ensure that its connections are secure and that it's correctly configured in the BIOS. Check if there are any firmware updates for the SSD that could potentially resolve the speed issue. 2. Slow Boot Times: - The slow boot times on both the 500GB and 1TB drives could be indicative of issues with the drives themselves or with the Windows installation. - Since you've reinstalled Windows on the 500GB and it still lags, the issue might not be related to the OS. Consider checking the health of the drives using disk diagnostic tools or by running CHKDSK to identify any potential issues. 3. System Performance Issues and Errors: - The errors you're encountering when trying to install programs or access files could be related to drive health, system resource limitations, or even malware infections. - If you've found viruses on your drives, it's crucial to run thorough malware scans to ensure your system is clean. Rootkit infections can be particularly insidious but can typically be removed with the right tools. 4. Hardware Troubleshooting: - Considering the issues you're facing, it might be worth checking other hardware components like the RAM and the motherboard. - Try reseating the RAM sticks to ensure they are properly connected. You can also run memory diagnostics to check for any issues with the RAM. - Resetting the BIOS settings to default could help rule out any configuration issues. - Ensure that all power connections are secure and that the motherboard components are functioning correctly. 5. Overall System Health: - With multiple drives showing performance issues simultaneously, it's less likely that all drives are failing at once. - Investigating potential software issues, like malware or misconfigurations, is crucial. It's also important to update drivers and firmware to ensure optimal system performance. Based on the symptoms you've described, a thorough diagnosis involving checking hardware connections, running diagnostics on the drives and RAM, and ensuring the system is free from malware would be a good starting point. If these steps don't resolve the issues, further troubleshooting may be necessary.