Community Newsletter: Q&A: In plain English, how do I speed up a slow computer?
- 8/15/08 9:58 AM
Gail's Need for Speed - and a major caveat!
by tomrestes - 8/2/08 5:18 PM In reply to: In plain English, how do I speed up a slow computer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I got a swell deal on a (I'm sorry a Gateway laptop) that purported to be real fast with an Intel Duo-Core and a couple of Gig Processor etc., etc., only to find it fraught with neat little manufacturer goobers in the sys tray. When I loaded other valuable programs they too put little "update seeker" icons - some that went out and looked for updates when you booted, or just periodically. Many of these have to go if you have them, as they are memory and sometimes processor and program hogs that load and run in the background.
How to get rid of them, which is also a possible answer to the speed issue takes some caution and perhaps a friend with some experience. I acquired a program on-line which will allow you see your processor use with and without these little sys tray fellers (it also shows your RAM use, Internet and disk read/write activity which I find useful especially when my hard drive is running for no apparent reason – often Auntie Virus related).
Now here's the caveat - it relates to drivers, those necessary little programs (often many related to such things as your network or wireless connection; printers, etc.) – this is the real reason why I got this program (actually a manufacturers collection of three programs). I got an error saying that I had a corrupted driver and low and behold my wireless stopped. I searched the error on line and found this neat software that would clean my registry, update my drivers, speed up my pc, tweak my system, wash the dishes and shine may shoes!
Impressionable as I am, remember I bought a Gateway, I bought the software – first one, then the other, then all three. Please note that I did go to the Gateway site first in an attempt to wrest from them, the correct driver download – it did not work – but not saying that this wasn’t the correct answer.
The software identified many drivers that were dated and as you so aptly identified the process, I went to each manufacturer’s site (with the program’s help) and updated and checked the results, I got deeper and deeper in trouble. Most updates worked just fine, but the key reason I went there seemed to get worse – which is why I felt like I should respond to your question with my experience with driver updates . . . and my quest for the laptop speed that I get on my tower pc.
It seems that manufacturer’s like Gateway tend to (I suspect) write and share DLL’s and when you down load from the OEM (in this case Intel) you lose some of that Gateway secret squirrel stuff. The net result is that because many of the Gateway drivers (and their dll's) appear to be deliberately frozen at a certain revision level, updating one causes the neatly aligned series of interdependent dominoes (related programs) not to fall into place, or even at all.
Uh oh. My original thought, though at the time I didn’t think beyond the first unsuccessful try, may have been the correct one, that driver updates from other than Gateway (for the exact model), at least in my case, was bad ju ju.
The program is Uniblue.com – I like it, my lack of experience got me in a little trouble, I did get out. The Uniblue registry cleaner identified issues and allowed me to look at them – which I did, said “okay”, and it said that it fixed them – cool, I guess. Note, in search for registry cleaners once before, I did get a serious warning from my Auntie Virus that said that the vendor I was looking at had numerous complaints re the questionable sales of names and system info – this was not Uniblue, but be careful here - people go to these sites hoping for a miracle - I did.
Remember also – and this is seriously “lessons learned” before you update drivers, clean your registry, or defrag, back up your drives and ensure that you have copies of your program faves – schtuff happens, though not with any regularity. XP System restore (from other drive) is helpful – still back up to CDs or DVDs.
Uniblue does much of the good stuff – so is my lap top any faster? Stopping unnecessary programs in the sys tray made a difference – the overall answer . . . yeah . . . but not sure exactly why. I check my registry weekly and defrag monthly, there are always errors reported and corrected.
Speeding up Ur Pc through Defragmentation
by silvarie - 8/2/08 5:49 PM In reply to: In plain English, how do I speed up a slow computer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I use windows vista, and hope the tools are not very different from you XP.
Follow the steps below and see if it helps.
1)Click start (a window opens)
2)Move your cursor (pointer) to Control Panel and click
3)Now you are in Control Panel Window with many options
4)Search for "System and Maintenance" and Click
5)In this window search for the option "Administrative Tools"
6)under Administrative Tools, you shall see the following (a)Free Up disk space, (b) Defragment your hard drive , etc
My advice to you who is non technical is that you perform 6b only, i.e Defragment your hard drive.
