Simplify your laptop buying
Computer help: S-l-o-w-d-o-w-n......
Here we go again
by JASON MAZON - 7/8/05 2:34 PM In reply to: Alternate OS by ppentzI went to a remote community school in a Nigerian village and they only had one computer. It was not a Unix, Linux, Mac computer. It was a regular Windows PC.
We are trying to address problems with this platform here-not a fringe platform like linux and the Mac.
So, don't be naive, most computing WORK around the world is carried out on a Windows PC. By the way, I've worked with UNIX and the Mac and other platforms. I guess that makes me less computing handicapped that someone stuck to a Mac or a Linux computer.
Did you clean out temp files and defrag?
by dlauber - 7/8/05 7:05 AM In reply to: S-l-o-w-d-o-w-n...... by SaltramsI've built quite a few Windows XP computers with the wonderful motherboard you used. Good choice! You clearly know what you're doing.
I haven't been able to read all the responses, so if somebody has already suggested these options, I apologize. I wouldn't be surprised if you don't have much free space on your hard drive. Temporary files can really fill it up. So be sure to clean out all the temporary files on your computer. I've had a few clients come in with very, very slow computers and it turned out they had thousands and thousands of temporary files, including hundreds in the c drivee root directory. Once I deleted all the temp files, the computers flew like new. A great program for cleaning out temp files is System Mechanic. Other utilities can also delete them from your computer. You might also want to clean out your recycle bin which can get quite crowded. (System Mechanic also has a great utility for easily controlling your start up group so you can disable some programs from starting when you boot up.)
A very fragmented hard drive can also bring your computer to a crawl. If you haven't defragmented your hard drive in months, you might also want to do that. Windows built-in defrager is mighty slow. But Norton Systemworks' Speed Disk utility is mighty fast (although if you haven't defragmented in months, defragging could take a while).
Good luck. Please let us know what works.
dudes
by hothta - 7/8/05 9:20 AM In reply to: Did you clean out temp files and defrag? by dlauberno one said anything about winpatrol it is a simple program that helps a lot it is free and helps with startup and ie if his start up has exceeded his ram he is in trouble i have 2 hard drives one for saved one for sys this works great and winpatrol, s&d, adaware,spyware removal is all i have on my pc and it does the job get winpatrol get to know it and it will help you keep your pc running fast
Norton Speed Disk No Good
by 187591643063717537001404526890 - 7/8/05 11:59 AM In reply to: Did you clean out temp files and defrag? by dlauberAlthough I used to swear by it, I've had all kinds of problems with Norton Speed Disk ever since I installed the XP-sp2 update. Although it may be a little slow (I set it to run overnight,) the Windows defrag program is much more reliable. Norton Speed Disk either freezes, tells me that it couldn't complete the defrag and I must restart and try again, or doesn't fully defrag the whole disk.
"Windows built-in defrager is mighty slow. But Norton Systemworks' Speed Disk utility is mighty fast (although if you haven't defragmented in months, defragging could take a while)"
cleaner
by jccomputer - 7/8/05 10:54 AM In reply to: S-l-o-w-d-o-w-n...... by SaltramsTry this cleaner it it a cool tool and Free
http://www.ccleaner.com/ref/?68504809653D4BC68AA8F8CA82E4B4C6
Other possible causes
by compusulting - 7/8/05 12:20 PM In reply to: S-l-o-w-d-o-w-n...... by SaltramsSome spyware and viruses are fairly intellegent, and attack the software meant to control them. If you are running Ad-Aware, Spybot Search & Destroy and SpywareBlaster (all of which you should be running) unistall (including their directories in "My Programs") and re-install them. I have also found that sometimes a download from Microsofts' "Software Update" service as well as updates downloaded from your anti-virus vendor runs in the background and steals a lot of resoruces. Log on, have dinner and come back and install any downloads. If you are going to defrag, make sure that you delete the "hieberfile.sys" file first. This is created if you have heibernated the system.
Free up some RAM
by reedhave - 7/8/05 12:50 PM In reply to: S-l-o-w-d-o-w-n...... by SaltramsWhen my computer slows down I use a handy little tool called Free RAM XP Pro. Don't be dispised by the name, it works on Win 9x, ME, 2000, and XP, of coarse. All this does is free up some RAM and I find that it helps to make my computer run faster after I run it. I recommend to use it before you start something that may require a lot of RAM, like games.
This is availible at http://www.download.com/3000-2086-10070530.html
Good Luck and have a nice day
Registry
by imjdg - 7/8/05 1:24 PM In reply to: S-l-o-w-d-o-w-n...... by SaltramsClean up your registry!
http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/genmessage.php?board=200011
by ackmondual - 7/8/05 5:16 PM In reply to: S-l-o-w-d-o-w-n...... by SaltramsThat's a nice guide to follow for stomping out ad/spyware. All of the programs suggested are free. The poster also left his AIM so you can contact him with any questions you may have
slowdown
by papatinney - 7/8/05 11:57 PM In reply to: S-l-o-w-d-o-w-n...... by SaltramsIt may be time to look at the option of a reformat of your PC. This will restore it back to the fast PC you liked so well. Just be sure to let someone that knows what they are doing to help you, and backup everything you want to keep before you begin this process.
Some advice for a really slow computer
by nuclearnerdvanna - 7/9/05 6:22 AM In reply to: S-l-o-w-d-o-w-n...... by SaltramsSounds like you either have
1) Too many processes(applications) running on in your computer,
2) BIOS not up to date. Windows XP SP2 has ACPI 2.0 and BIOS were revised on some systems to accomodate this major revision,
3) Memory errors,
4) Some spyware is installed running -- Always a bad thing. If you have installed a great deal of free-ware, this can be a real possibility.
5) A conflicted registry.
