Community Newsletter: Q&A: In plain English, how do I speed up a slow computer?
- 8/15/08 9:58 AM
CCleaner
by vattan2005 - 8/8/08 7:43 PM In reply to: SLOW COMPUTER OR FROZEN COMPUTER by dubcitymanNo wonder CCleaner stands for Crap Cleaner!!
Three little words....
by jalywol1 - 8/8/08 7:33 PM In reply to: In plain English, how do I speed up a slow computer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
1)Backup
2)Reformat
3)Reinstall
I heavily use my computers, and find that I can get about a year out of them before the operating system (Windows XP) gets tired and confused from bits of files that are left where they should not be. The only really good solution when this happens is to back up all of the data you want to either CD's, DVD's, or an external hard drive, and then clean up the hard drive with a reformat, followed by reinstalling the operating system (Win XP) and your own programs.
In your Dell literature (either with the computer documentation or on the computer itself), it should give the procedure to reformat and restore your original operating system. Do NOT just do a restore. You need to reformat your hard drive and then restore your OS and software. (Selections for this will be on the computer screen once you get into the restore program.)
After you do this, Windows will start up like you are a new user. It will then download lots and lots of updates. Let it finish these, and once you are done, you will have a clean install.
At this point, before you put anything else on the computer, you may want to go into the Control Panel, and click on Add or Remove Programs. You can take off a lot of the extra programs that came with the computer that you never use (Trial games and other things you never use). Once you are done with that, any software you want to put on should go on.
Make sure you have an up-to-date anti-virus and anti-spyware set of programs active. These should keep the computer from slowing down due to bad things running on it from undesired sources. (Oh, and don't turn on the anti virus until you are done installing your programs.)
This should make a really huge difference. It will enable you to start with a clean slate, and your speed should improve radically.
Another solution - backing up from an image
by vattan2005 - 8/8/08 7:47 PM In reply to: Three little words.... by jalywol1I install all the apps I want, verify it runs like a top, and then, back up my whole PC using Acronis TrueImage Workstation. Then, if I ever get to the point my PC can't carry on, I just back up to the image. Saves a lot of time having to reinatll all your applications one by one. In fact, with all the apps I have, it still took me less than 1/4 of the time for the image to be restored as it would have merely re-installing the OS. How nice is that?!
answer for gail
by greatone66 - 8/8/08 7:44 PM In reply to: In plain English, how do I speed up a slow computer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
one thing that helps emmensly is bump up the memory. go to the start menu and at the top you will see internet explorer. right click and select inter properties and when it comes up you will see delete files-cookies and history do all three. then go to start my computer right click properties tools and do a defrag. this should help you alot. try doing this once a month for awhile
I got it!
by generalgozz - 8/8/08 7:52 PM In reply to: In plain English, how do I speed up a slow computer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
CCleaner!! This is a free program. You can get it right off Cnet/Download.com. Here is a link http://www.download.com/CCleaner/3000-2144_4-10315544.html?tag=lst-1&cdlPid=10837066
This program has many features. The 2 important ones are Cleaner and Registry. Use the "Cleaner" first, click "Analyze" then "Run Cleaner". Second click on "Registry", then on "Scan for Issues". When that is done click on "Fix selected issues". It will ask you to back up the current registry. I advised doing that.
I use this program all the time, helps speed things back up. I also work for a national ISP that has sell Remote PC services and this is one of the programs that we use.
the silver bullet to speed up any computer
by maifs - 8/8/08 8:25 PM In reply to: In plain English, how do I speed up a slow computer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
buy a new one.
System fixer upper.
by tibor csaky - 8/8/08 8:43 PM In reply to: In plain English, how do I speed up a slow computer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I bought System Mechanic 7 (upgrades to SM 8) and WhOa! I didnt relized how much crap was bogging down my pc. It does everything. It clears all unwanted junk and debriese. Boosted my internet speed. Found more and returned memory in ram (50 to 140 mb average range for me out of 1024 mb)and many, many other important things that it fixes and repairs easily and automatically! Now my pc boots up faster and runs like a hotrod! Alot of these i can do manually but it takes time and i had to buy the best pc magazines out there each year to know the tweeks and secrets. Some things i didnt know how to do. SM 8 is not only money in the bank but the investment returns are huge and satisfactory! I am happy.
Not the answer you're looking for ...
by computermom1 - 8/8/08 9:10 PM In reply to: In plain English, how do I speed up a slow computer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
After umpteen years dealing with PC's, I moved to a MacBookPro last month. IT IS SO FAST. It boots up in under 30 seconds. The apps open in a snap and I can move from app to app with a flick of my finger. I am now a huge fan of Apple.
Enjoy your Apple, but I wonder if ?
by peter marsh - 8/8/08 9:52 PM In reply to: Not the answer you're looking for ... by computermom1Enjoy your new Apple, but I wonder if your opinion will be the same five years from now ?
