HTC
Community Newsletter: Q&A: In plain English, how do I speed up a slow computer?
- 8/15/08 9:58 AM
Need easy instructions of speed up my computer
by MrsSharon - 8/1/08 11:55 PM In reply to: In plain English, how do I speed up a slow computer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
DSL is the only way I have found to out do everything else and I know from years of self experience as well as having it and not having it that I gurantee that once you use DSL you won't be satisified at all with just the phone line. I have de-bugged restructured programs and even dumped a lot of unused programs without any more speed so once I did start using DSL instead of just phone line then I got spoiled as heck and love it. I hope you do also, that is of course if you try it.
Answer for Gail
by Ray Vernon Jackson - 8/2/08 12:02 AM In reply to: In plain English, how do I speed up a slow computer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Usually, the cause of slow operation, particular internet,is caused by having more than one antyvet program operating. Remove all but the one that you trust the most. Click start and select Control Panel, Double click Instal or Remove programs and remnove the unwanted programs
Help w/ slow computer
by sisyphus65 - 8/2/08 12:28 AM In reply to: In plain English, how do I speed up a slow computer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
...Can anyone please explain, in plain English and step-by-step instructions, how to speed up a slow computer? In previous newsletters answers that cover this topic are very confusing. ...
Really, the problem is your sloppy Internet habits and minimal technical knowledge. First off; DITCH WINDOZE! Da... durnitttt!!! Listen, very single germ, virus, trojan, amoeba or otherwise noxious cyber program is written SPECIFICALLY FOR WINDOZE. So use something else. It's really that simple. Don't use a program that gets sick so easily. Opt out, and stay in touch. Personally, I use Linux. It's free, it's easy to get and install, and it don't get sick.
In the meantime, and if you're fainthearted, go buy a copy of Norton Utilities, and BEFORE YOU INSTALL that, re-install Windoze. (No don't. just get Linux.)
If you start the Windoze re-installation process (put the CD in the drive, etc...) you'll get two or three chances to back out. Now, it sounds like you're infected with every sort of spyware, malware and any number of noxious cookies and dragabouts (miniprograms that only keep track of [and remember] all your keystrokes) and I seriously recommend sanitizing your disk. Completely. Tear it down and start from scratch. You'd have to do that if you went with Linux anyway. So go through the process. You already know you like computers and you like what they get you. Fine. So learn a bit about the machine so you can "drive" it properly. So get a couple books, a copy of Norton Utilities and your Windoze installation disks, (and maybe a bottle of wine) and settle in for a weekend of tailoring your computer to your own tastes. It might even take a 3-day weekend. But if you can change a tire on your car, you can do this.
Oh, a final tip - and a Warning! When you get everything completely installed go ONLY to Mozilla.com and download Firefox. Install Firefox immediately. DISABLE INTERNET EXPLORER! Seriously. This ts the source of your slowdown. It will only happen again. Don't use that road. Go to Mozilla and get Firefox. It doesn't catch fleas.
It ain't easy, but if you take care of your computer, it'll take care of you.
Very Bad Advice
by Fredrick Bun - 8/9/08 2:16 AM In reply to: Help w/ slow computer by sisyphus65Sorry to tell you but this lady is not a techie, not bieng a techie windows is hard enough to use let alone linux, I know techies that have a hard time running linux cause its not an easy OS, sure it has its advantages but in no way should a newbie even try and touch linux.
Linux
by AnnaSummers - 8/14/08 3:19 PM In reply to: Very Bad Advice by Fredrick BunAs I understand it, some of the newest distributions (distros) of Linux, such as Ubuntu, are WAY more user friendly and come with just about everything a casual user would need, application-wise (for free). They have some great forums where support is plentiful. MS "support" is either non-existent or very expensive. The one thing LInux is missing is financial software like Quicken. If Quicken is smart, they will get on the stick. Plenty of people with Linux don't mind paying for GOOD software, they just don't like Microsoft or paying for a crappy OS. I will keep an XP dual-boot for Quicken until there is something similar for Linux.
