My computer is about 7 years old. Running windows xp home. Service pack 3.
It is a pentium 4 cpu 1.80 GHz and 256 MB of ram.
It has gotten so slow that I wait for it to print or wonder if I really
clicked a button at times. I also get a lot of virtual memory messages. It
has a 40 gig hard drive with 16 gig of free space. My cable internet
connection is like a dial up these days.
I have thought about cleaning the hard drive as in formatting and
reinstalling windows and programs I need, but then all those updates need to
be redone. Is there an easy way to clean up the hard drive so i can remove
all those little unknown things that mysteriously get there?
Not ready to buy a new computer as I don't want Vista and also don't want to
spend the money as this computer is more than adequate for what I need.
Thanks.
Page 1 of 1
very slow computer
MultiQuote
#2
BeeCeeBee 
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Posted 30 May 2009 - 07:50 AM
Linda in Iowa said:
My computer is about 7 years old. Running windows xp home. Service pack 3.
It is a pentium 4 cpu 1.80 GHz and 256 MB of ram.
It has gotten so slow that I wait for it to print or wonder if I really
clicked a button at times. I also get a lot of virtual memory messages. It
has a 40 gig hard drive with 16 gig of free space. My cable internet
connection is like a dial up these days.
I have thought about cleaning the hard drive as in formatting and
reinstalling windows and programs I need, but then all those updates need to
be redone. Is there an easy way to clean up the hard drive so i can remove
all those little unknown things that mysteriously get there?
Not ready to buy a new computer as I don't want Vista and also don't want to
spend the money as this computer is more than adequate for what I need.
Thanks.
It is a pentium 4 cpu 1.80 GHz and 256 MB of ram.
It has gotten so slow that I wait for it to print or wonder if I really
clicked a button at times. I also get a lot of virtual memory messages. It
has a 40 gig hard drive with 16 gig of free space. My cable internet
connection is like a dial up these days.
I have thought about cleaning the hard drive as in formatting and
reinstalling windows and programs I need, but then all those updates need to
be redone. Is there an easy way to clean up the hard drive so i can remove
all those little unknown things that mysteriously get there?
Not ready to buy a new computer as I don't want Vista and also don't want to
spend the money as this computer is more than adequate for what I need.
Thanks.
256 Mb of Ram is really the bare minimum for running XP and the more you add and the more you have running the worse it gets.
Virtual memory messages relate directly to RAM. I would strongly urge you to upgrade your RAM to 1GB and go into mscinfig and take a look at what is included in the startup window. Disable any programs that you really do not need to have running all the time.
Once you have done those two things, and if things have not changed, only then consider a hard drive format. It does not seem to me that it will solve the problem. It is not a question of having to many programs but it may relate to having to many programs running.
#3 JS
Posted 30 May 2009 - 08:00 AM
You have more than enough free space on the
hard drive. That said you can run 'Disk Cleanup'
to remove any unnecessary junk.
The run 'Disk Defragmenter'.
Add another 256MB of memory.
What is the make and model of your PC?
What AV software do you use?
--
JS
http://www.pagestart.com
"Linda in Iowa" wrote in message
news:eW7nsWS4JHA.1092@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> My computer is about 7 years old. Running windows xp home. Service pack
> 3. It is a pentium 4 cpu 1.80 GHz and 256 MB of ram.
>
> It has gotten so slow that I wait for it to print or wonder if I really
> clicked a button at times. I also get a lot of virtual memory messages.
> It has a 40 gig hard drive with 16 gig of free space. My cable internet
> connection is like a dial up these days.
>
> I have thought about cleaning the hard drive as in formatting and
> reinstalling windows and programs I need, but then all those updates need
> to be redone. Is there an easy way to clean up the hard drive so i can
> remove all those little unknown things that mysteriously get there?
>
> Not ready to buy a new computer as I don't want Vista and also don't want
> to spend the money as this computer is more than adequate for what I need.
>
> Thanks.
>
>
hard drive. That said you can run 'Disk Cleanup'
to remove any unnecessary junk.
The run 'Disk Defragmenter'.
Add another 256MB of memory.
What is the make and model of your PC?
What AV software do you use?
--
JS
http://www.pagestart.com
"Linda in Iowa"
news:eW7nsWS4JHA.1092@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> My computer is about 7 years old. Running windows xp home. Service pack
> 3. It is a pentium 4 cpu 1.80 GHz and 256 MB of ram.
>
> It has gotten so slow that I wait for it to print or wonder if I really
> clicked a button at times. I also get a lot of virtual memory messages.
> It has a 40 gig hard drive with 16 gig of free space. My cable internet
> connection is like a dial up these days.
>
> I have thought about cleaning the hard drive as in formatting and
> reinstalling windows and programs I need, but then all those updates need
> to be redone. Is there an easy way to clean up the hard drive so i can
> remove all those little unknown things that mysteriously get there?
