Today I could fix a case where a computer got incredible slow over the years, but it took to check lots of points...
First of all the issue was initially hard to figure out where it's coming from.
Either the HDD in the Task Manager went up to 100% or the CPU - or both together. Even when no application was started. Narrowing down which service or application was at fault was difficult as well as it was always another one.
So I tried first with the 'obvious' solution which you find quite often online: Switching off services like 'Windows Search' or 'Superfetch'. Initially it seemed like no change at all. I even checked the hard disk since I even found sites where users where claiming having issues with the Toshiba DT01ACA100. But the HDD was fine so far, nothing visible with checking tools.
So what else... Such issues can come through viruses or malware so I gave Malwarebytes AntiMalware another go. And it found more than 4000 suspicious entries! After clearing them all and going for another reboot, let the software went through after to check if the malware is really gone and suddenly the issues got less!
Surely, right after booting the computer still took a while 'calm down' in terms after processor and hard disk usage. But then you could finally reproduce it by opening the Firefox browser and open certain websites. Or starting MS Office software.
Generally websites using flash took pushed the scale high again, but after certain tests to fix that issue within FF failed and I tried the same with Google Chrome which was faster and and slightly better.
And now after several restarts the computer finally seems fine again - hopefully it remains!
After a long time I got yesterday back into configuring a PS2 for homebrew software - and this time the slim version!
In the past I've played a lot around with PS2 homebrew software from emulators, media players to HD loaders. My own old console is from 2004 and I added a hard disk and was able to launch games from there - using tools like HDLoader, HDAdvance or OpenPS2Loader.
The latter played a part again yesterday: A friend of mine got an PS2 slim and I remembered about the possibility to play games from USB. So as the first thing I tested with my Memory Card, if the homebrew menu works with the silver PS2 slim. As I read somewhere there were issues with certain firmware version delivered with newer slim models.
However, it was no problem: FMCB started with the extended boot menu. In the following I installed it also on the Memory Card of my friend. As there were issues with the file manager (ULaunchELF) of my Memory Card which was unable to open elf files properly, I copied the FMCB installer on the USB drive and added the elf in the boot menu via the FMCB configurator as a workaround.
FMCB was successfully installed on the Memory Card and I added the OpenPS2Loader to the Memory Card and linked it to the main menu.
Now, via the USBUtil GUI tool I selected a few games to test which were converted from ISO file to a certain format to be able to be booted via OpenPS2Loader 0.9. A 32GB USB flash drive was used and as the games were launched you could notice that it takes a bit longer than using a DVD. Of course the internal HDD drive is the quicker way, but only with the older bigger PS2.
Both tested games, the infamous fighting DBZ Budokai Tenkaichi 3 was still working quickly (you could only see that the in-game transformations were slower than usual) and the fast racing game Burnout Revenge was also running well.
Plus, I also tested the old bicycle racing game Downhill Domination which was quite nostalgic played it again after a long time!
Therefore, still nice having these tools for the good old PS2!
Actually one of my favourite features on Facebook and it's currently not working. Can it be fixed?
It noticed it already a while ago, since I like checking the world map especially after checking in to lots of places around the world after a long travel.
However, I cannot use this feature now for a couple of months. I cleared the cache, using IE or Google Chrome making no difference. As soon as you go to 'Places' the loading bars are running.
I googled for the issue if other users are experiencing the same and it seems that it can happen from time to time. In this thread in the Facebook community Help Center there was simple the suggestion to report the issue to Facebook.
So, I did the same, now waiting for response. As soon as I know something I will get back to that!
And if you have any experience on that feel free to comment!