Linux is definitely one good way to avoid a slow computer - it's just a well-designed OS, unlike Windows and it's abominable "registry". Windows is sort of designed to fall apart in a year or so - it's a truly crappy OS and VISTA is Microsoft spyware and controlware - users of MS in the future (from Vista on) will no longer have control over their own computers. Windows LIVE anything is just as dangerous.
Some truly scary spyware/controlware is already built into Vista, just lurking until Ballmer to believe enough suckers have bought it that's it's too late for most people to turn back - then he will drop the other shoe and activate the technology MS has already built-in to Vista to spy on you and control your PC. People have their heads in the sand now - a year from now they will be TRAPPED and screaming bloody murder!
I bought a retail copy of XP Home SP2 (SP3 is MS's attempt to shovel some of Vista's spyware into XP, when they saw Vista wasn't luring people away from XP). I built my own PC (without a fritz-chip) and intend to use XP SP2 with help from Acronis True Image, SecondCopy, and ExpressAssist until it doesn't function for me then it's Linux all the way. I will NEVER buy another MS product. MS CEO's are devious thugs and they are moving into the "protection" racket where they get a cut off the top of every application (bye bye freeware) and webpage (bye bye free internet) - just wait and see what they have in the works.
Did you THINK?
by MikeHolli - 8/9/08 2:18 AM In reply to: Help w/ slow computer by sisyphus65sisyphus65 did you think that Gail would want a grown up operating system, if she didn't want to stay with Windows? (Gail, stay with Windows, or if you want to jump around go with a Mac) sisyphus65 go right now, get Open Solaris from Sun's website, it will delete off that Ubuntu, kubuntu, or xubuntu and put UNIX yes UNIX, NOT Linux onto your PC. Try the REAL deal, you'll never go back to that mamby pamby 6 year old lotter operating system.
Computer like new in one step
by Christine58 - 8/9/08 11:27 AM In reply to: Help w/ slow computer by sisyphus65Keeping a computer running efficiently starts when it first comes home. A salesmen sells the idea that it runs itself. It's easy.
If you don't know anything about the computer but liked it when it was new, save your important files and run the recovery disks that came with it (hopefully you didn't have to make your own) and that will return the computer to it's pristine state.
You can start all over again. A drastic step. Only you know how big a problem you're having.
Good luck
Speeding up a computer?
by Doh_1 - 8/2/08 12:46 AM In reply to: In plain English, how do I speed up a slow computer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
1. Add memory if possible. Add as much memory as you can afford, of course up to the maximum memory configurable for your system. This is one of the best things that you can do.
2. Drivers - if you have a Dell or HP or some OEM computer, go to your OEM's website and look for the latest drivers for the model of computer that you have. However, replacing drivers is always risky if you're not having a problem. This would be one of the last things that I did if I didn't have a driver problem; i.e. all my devices (disk, network, printer, etc.) are working okay. New drivers should come with installation instructions, read and follow them if you do this.
3. Defrag your disk, especially if it is almost full. This will help, but is only a piece of the picture. If your disk is almost full, either get rid of stuff you're not using after backing it up or move stuff to an external USB disk, or do something to clear some space on your C: drive. Your system is always using space on the C: drive, and if you don't have enough and/or it is too fragmented this will really slow things down.
4. Go and look at the programs that are started up when you boot your computer. Use msconfig, and look up the program names on the internet that are started when you boot your computer. Remove as many as you can that make sense. A lot of software that you install that you don't use all the time will install a piece that gets started at boot time and runs all the time, or software that runs all the time that's looking for updates...you can look for updates when you need them, you don't need software that's running all the time that's just checking for updates.
5. Make sure you have updated virus and spyware detection and removal software. Do full scans periodically, like at least once a week, and use their runtime components in between full scans. Scans can usually be run on a schedule, or you can just pick a good time and do them.
6. There's lots more that you can do, removing programs that you don't use, and so on that will incrementally lighten the load on your system, but the above are the biggies that I can think of at the moment.
-Roger
Some Tips
by alan.idea - 8/2/08 1:10 AM In reply to: In plain English, how do I speed up a slow computer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
All these can increase your system performance.A single one cannot work magic.Please mail with your systeminfo and installed program list for more info at alan.idea@gmail.com . Iam happy to help you.
