Flickering, stuttering, shuddering windows.... where to start?
January 4, 2015 2:10 AM Subscribe
I recently bought a Lenovo Flex 2-14 laptop from a big chain. I'm having problems with programmes hanging, running slowly, the screen apparently updating in a flickery manner as if it were a machine from many generations ago. All drivers are up to date but am I missing something?
This was a rushed purchase due to another computer failure, so I didn't do due diligence on the features I really wanted. However, I've persisted and just about got it running the way I like it (Win 8.1 with Classic Shell on top, as per a desktop machine I also run). But it feels like something is fundamentally wrong. The most problematic programme is Firefox. I accidentally downloaded something called 'FoxStarter Edition' which loaded up the machine with spyware. After running Malwarebytes and reinstalling Firefox it still claims to be the 'FoxStarter Edition' (according to the status bar at the top of the window). And it runs horribly. Alt-tabbing is slow, I get frequent 'program not responding' warnings (which resolve themselves eventually), scrolling is jerky and occasionally the whole programme gets caught in a flickery loop of death as if it's getting a repetitive keyboard input and can't resolve the output, like a dialogue box opening and closing incredibly fast.
Time is money and all that and the thought of wiping and starting again fills me with dread. But is there anything I've missed or any known issues here? My other Win 8.1 machine is running exactly the same suite of software without a single glitch or flicker, whereas this Lenovo feels fundamentally unstable. All pointers, tips, analysis, hints and suggestions welcome. Thank you.
This was a rushed purchase due to another computer failure, so I didn't do due diligence on the features I really wanted. However, I've persisted and just about got it running the way I like it (Win 8.1 with Classic Shell on top, as per a desktop machine I also run). But it feels like something is fundamentally wrong. The most problematic programme is Firefox. I accidentally downloaded something called 'FoxStarter Edition' which loaded up the machine with spyware. After running Malwarebytes and reinstalling Firefox it still claims to be the 'FoxStarter Edition' (according to the status bar at the top of the window). And it runs horribly. Alt-tabbing is slow, I get frequent 'program not responding' warnings (which resolve themselves eventually), scrolling is jerky and occasionally the whole programme gets caught in a flickery loop of death as if it's getting a repetitive keyboard input and can't resolve the output, like a dialogue box opening and closing incredibly fast.
Time is money and all that and the thought of wiping and starting again fills me with dread. But is there anything I've missed or any known issues here? My other Win 8.1 machine is running exactly the same suite of software without a single glitch or flicker, whereas this Lenovo feels fundamentally unstable. All pointers, tips, analysis, hints and suggestions welcome. Thank you.
The fact that you apparently still have 'FoxStarter Edition' implies the machine is still infected. The standard recommendation around here is to follow the instructions in Deezil's profile to clean the machine. Failing that, then yeah, I'd nuke it with a fresh install (after using DoubleDriver to back up your drivers - assuming they are not the issue.). That will have the added benefit of removing the stock bloatware.
posted by quinndexter at 2:50 AM on January 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by quinndexter at 2:50 AM on January 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
Some advice, after the clean install do not use the system as an administrator. Make a standard user account for your daily use and only use the admin user for doing installations.
posted by WillRun4Fun at 2:59 AM on January 4, 2015
posted by WillRun4Fun at 2:59 AM on January 4, 2015
If your into deep diving software OS level troubleshooting google microsoft system internals and have staring contest with all the graphs . Test by disabling all services (safe mode) and whatever huge clunky antivirus that was preinstalled . And all that Lenovo Adobe Air crap . Less seriously : Google "the Oatmeal" and search for "how to fix any computer". Rent a movie and reinstall windows .
posted by epjr at 3:52 AM on January 4, 2015
posted by epjr at 3:52 AM on January 4, 2015
Response by poster: I 'reset' windows, probably not as efficient as a total reinstall but it was what I was directed to do. Part of the problem, straight out of the box, is that Lenovo include something called 'Virtual Discovery', which seems to be a browser-hijacking thing that finds its way straight into a fresh install of Firefox. Plus I've downloaded Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware but can't make it open at all, even though it's installed on the machine.
posted by jonathanbell at 4:33 AM on January 4, 2015
posted by jonathanbell at 4:33 AM on January 4, 2015
I wouldn't bother with Windows but instead opt for Ubuntu as operating system. But if you must Windows, I suggest a clean install of Windows... not a 'reset', oh, no. But a root-and-branch clean install. Yes.