7) Click "Defragment Hard drive" under "Administrative tools- (A window opens with 3 or more options)
8) Click Defragment Now and follow the instructions that pop up, then just wait for the computer to do all the work by itself
9)A new window (box) opens -click on (select all disks) and then click the "OK" button at the bottom
Just wait for the computer to go through the whole process.
When it is done click on "close"
You can restart and see the new performance of your computer.
Good luck
The answer to speeding it up
by tpjazm - 8/2/08 6:21 PM In reply to: In plain English, how do I speed up a slow computer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
1st let me say it is hard to answer this question without knowing exactly what your computer is doing and what it is (you say windows xp, but is it a pentium? duo core? quad core? Have you been providing the needed maintainance? running scans for viruses, defrag, spyware, adaware, etc? Don't know what these are? You can always do a search on your computer to find out. Somtimes there is nothing you can do because your computer is getting older so even adding more memory and deleting space on your harddrive doesn't resolve the issue. But all these in combination should help. So to put it out there. The 1st thing would be to check your computer with the various utilites to make sure it is optimum. Adding Memory and checking to be sure you have at least a 3rd of your harddrive space free also helps.
2 Options
by dmavericks - 8/2/08 7:34 PM In reply to: In plain English, how do I speed up a slow computer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
One is to have a experianced computer expert "rebuild" the computer. This means wipeing the hard drive completly and reinstalling everything a computer manufacturer would after the computer was built. Before haveing this process done it is very important to backup all data that you need.
-Anthoer thing to do, if you dont trust other people with your computer, is download a hard dirve eraser and running it. Then installing windows and all the other software you use.. again only after backing up all of your important data.
The other option is to uninstall unnessisary programs and delete unneeded files.
Then update drivers, or software required to use equiptment in the computer, this is done by going to your manufaturers website and selecting software/downloads and then your computer model, or tell it to auto detect the computer, this will ensure that you get the correct drivers for your system. There will be a list of drivers for your computer.
Speed up a computer...
by desert west tech - 8/2/08 8:04 PM In reply to: In plain English, how do I speed up a slow computer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Gail: There are no "easy" steps. There are many factors that slow down a computer. The STARTUP folder is one big factor; any little widget you have running in the background is another major contributor. The easiest method to "speed up" a computer is to reformat and reload. Be sure to get everything you want off the hard drive - not programs, better to reload them. Once back to normal, then, before you load it, ask yourself: 'Do I really need that?' Don't load it just because it is 'cute', 'neat', 'nice-to-have' and/or 'funny'. Everything you load on a computer takes up resources and it will reduce computer efficiency in the long run. Ditto for all those browser add-ons, don't load them and your browser will remain as speedy as it started out!
To speed up your computer...
by milkmaid - 8/2/08 8:56 PM In reply to: In plain English, how do I speed up a slow computer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Remove unnecessary add ons that you have put on your browser.
I had several tool bars in addition to the Internet Explorer and Windows XP and litterally brought my dsl speed down to a crawl.
I also deleted unnecessary files from my hard drive.
How can you find out if you have add ons on your browser?
by BarbaraRoach - 8/9/08 7:02 AM In reply to: To speed up your computer... by milkmaidHow can you find out if you have add ons on your browser? Is there a way to check what add ons you have?
Checking IE7 Add-ons
by Finge - 8/9/08 5:06 PM In reply to: How can you find out if you have add ons on your browser? by BarbaraRoachIF using Internet Explorer7
Tools / Manage Add-Ons / Manage or Disable Add-ons
Look at the "Show" for the 4 reports IE7 provides
Check the "Learn more about add-ons" bottom left corner of the Manage Add-ons Window.