6) You have two firewalls up and running simultaneously. For example, NORTON INTERNET SECURITY and WINDOWS XP Firewall.
7) If you have NORTON INTERNET SECURITY (or any other FIREWALL Utility) installed, there can be conflicts with the updates (more on this).
Your Athlon XP 2400+ is a processor with ample capability for mainstream PC applications. Your ASUS A7N8X Deluxe is a fine motherboard that is well supported with BIOS upgrades. And 1GB of memory is plenty of real estate for Windows XP SP2 -- there should not be any harddrive paging. Of course uninstalling applications no longer needed is a great way to free up workload.
Short of re-installing Windows XP, I recommend the following steps that seems to be effective at clearing up slowed down computers of my friends:
1) Uninstall applications no longer needed.
2) Download and install the latest and greatest BIOS for your motherboard. BIOS for many motherboards were revised to accommodate changes in the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) with SP2.
The XP help utility says:
"During Windows Setup, ACPI is installed only if all components present during Setup support power management. Some components, especially legacy components, do not support power management and can cause erratic behavior with Advanced Power Management (APM), or may prevent ACPI from being installed. Examples of such components are Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) components and an out-of-date BIOS."
3) Test your memory with Memtest86. I recommend version 3.2 since the tests were revised with more random patterns and are more likely to uncover errors. Download and create a floopy of this utility. Reboot your machine on this floopy and execute all of the tests. Should take about 45 minutes to go through one pass of the test suite. I have found that bad memory can also cause slowdowns rather than application crashes if memory errors occur. If you find some memory errors, try increasing the voltage first. If this does not work, restore the voltage to default (2.6V), then slow down the timings (CAS, RAS, CAS-to-RAS, CMD Rate from 1T to 2T). Memtest86 is an excellent tool to do this kind of tweaking.
Moving (or removing) memory modules can help you deduce which memory module is defective. If needed, you can populate one memory slot for this test.
If tweaking the memory timing is ineffectual, replace the defective memory module.
4) Install and run some of the excellent anti-spyware utilities such as Ad-aware, SpyBot Search and Destroy, and CWS Shredder. With these utilities, make sure you have the latest definitions. I like Ad-aware the most though SpyBot S&D will find stuff that gets past Ad-aware. Spyware can really rob your system.
5) Install the excellent JV16 tool and use its registry fixer and registry cleaner to straighten out the registry. There are free versions of this tool available on CNET, but the early versions (1.0 and 1.1) are actually easier to use than the more powerful later versions. Use the registry fixer first to fix errors, then the registry cleaner second to remove worthless registry entries.
6) Make sure you have one firewall running. Turnoff the Windows XP firewall if you have another one installed.
7) Uninstall and reinstall NORTON Internet Security. In the past, I have experienced slowdowns with this utility after 6 months because upgrades apparently become conflicted. Uninstall this utility and use the Windows XP firewall to see if system performance improves.
Use the search tool to find all the directories and files with "NORTON" or "SYMANTEC" to remove and rid your system of all traces. Use JV16 to cleanup the registry. Then do a reinstall of this utility. After the reinstall, use Liveupdate to obtain the updated software and definitions. Be patient, do not disturb this process. Make sure you reboot your system after each session, then use Liveupdate again and again until there are no more updates for this utility.
This procedure has cleared up some of the slowdown problems my friends have experienced with their computers.
I think these procedure will help you too
Good Luck
This thread is causing deja vu for me
by wburychka - 7/9/05 9:21 AM In reply to: Some advice for a really slow computer by nuclearnerdvannaA few more suggestions.
1. As as been mentioned, at some point you spend more time trying to fix than you would starting over with format and WinXP install. A clean install gives a lot of benefits--and some headaches, since you have to get the Win updates current again, the Office updates current, etc. End result, though, is always a faster running machine.
2. Windows Antispyware. Avoid it. It has a stealth home page hijacker. Also, the free beta is about to expire. The final version will probably be designed to protect certain spyware from eradication, since Microsoft is negotiating now to buy Claria (formerly Gator) and will make Microsoft a spyware purveyor.
3. Installing antispyware in safe mode will not allow you to have the latest definitions, so if you do that, you need to restart in normal mode, update the definitions and then restart in safe mode again to run full scans.
4. I have recently come across ZeroSpyware2005. This program cleaned off a persistent homepage hijacker (see 2. above) which nothing else including manual registry editing could stop. It also flags startup programs it does not recognize. Available as a 15 day trial. I'm down to 4 days remaining, after which I will almost certainly buy this one.
5. After all that cleaning, you may find Registry Mechanic (pctools.com) useful. I have found it to work almost miracles on slow computers. The trial version only identifies problems, however. You have to buy it for it to fix them. I think it was worth it though.
6. I've encountered and of many problems with Norton Speeddisk. However, Diskeeper Pro is problem free and capable of defragging at every level, including the paging file (be sure to set a fixed size paging file first) and mft. It will also move folders together and do other things the Windows defragger will not. The trial version is fully functional for 15 days--long enough for all the boot-time defragmenting you need to do. The purchase price of $50 is a little steep, however. Most people get sufficient benefit from a one-time boot time defragmentation.
7. See item 1. Could still be your best bet, but after that, 6. is good too.
New Version MS AntiSpyware - July, 2005 to December
by pmchefalo - 7/10/05 10:19 PM In reply to: This thread is causing deja vu for me by wburychkaI am concerned about how it will handle Claria, but there is a new version of MS AntiSPyware that does not expire until December. There is also no browser home page hijacker in the product, although there are tools that will return the browser to Microsoft defaults.
I find it to be a fairly effective tool, considering it's a Beta.
jerky etc
by ddbpack - 7/10/05 12:01 AM In reply to: S-l-o-w-d-o-w-n...... by Saltramswhat size video card?
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