Thereafter, the official Firefox website. the place to go to download said browser, is here.
posted by Mister Bijou at 4:42 AM on January 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
Thereafter, the official Firefox website. the place to go to download said browser, is here.
posted by Mister Bijou at 4:42 AM on January 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
Part of the problem, straight out of the box, is that Lenovo include something called 'Virtual Discovery', which seems to be a browser-hijacking thing that finds its way straight into a fresh install of Firefox.
Google searches for "Virtual Discovery" and "Lenovo Virtual Discovery" don't turn up much of anything.
Time is money and all that and the thought of wiping and starting again fills me with dread.
It's looking like the wasted time is the time you're spending trying to avoid a clean install, not the time you'd spend actually doing it.
posted by jon1270 at 4:46 AM on January 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
Google searches for "Virtual Discovery" and "Lenovo Virtual Discovery" don't turn up much of anything.
Time is money and all that and the thought of wiping and starting again fills me with dread.
It's looking like the wasted time is the time you're spending trying to avoid a clean install, not the time you'd spend actually doing it.
posted by jon1270 at 4:46 AM on January 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
"I've downloaded Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware but can't make it open at all"
That's a sign of a malware infection (the malware "knows" that you might be trying to use MalWareBytes, so it disables the program). You might try running RKill (or one of the related variants) first, before attempting to start MalWareBytes. RKill terminates known malware processes, so that you can run the anti-virus programs that will remove the viruses from your hard drive.
I've also had good success with the free, on-line version of ESET.
posted by alex1965 at 4:55 AM on January 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
That's a sign of a malware infection (the malware "knows" that you might be trying to use MalWareBytes, so it disables the program). You might try running RKill (or one of the related variants) first, before attempting to start MalWareBytes. RKill terminates known malware processes, so that you can run the anti-virus programs that will remove the viruses from your hard drive.
I've also had good success with the free, on-line version of ESET.
posted by alex1965 at 4:55 AM on January 4, 2015 [2 favorites]
wait, did you do a reset or a refresh. because the annoying thing is, a lot of OEMs now(including lenovo, i've noticed) do not offer a real reinstall option... just a refresh.
look up whether this system has a recovery partition. a reset might be what they want you to do, and it really is basically a reinstall. a refresh basically just deletes some of your user data and some windows settings though.
reinstalling windows 8 is really, really fast though. seriously, it took me like a half hour total last time i had to do it. it's not the pain in the ass that it used to be(especially if you were using an online/"windows live" Login and not a local one)
posted by emptythought at 5:08 AM on January 4, 2015
look up whether this system has a recovery partition. a reset might be what they want you to do, and it really is basically a reinstall. a refresh basically just deletes some of your user data and some windows settings though.
reinstalling windows 8 is really, really fast though. seriously, it took me like a half hour total last time i had to do it. it's not the pain in the ass that it used to be(especially if you were using an online/"windows live" Login and not a local one)
posted by emptythought at 5:08 AM on January 4, 2015
Response by poster: All sage advice. The first 'restore windows' cycle got rid of all my stuff but none of Lenovo's so I'm trying the more comprehensive and time consuming 'reset pc' option. Hopefully that'll give me a blank slate without any bloatware.
posted by jonathanbell at 5:09 AM on January 4, 2015
posted by jonathanbell at 5:09 AM on January 4, 2015
it will likely leave the bloatware since it's restoring from a factory image, but will nuke everything else. i recently tested that on my dell 8.1 tablet.
