My dad’s computer is pretty slow. It already has a 2.5Ghz celeron and 256MB RAM so that isn’t bad. I did a disk defragment, did an error check and ran adaware. What else can I do?
Overclocking?
Nah. Get more RAM. How old is it? If it’s more than a few years old you might want to just buy a new computer and keep this one as a word processor/SDMB browser.
Didja empty the Temporary Internet Files cache? Offline files, too? Delete all the cookies?
My mom’s good for downloading more than one copy of something like Adobe or even her AOL upgrades; check for doubles under Add/Remove Programs and on the desktop. Those downloadable games will slow it the heck down as well.
Remove all the useless rubbish running in the background.
Spybotis a very handy and trusted free tool - install that, and check the feature found at <Tools/System Startup> to see what junk is turned on when your 'puter boots up. I run TeaTimer in the background too, and then nothing installs itself into the registry without my permission.
Process Explorer (again, free) from SysInternals will tell you exactly what processes are running, and what resources they are individually using. You’ll soon find which programs are hogging your processor power.
I find that reinstalling Windows usually speeds things up.
more RAM, without a doubt. 256 is barley adequet to run XP. 256 more will make a would of difference.
I work in a public library. My clientele thinks that yelling at the computer or hitting the keys harder makes the computer go faster.
They tend to be wrong.
What is the difference between process explorer and windows task manager though? I don’t know if it is the CPU as usually only about 30% of the CPU is running. However there are 37 processes going on right now.
Good suggestions above; I would also suggest trying Tweaknow Registry Cleaner, it gives you feedback on what files are OK to delete and is very easy to use.
I am going to third the idea of new ram. 256 will barely run Windows XP (does it even?).
If he’s got a 2.5ghz celeron in there it’s definitely not old enough to trash, and is probably not running Win98 or 2000. XP will CRAWL with that little bit of RAM.
Everyone else’s suggestions about cleaning up are also good. But for Pete’s sake, get some more RAM!
I can assure you that 256MB ram is plenty for running WinXP. The processor is also quite fast too.
I see “slow” computers all the time, outside of malware, the most common problem is that people just load up a ton of background programs that do no good at all (or worse).
Find out what’s running, and stop everything from running that you don’t actually need right now.
Especially if you are running any memory hogs like Norton Internet Security. In fact, dump any Symantec programs, they will make your computer drag like a salted snail.
So far I’ve run adaware, run error check, run disk defragmentor, run spybot (it found about 232 pieces of spyware) and increased the virtual memory from 384MB to 2048MB. It is running faster, but it is still slow. I have an extra 256MB 2100 DDR stick but that is in Bloomington so I can’t install it right now.
I don’t know if I want to dump norton on his computer. What should I replace it with if I do that? Can’t I just disable norton and use another program for virus protection instead of uninstalling it just in case he wants to turn it back on?
A quick way to help a slow PC is to take a look at the system tray. Icons there for the most part represent programs loaded in to memory, possibly unnecessarily. Ditch as many of those as you can.
You should not install another antivirus program unless you have completely uninstalled the Norton. I use AVG 7.0 Free Edition, from Grisoft. Excellent AV protection, without the performance hit from Norton.
Go to the start menu, then “Run.” Type “msconfig” in the box and hit “ok.” choose the “startup” tab and then hit “disable all.” Restart the computer.
The important question is; did this computer ever run fast? - if it didn’t run fast when it was new (assuming of course it was more or less properly configured at that point), then tweaking it isn’t going to help a lot.
If it did run fast and now doesn’t, the only serious suggestion I could make would be to backup your data, wipe the hard drive and resinstall Windows - the performance leap from doing this on, say, a two-year-old machine is often quite remarkable.
Well my old laptop at 192 mb’s mananges to run XP, and really not all that bad. I can’t add any more mem due to it’s maxed out, but here I do suggest going to at least 512.
To run XP on such little ram you have to be very careful what you install. No quicktime, no AOL, as few apps as needed, older version of office (97 I think), no antivirus (I don’t like that, but is has to be), firewall still needed, though I would be tempted to use XP’s firewall if I didn’t travel so much w/ it.
It sounds like you have too much installed already, so your choices would be a reformat or add ram. If I could I would add ram, but it is possiable to due w/ 256.
I don’t even want to tell you what processor I have, you wouldn’t beleive me anyway.
Add my voice to the “extra RAM” crowd if you’ve got a little cash to spend.
If not, you might want to try “Crap Cleaner”. I’ve been using it for over a year and it works great: it cleans out all of the “crap” that Windows leaves behind on a daily basis. I run it once a week and it routinely cleans over 50 MB worth of junk. If the junk has been piling up for a while you might actually see a performance increase when it’s cleaned out.
Whoa, wait, what? No! Don’t do that, at least not permanently. Certainly you can inspect the contents of said tab for unwanted entries, but if you disable everying you could really hoop things like graphics and mouse utilities, and even Microsoft updates.
If disabling everything does speed up the PC, then something in there is troublesome, but the majority of anything in there is benign and required.