My recent experience with an iBook G3 that was no longer supported by Apple, couldn't surf the net and couldn't download Safari, has left me with a greater respect for my five year old Del Dimention that still works perfectly and benefits from regular support and updates.
I agree that Apple hardware and software is excellent.... it's Apple's policy towards it's customers that I'm unimpressed with.
BUY A NEW ONE !
by gringojo - 8/8/08 9:15 PM In reply to: In plain English, how do I speed up a slow computer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
SENSE THERE DESIGN ON PURPOSE TO BE A PIECE OF CRAP! AFTER A FEW YEARS SO THE RICH GET RICHER & THE POOR GET POORER! YOU NEED TO BUY A NEW ONE! SAD BUT TRUE
Take it to a Computer Technician
by dvalle5747 - 8/8/08 9:46 PM In reply to: BUY A NEW ONE ! by gringojoBy reading your question, I am ASSUMING that you have not done any maintenance at all. Your computer is now a slug. I have friends who do not do the simplest maintenance on their computers because they are unable to do so, and then run them into the ground and then buy new ones. I have gone over to a few of my friends homes to help out and tell them how to do simple maintenance by going over it with them step-by-step, and unfortunately after I do it, nothing after that and hear a whine as they tell why they haven't done it and why is their computer not running like it should. So, if it is not an option to buy a new one, then bite the bullet and take it to a PROFESSIONAL. Believe me, it will be worth it to you and you will avoid the unecessary headache from doing the wrong thing as you attempt to fix it yourself.
Some additional ideas
by kake26 - 8/8/08 10:22 PM In reply to: In plain English, how do I speed up a slow computer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi all,
I have to chime in here. As someone that has made a living off cleaning and fixing PCs. Please keep in mind that the following is based of years of testing,experimenting and experience with such programs. Also I have put allot of time and effort into researching as well to find out what is in fact best. I am posting this here in hopes it will do someone, some good. First things first. While a antivirus is a required evil it does not need to slow down your computer. This is provided you get the right one. I recommend ESET NOD32 for a anti-virus for two reasons. It is far easier on the system resources, which that alone makes a large difference. Two, its the top rated anti-virus and will pickup far more virii and such than any other anti-virus programs. It also handles anti-spyware scanning, you get a 2 for 1 type thing. Will only set you back about 40 bucks a year and is definitely worth it. My next recommendation is something people have already suggested, to defrag. However, there is a neat program called AshampooŽ Magical Defrag. The nice thing with this cheap and simple app is that runs in the background and defrags automatically. You install it and you never need to worry about fragmentation or manually defragging again. Bottom line its cheap, simple and definitely works. So far both programs recommended are ones you basically set and forget. Lastly, let me dispell a myth, registry cleaners are not a bad thing. However, some are far better than others. Over the years these little apps have enabled me to revive many a nearly dead computer. I recommend one called Max Registry Cleaner. I have it set to scan daily, while at work and when I get home I just hit the delete button and it goes away. The above three programs are very effective and require minimal user intervention.
Keep your computer running Fast!
by mdibblee - 8/8/08 10:26 PM In reply to: In plain English, how do I speed up a slow computer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I have held, since I retired in 1998, the bylaw of our IT master: reformat the hard drive every 6 months at least, & more frequently if possible.
I have continued to do this, about twice a year. I built the c'puter I'm using to write this in 2003. Every 6 mos or so it gets reformatted: i.e. it gets wiped, & then win XP pro gets reinstalled. I bought a full version of XP pro rather than the OEM version to ensure I always will have a valid OS. Whether I decide to swap out my HD for a new one makes no difference, however, my WD 80 GB HD still hums along w/o a hitch. Reformatting is the key. It's really not that difficult; the hard part is doing the updates, but in all it takes only a Saturday afternoon to do everything. This eliminates the registry problems; registries seem to grow exponentially. Reformatting, reinstalling solves all these problems. It's not the drive's fault, it's the user's fault for failing to scrub that HD & get rid of the garbage. And since I've now incorporated a mac power PC I'm even more dilligent about reformatting, it's now about once a month. My mac runs so much better for some things but for general correspondence the PC's King. And oh, if I could find a keyboard for the mac like my International English Keyboard. I write in many languages; the windows international English Keyboard is the best thing anyone could've invented.
Buy a mac
by theanimaster - 8/8/08 10:58 PM In reply to: In plain English, how do I speed up a slow computer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Sorry to be so brutally honest, but if a concept such as "hardware drivers" is too hard for you to Google, I really think you should just buy a mac and ditch your PC when you get the chance.
Macs usually speak better "simple english" than Windoze PCs.
too damn expensive
by psychomichael - 8/9/08 6:40 AM In reply to: Buy a mac by theanimasterI love Mac's as much as the next geek, but to be honest, they're too damn expensive for what they are. The easiest solution is to switch to linux. You don't have to spend ANY money to do that.
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