Computer help forum: Resizing partition

Today's models are much better. Why no clone the drive to something faster?
And get more RAM.

I said I was no computer 'guru' and I seriously meant it. What do you mean by clone the drive to something faster?

Even with what little I use this computer for, 66GB is going to be slow? Like as, go to the mailbox while you are 'waiting for internet to load' slow, or getting another glass of water while you 'wait for a MS Word file on the D drive to open' slow?

What Bob means: buy a faster hard drive and copy ('clone') the contents of your old one to it. Then replace the old drive by the new one. My guess: it will only help a little bit if you don't add RAM.

The amount of free space on the c:-drive (be it 4 GB or 36 GB) won't make any difference for the speed. In fact, it can be argued that it will become a little bit slower because the data that's now on the c:-drive eventually (when updating programs) will be spread around the whole disk, making access slower. That will be especially the case if the swap-file happens to be made on the space that's now reserved for the d-drive.

Kees

Kees

My Levono ThinkPad (older model with XP Pro) came with a 60 Gig HD. It's the standard 5,400 RPM factory OEM drive. I found a 160 Gig Seagate 7,200 RPM drive. Using an external USB case for the drive (about 20 bucks) I cloned (using the free Seagate software) the 60 to the 160. Swapped the drive and honest to God it boots at least twice as fast.

Since all Levono/IBM drives come with a hidden restoral partition, the Seagate software copied it also. I'm completely satisfied with the results. I spent less than a hundred bucks total.

Then I got industrious. I put the original drive back in the laptop and ran the restoral partition. I now have a working original drive just like it came from the factory. Just in case. And like you I keep my "other stuff" backed up on another external drive.

Will 'process' everything you all told me and then get back to you if/with any new questions.

Got to do some more research...looks like I have to figure out what to buy to upgrade my PC and whether it is worth it in lieu of getting a newer PC.

Maybe I have a little better understanding of my options, but I think I am in 'the same boat' as I was when I started this query.

is getting inside the PC. After that everything is plug-n-play.

Are you kidding? I have previously been advised that such a small amount of space left on my C drive is probably what is leading to my slow performance issues - didn't make sense to me... But, you know what, I am willing to try your suggestion - where do I find it? And, is it a replacement to any of the other software I am currently using, as noted in my original message? No need for unnecessary software.

Also, I am willing to add RAM, but have been told in the past that it might not be worth it on a PC as old as mine - any comments?

As far as what R.Proffitt advised, I am keeping that in my 'back pocket' - just another option to try...

Years ago my first laptop would never boot in less than 4 minutes. I tried it all. Finally, just my luck I was running a scandisk on my laptop and another laptop and spotted the issue. My 4 minute laptop disk transfer speed was half of what the other machine was.

Hours later the HDD passed all tests but still slow. I ordered up a new drive, cloned it and it booted up in less than 2 minutes.

You may be battling a similar issue.
Bob

Booting up in less than 2 minutes is a good thing? I remember when this thing booted up almost immediately. OK - maybe 'immediately' is only relevant to one's current environment, but at one point I do recall that I didn't have to leave the computer to avoid wanting to throw it out the window while I waited for results.

Anyway - OK; still absorbing... So, on the risk of exposing my computer ignorance, a new drive...what would I have to do to prepare/arrange for, and buy that? And, with this computer, is it worth it? Along with more RAM, I am guessing?

So, between the two of you, a new drive and added RAM is the way to go - and would be beneficial, even with the age of my computer?

Are you guys screwing with me because you know I am PC illiterate???? No offense, but I am beginnimg to get overwhelmed. Not that I didn't ask for it, by posting my original question...

Today my machine boots in seconds. I shared my story because the 66GB drive may be dogging your machine.

As to RAM, I suggest crucial.com
Bob

Ccleaner is a program to clean temp files off your hard disk. Quite useful in your situation to run it once a week or once a month. It won't add anything to the normal workload, because it doesn't run in the background.

I wasn't kidding about the RAM. If you run AVG 1 GB would be nice, irrespective of the age of the machine. Or maybe I should say: especially on an old machine because there's a slow CPU already and a slow hard disk.

And I'm not kidding about the effect of repartitioning either. It doesn't make any sense to me.

Kees