1.
Registry tools , history cleaning softwares are good only if you can use multiple tools. Single one can't help you if you have a pc loaded with other softwares.Make it at least two different softwares. Let me suggest some
advanced Windows Care Personal (I think the new beta you get at iobit.com) is very good
ccleaner is also good with history erasing
You can choose any other pc boosters as per reviews of download.com
2.
Make your drive in which you install windows to be having a lot of free space(at least 1/5th of drives size). This means install most softwares (other than those motherboards n other critical stuff) in a different drive other than that in which windows working.
If you ask me personally it will be more useful later you once format
root drive only. Old program executing exe files can work (like media players, jukeboxes)without slowing your system as they are not installed in windows. For eg. PowerDVD
3.Now , what is the most slowing factor???
Anti-virus or Anti-spyware?
If you manage rightly n choose them wisely they wont slow system
Im not saying to compromise security
Use NORTON 360 - the best .No slowing. Try and experience
If you dont want any such , just use zone alarm firewall to protect in internet.
*******************************************************************
4.Clear <root drive :\windows\prefetch > occasionally
5.clear temporary files (u can use history cleaners or reg tools)
6.Enable hibernation if you have enough disk space ... to boot faster
7.Remove unnecessary programs or softwares installed.
8.Dont install java or .net if not necessary
9.USE ALTERNATIVES
instead of nero 8 (components for writing), use ashampoo free for writing ....Nero tries for real time monitor drives.
10. In packages, like , Adobe CS3 ,Nero 8,dont install you dont want .
Means if you want photoshop only and not dreamweaver just dont
put it .
11. If u want mp3 editor and dvd software . If its in a single package use it . Like Nero showtime and wave editor in Nero 8 than two different softwares.
12.Install K-LITE codec pack to avoid multiple media players .. your windows media player become all in one.
13.Some windows updates can slow down system. Please make it "notify to download". Avoid most except critical.
14.Dont make your sp2 to sp3 . it can slow down.
15.Avoid themes, visual effects or high sized wallpapers on desktop.
Just make it a professional look in ur XP. Just a single small but elegant theme....vista transformations not recommended.
16.Select media players wisely .....
best music clarity for musicmatch jukebox but crashes and slows system.
iTunes , media monkey , songbird .....good ,with web support but slows system
Use winamp if u focus on English songs which emphasize on instrumental clarity and bass than voice clarity.No slowing for it
17.
Certain combination of software crashes and hangs system
like jetaudio and 3gp player , jukebox and internet explorer 7
This can cause slowing to great extend and u wont get its reason unless u knew before.
18.Disable autorun of cd's and removable devices if u like
19.There is a great factor in hardwares , like microprocessor and motherboard which you choose and the softwares you choose.
Like each individuals respond differently , each configuration and each software works different in different pc .Even similar pc(same in all respects) work differently in same task.
Total understanding is possible only if u know each pc personally and experiment all combinations in it. But basic understanding is all that i expressed.
****************************************************************
Many other issues requires your system information
<I NEED YOUR SYSTEM INFO AND CONFIGURATION FULLY>
Best info you can provide if you type cmd in run.In dos type systeminfo and send me those details.
At least get me your processor model, mother board model , DVD or CD drive , Hard disk size.
Always mail me at alan.idea@gmail.com
or contact at
Alan Abraham
Kilichumalayil (H)
Manakkad PO
Thodupuzha
Kerala
India
PIN - 685584
***********************************************************
Note:
-----
For doubts and suggestions , highly talented programmers and technicians can help you. Contact me in the above address.
Alan Abraham
LeoniX Solutions
India
windows/prefetch
by barcillo - 8/9/08 1:34 PM In reply to: Some Tips by alan.ideaNOOOOOO....
don't delete contents of this folder.
It'll slow down your computer, trust me
For anyone who wants more info why read this
http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000024.html
Apart from upgrading your computer/ram/etc, there is only one sure way to speed up your computer:
Keep it to it's bare essential.