Finge
don't forget to delete emails from local machine mail client
by 2tents - 8/12/08 9:08 AM In reply to: Checking IE7 Add-ons by FingeIf you're using Outlook Express, Office or Entourage you might be hanging on to old emails that will add up to quite a bit of space on your hard drive. If you'd like to hang onto favorite emails, create an anonymous email account using a server like YAHOO or Hotmail and use the server space for storage by forwarding all those jokes and pics to that email address. This new address can also be used for site registrations that generate a ton of spam! Then delete all non-current emails from Outlook Express, or whichever client you're using. Don't forget to empty your deleted items, and also empty your recycle bin regularly.
You might also have some game packages and video samples that came preloaded on your machine. If you're not using them, delete them, either by locating them manually, right clicking on the file and choose 'delete'. For game removal, go to control panel;Add/Remove programs; click on the name of the game, and chose remove. Also look for other preloaded trial services like Vongo, and other applications that you might never use.
Any files containing graphics ( pics/videos) are your bigger space hogs. If you don't use them, get rid of them. Then follow the disk clean-up, defrag protocol. ( Try to make this a regular habit!)
don't forget to delete emails from local machine mail client
by frescar_11 - 8/14/08 2:07 AM In reply to: don't forget to delete emails from local machine mail client by 2tentsNo more hassle solving any kind of undeleted network created files, network visited files, cookies, and any other possible remnant of you computer... Just try to use freeware "Speed it up free" with PC checkup or No trace profissional. this will solve your computer speed and no blue creen by using Free Ram Optimizer even that of freeware. Try it on and find out how the slow computer looks like a brand new one in speed
Follow 2 tents advice first
by hilipp - 8/14/08 5:56 AM In reply to: don't forget to delete emails from local machine mail client by 2tentsMany say the computer is running slow but really mean that they can't access their ISP (Internet Service Provider) quickly.
Storing a large amounts of email will dramatically slow down the systems. This is why its so important to take the advice given by by 2 tents first, it's that important. Clean it out and if necessary store them as notes or word docs. If that dont work then follow what the other wrote as it could also be much more than just one simple solution.
Phil C
The easyest way
by pctt - 8/2/08 10:19 PM In reply to: In plain English, how do I speed up a slow computer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Ok,
I guess this would be the easyst steps to speed-up your computer
1 pick up the phone
2 call some person who knows a thing or 2 about computers
and let him speedup your computer for you.
3 when he/she is finished, buy him/her a beer.
Running PC
by Ciscoatmove - 8/3/08 3:41 AM In reply to: In plain English, how do I speed up a slow computer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Thank You for deposing this question, since I also have been struggling with this subject more in the way witch one is best one and most effective.
I've had my pc overloaded with downloading updates, driver cards etc. and it seems it became even slower than before.
So I'm looking forwards to see the results.
Fine running PC
by moumouh1 - 8/11/08 4:31 PM In reply to: Running PC by CiscoatmoveHere are some basic steps to follow if you want to keep your PC always clean and fast responding (provided that you have the necessary disk space and amount of RAM for the configuration you aim at):
1/-Format your HD
2/-Re-install your O.S (W. XP-SP3)and partition your HD (if you have only one); the C: must be reserved for the system and part of the Program Files folder (you can create a second one on another partition) and you are advised to locate your Documents as well as your Download folders on a partition other than C: so you can always access them in case of a crash
3/-Install one of those very practical programs that offer clean and thourough uninstall (YU, Revo U,..)firsthand,
4/-Then all the necessary progs, i.e office suite, PDF reader or Acrobat, compression prog, etc (avoid double use)
Keep in mind that it's AV progs and automatic updates that clog a system.
Uninstall progs that you no longer use: the less progs you have on your system the best it runs!
General Cleanup
by waytron - 8/3/08 4:52 AM In reply to: In plain English, how do I speed up a slow computer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I can sympathize with your frustration over not understanding many of the posts about methods to clean up your computer and by all means please don’t take what I am about to say as an insult. Unfortunately, one of the reasons you see so many varying recommendations on the net is there are so many things, both simple and complex that can cause a computer to run slow down. It could be as simple as you have mistakenly left an old version of some antivirus software on your computer so you now have 2 antivirus programs running or maybe your hard drive is just full and has run out of places to put things. Or it could be something more complex such as a failing hard drive, a misbehaving program or a virus or Spyware infection. Since you did not really mention any real details about your problems, the list is almost endless. In some cases if the problems came on very suddenly, you can fix the problem very easily by using Windows System Restore. I would suggest that at some point you should just hand your computer over to a qualified Service Technician to perform the necessary steps. It is really no different than expecting you to be able to tune up your own automobile. Some things should be left to the professionals. Having said that here are a few quick (well not really quick) and dirty things you can do: (NOTE: “>” replaces the word THEN or NEXT)
NOTE: Before you perform any maintenance or make changes to your computer you should always make sure that your data has been backed up.