posted by emptythought at 5:13 AM on January 4, 2015
posted by emptythought at 5:13 AM on January 4, 2015
Response by poster: That's exactly what happened unfortunately. Any tips as to how to reinstall the stock, bare bones windows without any of Lenovo's rubbish?
posted by jonathanbell at 6:49 AM on January 4, 2015
posted by jonathanbell at 6:49 AM on January 4, 2015
Did it come with a Windows CD? If so, try reinstalling from that.
posted by Too-Ticky at 8:09 AM on January 4, 2015
posted by Too-Ticky at 8:09 AM on January 4, 2015
Using a working PC, collect your plain vanilla Windows installation media. Easiest way is to search for its SHA1 hash: bc2f7ff5c91c9f0f8676e39e703085c65072139b and then download it from wherever you can find it. Various folks host it, including Microsoft's digital fulfillment partner Digital River; it's also readily available via BitTorrent.
It really doesn't matter where you get it as long as you run a SHA1 checking tool against the ISO file you download. If the result matches the hash code above, you can be certain it hasn't been tampered with.
Burn the ISO file to a DVD using Imgburn or similar.
Also download and burn a copy of Darik's Boot and Nuke. Make sure you have nothing connected to the target laptop, then boot DBAN on it and let it run for a few minutes. That will be enough to convince Windows Setup that it's starting with a completely blank hard drive; you don't want it "helpfully" preserving Lenovo's bloatware-recovery facility.
Boot the Windows installation disc. The installation process is pretty self-explanatory. Use the generic installation key 334NH-RXG76-64THK-C7CKG-D3VPT to install Windows 8.1 or GCRJD-8NW9H-F2CDX-CCM8D-9D6T9 for Windows 8.1 Professional (choose whichever your Lenovo is licensed for); this will get you through the installation but won't let Windows activate.
Once the installation is done, your Lenovo should be functional. You'll need to extract the product key buried in your Lenovo's boot ROM so you can activate Windows. RWEverything will retrieve that for you, and you can then install that key and activate Windows.
Finally you can get the drivers you're still missing from Lenovo's support page and restore some semblance of UI sanity. If you're after a decent antivirus, I recommend Panda Free Antivirus. Just pay attention to the installer and turn off all the optional components.
posted by flabdablet at 8:47 AM on January 4, 2015 [11 favorites]
It really doesn't matter where you get it as long as you run a SHA1 checking tool against the ISO file you download. If the result matches the hash code above, you can be certain it hasn't been tampered with.
Burn the ISO file to a DVD using Imgburn or similar.
Also download and burn a copy of Darik's Boot and Nuke. Make sure you have nothing connected to the target laptop, then boot DBAN on it and let it run for a few minutes. That will be enough to convince Windows Setup that it's starting with a completely blank hard drive; you don't want it "helpfully" preserving Lenovo's bloatware-recovery facility.
Boot the Windows installation disc. The installation process is pretty self-explanatory. Use the generic installation key 334NH-RXG76-64THK-C7CKG-D3VPT to install Windows 8.1 or GCRJD-8NW9H-F2CDX-CCM8D-9D6T9 for Windows 8.1 Professional (choose whichever your Lenovo is licensed for); this will get you through the installation but won't let Windows activate.
Once the installation is done, your Lenovo should be functional. You'll need to extract the product key buried in your Lenovo's boot ROM so you can activate Windows. RWEverything will retrieve that for you, and you can then install that key and activate Windows.