In other words, don't run/load/install stuff you don't need
As you are already having problems, the only way to fix things is to backup your data, format your C:\ drive and to install everything from zero.... Well, NOT everything! just what you really need. And make sure you load at startup only what you need to be running (Leave on only your antivirus, necessary windows components and drivers)
You have a lot of useful replies.
Use them to do what I told you and you'll see a great improvement.
Speed
by keonie - 8/2/08 1:25 AM In reply to: In plain English, how do I speed up a slow computer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hello Gail my name is John your problem is very simple. first of all you have a Dell the best thing you ever did. if you like to e-mail me at ( keonie@toke.com ) I will give you my number so that you can call me, I do not know how many people well see this. You call me and I will go step by step with you to fix that proplem that you have and then from that point on you well know. and do your self a faver and do not use the REG CLEANERS you do not need to RE-CONFIG your computer. Just e-mail me and we fix it once and for all I will explane steo by step. It will not take must time.
THANKS JOHN
Here is as easy as it gets.
by dukethepcdr - 8/2/08 1:29 AM In reply to: In plain English, how do I speed up a slow computer? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Unfortunately, there is no super simple, step by step instruction list for speeding up every computer. Computers are not simple machines. They are even more complex than cars. They have thousands of parts, most of them made by different manufacturers regardless of what brand is on the computer case. A typical PC or Mac has dozens of software programs running at any given time, most of them in the background and most of those are ones novice users don't even know are there. All of this hardware and software has to be made to work together for a fast, smoothly running computer. On top of that, we plug all kinds of periphrials into the computer: printers, scanners, internet modems, keyboards, mice, game controllers, USB flash drives, cameras etc. and expect it all to work right and fast every time. When you really think about it, it's a wonder that computers work at all, especially after a user has had one for a while and has made all kinds of changes to the settings and added all kinds of extra software and plugged in all kinds of devices into them.
Here is the easiest and simplest way to speed up a computer:
It comes in two options:
Option 1. Do it yourself.
1. Save all of your photos, music, documents you've typed etc. on CDs, DVDs, portable hard drives etc. I'm partial to external hard drives and USB flash drives myself as I have found CDs and DVDs to be rather fragile and unreliable ways to back stuff up. The steps to do this are different depending on which option you choose, the software you choose to use to do that option etc. Each software program has wizards and/or owners manuals to walk you through using it.
2. Insert the operating system disk or recovery disk for your computer into the main CD or DVD drive. This disk will have the name of the operating system on it and will say "system disk" too or it will have the computer maker's name on it and say "recovery disk". If you don't have a recovery disk, you can get one by calling or emailing the computer manufacturer. The main drive is the one you stick game, music or program discs into to use them on a normal basis. Follow the on screen instructions. Usually, this involves shutting the computer down and starting it back up again.
3. If you have the operating system disk, it will ask you what you want to do. Choose the option to do a clean install of the operating system. Exactly what the screens say will depend on what operating system you are using. This might sound drastic, but if the problem is being caused by viruses that your antivirus program isn't detecting or is detecting but can't delete, its the only solution left. New viruses come along every day and even the best antivirus programs cant catch them all even with frequent virus definition updates. Each virus also does something different than others that are out there, so there are no set in stone symptoms of a virus attack to look for.
4. Once the operating system or the recovery disk is done, install the drivers for the devices you plug into the computer. The drivers are just software programs that tell the computer how to use the devices you plug into it. They also often give you interfaces for controlling the devices (like the box that pops up when you click on the properties link for your printer to change the color settings). The procedure for doing this is the same as it was when you first got the devices. Usually, you insert the disk that came with the device then plug in the device when the prompts on the screen tell you to. If it didn't come with a disk, your operating system already has the drivers to run the device (assuming the device was compatible with your operating system to start with). If that doesn't work, you need to go to the manufacturer's web site (usually all you have to do is put the makers name in a search engine like Google and the page will come up. Then click on the downloads or customer care link on the site and follow the steps to get the right drivers. Every site is different, so I can't say exactly how to get each driver from the sites. The key thing to remember in installing drivers is this: start from the most essential and basic and go from there. I start with the drivers for my motherboard (since I built my own PC and don't have a recovery disk that includes those drivers.), then I install the drivers for the sound card, video card, printer blue tooth adapter and camera in that order.