CHECK HARD DRIVE SPACE – Double Click on MY COMPUTER and Right Click on your C: Drive and select Properties. This will show how much hard drive space you have Free and how much you have USED. It is recommended that you have at least 25% of your total space FREE. If your hard drive is full, then you will have to start deleting things you no longer need or uninstall programs that you don’t use. The other option would be to have a new, larger hard drive installed.
CHECK HARD DRIVE FOR ERRORS – (Note: This could take several hours to run) Double click on MY COMPUTER > Right Click on your C: drive and select PROPERTIES > Click on the TOOLS tab at the top and Select CHECK NOW under the Error-Checking Section > You will be presented with a small window with 2 check boxes > Check both boxes and click on OK > You will now receive an error message that basically tells you that it can not be run at this time and do you want to schedule it to scan the next time the computer starts up > You want to click on YES > Now your hard drive will be scanned for errors the next time your computer starts > Shut down and restart your computer.
RUN DISK CLEAN UP – Click on the START Menu > Click on ALL PROGRAMS > Click on ACCESSORIES > Click on SYSTEM TOOLS and select DISK CLEAN UP. It will ask you which Drive and you want to Select your C: Drive and click on OK. It may take a few minutes for the computer to come back with a list of items to cleanup. Check ALL the boxes and click on OK. A warning with then pop up asking you if you are sure you want to perform these steps and you want to go ahead and click on YES. After a few more minutes it should finish and the box will disappear.
RUN VIRUS SCAN – You will need to open up your specific Antivirus Software that you have installed on your computer. There are many different brands that you could have installed so I can not give you the exact instructions. You need to make sure that you subscription has not expired and that the virus definitions are up to date. Most brands will tell you in the opening window if it has expired and/or needs updating. After you have determined that your Virus Scanner is up-to-date run a full virus scan.
RUN SPYWARE SCAN – Download and install SpyBot Search and Destroy directly from here : http://dw.com.com/redir?edId=3&siteId=4&oId=3120-20_4-0&ontId=20_4&lop=link&tag=tdw_dltext<ype=dl_dlnow&pid=10861988&mfgId=104443&merId=104443&destUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.download.com%2F3001-8022_4-10861988.htm l or from http://www.safer-networking.org/en/home/index.html
. After installing you will need to click on “Search For Updates” and select a download site from the list provided. Pick any download location you want and select ok. Once updated you want to click “Immunize” from the right hand menu to show you the immunization status. Then Click on “Immunize” from the top menu to actually immunize your computer. Next Click on “Check for Problems” and let it run which could take up to an hour or so to run. When finished you will end up with a list of infected items in red with check marks next to them. . Click on “Fix Selected items” and then on OK when done. You can now close this program.
RUN DISK DEFRAGMENTER (Could take a few hours)– Click on the START menu > Click on ALL PROGRAMS > Click on ACCESSORIES > Click on SYSTEM TOOLS > Click on DISK DEFRAGEMENTER > Click on your C Drive if you have more than one drive > Click on the DEFRAGMENT Tab at the bottom left of the window and then go get a cup of coffee because this could take some time.
If you do not see a marked improvement in the performance or your computer at this point, it is probably time to let a qualified technician take a look at it.
Dana
Wayland Computer
| Forum legend: | |
 |
Locked thread |
 |
Moderator |
 |
CNET staff |
 |
Samsung staff |
 |
Norton Authorized Support team |
 |
AVG staff |
 |
Windows Outreach team |
 |
Dell staff |
 |
Intel staff |