Finally you can get the drivers you're still missing from Lenovo's support page and restore some semblance of UI sanity. If you're after a decent antivirus, I recommend Panda Free Antivirus. Just pay attention to the installer and turn off all the optional components.
posted by flabdablet at 8:47 AM on January 4, 2015 [11 favorites]
Response by poster: This is all great advice. I've got as far as nuking the Lemovo cruft but for some reason the new windows image didn't install to the ssd but to the hard drive. Moving it over is the next challenge.
posted by jonathanbell at 11:08 AM on January 4, 2015
posted by jonathanbell at 11:08 AM on January 4, 2015
I wouldn't try to move it. I'd re-install Windows again, but make sure you install it on the SSD this time. There is probably an option somewhere at the beginning of the process.
posted by alex1965 at 12:55 PM on January 4, 2015
posted by alex1965 at 12:55 PM on January 4, 2015
Response by poster: ... a challenge I don't seem up to unfortunately. The laptop does run nice and fast with no software on it though.
posted by jonathanbell at 1:44 PM on January 4, 2015
posted by jonathanbell at 1:44 PM on January 4, 2015
The problems seem to be: I don't have a Windows installation disk. I had a back-up USB drive that I've since wiped for the re-installation process. I can't download and burn a new Win8.1 installation (no DVD burner) as per flabdablet's excellent reply. I performed the re-installation via Microsoft's page on creating installation media. I've done this process three times now and there's no option to install to the SSD at all.
As a result the 25GB SSD is sitting there, empty, and all the Windows files are on my 422GB HD. I can't seem to use DriveClone to move the installation from HD to SSD because the partitions are too large and I can't make the partition small enough to fit on the 25 GB SSD. This has been a rather dull Sunday so far so any magic solutions welcome - or should I just give up on using the SSD at all?
posted by srednivashtar at 2:20 PM on January 4, 2015
As a result the 25GB SSD is sitting there, empty, and all the Windows files are on my 422GB HD. I can't seem to use DriveClone to move the installation from HD to SSD because the partitions are too large and I can't make the partition small enough to fit on the 25 GB SSD. This has been a rather dull Sunday so far so any magic solutions welcome - or should I just give up on using the SSD at all?
posted by srednivashtar at 2:20 PM on January 4, 2015
And apologies for posting using a different user name. Different computers and all that. Still me.
posted by srednivashtar at 2:21 PM on January 4, 2015
posted by srednivashtar at 2:21 PM on January 4, 2015
Do you have a bootable flash drive with the Windows install files on it? Try removing the hard disk from the laptop, then boot into the flash drive, and see if you can install onto the SSD that way.
posted by alex1965 at 1:34 PM on January 5, 2015
posted by alex1965 at 1:34 PM on January 5, 2015
Endless hours spent beating my head against the dumbing down of everything associated with Windows 8 have convinced me that, as ever, working from an installation disc is easily the method that involves the least grief. If I were in your shoes I would be finding a friend with a DVD burner and taking my downloaded ISO files over to their house on a USB stick.
I can't seem to use DriveClone to move the installation from HD to SSD because the partitions are too large and I can't make the partition small enough to fit on the 25 GB SSD.
Don't feel too bad about that. I'm almost completely certain that Windows would find a way to ruin the result for you anyway, especially if your laptop is set up to use UEFI rather than legacy BIOS.
posted by flabdablet at 2:50 PM on January 5, 2015
I can't seem to use DriveClone to move the installation from HD to SSD because the partitions are too large and I can't make the partition small enough to fit on the 25 GB SSD.
Don't feel too bad about that. I'm almost completely certain that Windows would find a way to ruin the result for you anyway, especially if your laptop is set up to use UEFI rather than legacy BIOS.
posted by flabdablet at 2:50 PM on January 5, 2015
...aaaand I've just noticed that the specs for the Flex 2-14 say it's completely missing an optical drive. You could easily get get a USB one, but one of these would let you skip the disc burn step.
posted by flabdablet at 5:18 AM on January 6, 2015
posted by flabdablet at 5:18 AM on January 6, 2015
You don't need an optical drive to install Windows. You can create a bootable flash drive, using instructions on Microsoft's site. That's how I always install Windows -- it works great.
posted by alex1965 at 6:47 AM on January 6, 2015
posted by alex1965 at 6:47 AM on January 6, 2015
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posted by Too-Ticky at 2:16 AM on January 4, 2015 [4 favorites]