5. Reinstall any essential programs that you had previously installed on the computer. These include office suites, antivirus programs, multimedia editing programs (if one of your main uses of your computer is making home movies or stuff like that). Then lastly, any games or other entertainment software you use. Inbetween each software install, run a few programs that are already on there and surf the net a bit to make sure that the program you just installed last isn't what was causing the slowness in the first place. If you install anything and the performance drops noticably, that's your culprit.
6. If you weren't doing it already, start doing regular maintenance of your computer. Do you just run your car without ever changing the oil or filters or tires until it falls apart? No. Neither should you with your computer. Run defrag, checkdisk, registry cleaners, antivirus programs etc. Also do a better job of organizing your data. Most people's computers I work on are a total mess when it comes to where things are saved. Save all photos in the photos folder, documents in the documents folder, songs in one main folder etc. If the software you have has options to automate any maintenance, set it to do so. Let your operating system install updates when it tells you it needs them. Don't install anything new unless you are sure you need it, will use it regularly and that you know for sure that the place you got it from is legit (especially if you download it from the net). Every new program you install or new device you plug in increases the instability of your computer. Before you buy anything for your computer, make sure it is compatible with the operating system you have and that your hardware can run it. Do you have a fast enough processor, enough RAM, enough free hard drive space etc? The system requirements for software and hardware on on the package or in the manual. If your computer doesn't meet any of the requirements, the program or hardware won't work the way it was intended to.
Doing these steps isn't as easy as falling off a log but it's a whole lot easier than trying to diagnose problems with a "slow" computer without doing these steps first. If you just start tinkering with this and that without having a good benchmark to work with, it's almost impossible to tell if it's really a hardware problem. A lot of people upgrade hardware thinking they will fix a slowness problem only to find that the computer is still slow. Upgrading your RAM to the maximum your motherboard can support might help speed up your computer, but only if there aren't software issues too.
Option 2: Do the exact same steps as above only pay someone else to do it for you.
That's about it. It may not be what you were wanting to hear, but it's true. Anyone who tells you different either hasn't worked on computers long enough to know better or is selling you a bill of goods in order to make more money off of you. A lot of the the programs that claim to totally fix computers without having to reinstall the operating system are scams.
A few words of caution
by ecobiotics - 8/8/08 7:55 PM In reply to: Here is as easy as it gets. by dukethepcdrThe simple recovery procedure you explain has a few pitfalls that could be really important for some folks. Many programs, such as Microsoft Outlook, save all your mail, calendar and contact information in a database that you wouldn't necessary think to track down and save before doing the OS re-install. The same is true for lots and lots of programs that store valuable information in less than obvious places. Without a great deal of diligence, these would be lost with a simple OS "clean install."
It would be a shame to think that backing up your major document and picture and music folders will get you back where you started if you stand to lose all that other, somewhat hidden and often critical data...
As Easy As Iy Gets
by beacher126 - 8/9/08 4:01 AM In reply to: Here is as easy as it gets. by dukethepcdrJohn your are the man. it's about time i found someone out there who agrees with me. i just had a friend ask me the same question and i gave them the same answer. i did exactaly the same thing you suggested and now that person is as happy as can be. to find that there is an easy fix is good to know. those of you out there who are having the same problem should try ths fix and you'll find that it works and work very well!
Speeding up a computer
by cbglover - 8/9/08 6:14 AM In reply to: Here is as easy as it gets. by dukethepcdrThis advice is right on, except, dont let the automatic downloads/updates ruin on its own. Set the setting that lets you
know updates are available and give you the choice to update or
not. Ive lost count how many times auto updates have fouled mine
or friends systems and i had to do a system restore to get rid of the update.
You cant simply uninstalll or delete an update....
The more your online, the more crap builds up in your system.
I rec. doing scandisc, defrag, spyware cleaning at least once a week.
Adding ram is the simplist, cheapest way to speed a computer.
Rule #1 "you cant have to much Ram"....CB
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