>
> Not ready to buy a new computer as I don't want Vista and also don't want
> to spend the money as this computer is more than adequate for what I need.
>
> Thanks.
>
>
#4 Unknown
Posted 30 May 2009 - 08:57 AM
250 MB of ram is a little low these days.
"Linda in Iowa" wrote in message
news:eW7nsWS4JHA.1092@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> My computer is about 7 years old. Running windows xp home. Service pack
> 3. It is a pentium 4 cpu 1.80 GHz and 256 MB of ram.
>
> It has gotten so slow that I wait for it to print or wonder if I really
> clicked a button at times. I also get a lot of virtual memory messages.
> It has a 40 gig hard drive with 16 gig of free space. My cable internet
> connection is like a dial up these days.
>
> I have thought about cleaning the hard drive as in formatting and
> reinstalling windows and programs I need, but then all those updates need
> to be redone. Is there an easy way to clean up the hard drive so i can
> remove all those little unknown things that mysteriously get there?
>
> Not ready to buy a new computer as I don't want Vista and also don't want
> to spend the money as this computer is more than adequate for what I need.
>
> Thanks.
>
>
"Linda in Iowa"
news:eW7nsWS4JHA.1092@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> My computer is about 7 years old. Running windows xp home. Service pack
> 3. It is a pentium 4 cpu 1.80 GHz and 256 MB of ram.
>
> It has gotten so slow that I wait for it to print or wonder if I really
> clicked a button at times. I also get a lot of virtual memory messages.
> It has a 40 gig hard drive with 16 gig of free space. My cable internet
> connection is like a dial up these days.
>
> I have thought about cleaning the hard drive as in formatting and
> reinstalling windows and programs I need, but then all those updates need
> to be redone. Is there an easy way to clean up the hard drive so i can
> remove all those little unknown things that mysteriously get there?
>
> Not ready to buy a new computer as I don't want Vista and also don't want
> to spend the money as this computer is more than adequate for what I need.
>
> Thanks.
>
>
#5 Unknown
Posted 30 May 2009 - 08:58 AM
Also, when did you last run disk cleanup and defrag?
"Linda in Iowa" wrote in message
news:eW7nsWS4JHA.1092@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> My computer is about 7 years old. Running windows xp home. Service pack
> 3. It is a pentium 4 cpu 1.80 GHz and 256 MB of ram.
>
> It has gotten so slow that I wait for it to print or wonder if I really
> clicked a button at times. I also get a lot of virtual memory messages.
> It has a 40 gig hard drive with 16 gig of free space. My cable internet
> connection is like a dial up these days.
>
> I have thought about cleaning the hard drive as in formatting and
> reinstalling windows and programs I need, but then all those updates need
> to be redone. Is there an easy way to clean up the hard drive so i can
> remove all those little unknown things that mysteriously get there?
>
> Not ready to buy a new computer as I don't want Vista and also don't want
> to spend the money as this computer is more than adequate for what I need.
>
> Thanks.
>
>
"Linda in Iowa"
news:eW7nsWS4JHA.1092@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> My computer is about 7 years old. Running windows xp home. Service pack
> 3. It is a pentium 4 cpu 1.80 GHz and 256 MB of ram.
>
> It has gotten so slow that I wait for it to print or wonder if I really
> clicked a button at times. I also get a lot of virtual memory messages.
> It has a 40 gig hard drive with 16 gig of free space. My cable internet
> connection is like a dial up these days.
>
> I have thought about cleaning the hard drive as in formatting and
> reinstalling windows and programs I need, but then all those updates need
> to be redone. Is there an easy way to clean up the hard drive so i can
> remove all those little unknown things that mysteriously get there?
>
> Not ready to buy a new computer as I don't want Vista and also don't want
> to spend the money as this computer is more than adequate for what I need.
>
> Thanks.
>
>
#6 Jim
Posted 30 May 2009 - 09:25 AM
"Linda in Iowa"
news:eW7nsWS4JHA.1092@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> My computer is about 7 years old. Running windows xp home. Service pack
> 3. It is a pentium 4 cpu 1.80 GHz and 256 MB of ram.
>
> It has gotten so slow that I wait for it to print or wonder if I really
> clicked a button at times. I also get a lot of virtual memory messages.
> It has a 40 gig hard drive with 16 gig of free space. My cable internet
> connection is like a dial up these days.
>
> I have thought about cleaning the hard drive as in formatting and
> reinstalling windows and programs I need, but then all those updates need
> to be redone. Is there an easy way to clean up the hard drive so i can
> remove all those little unknown things that mysteriously get there?
>
> Not ready to buy a new computer as I don't want Vista and also don't want
> to spend the money as this computer is more than adequate for what I need.
>
> Thanks.
>
>
Your computer will never be a speed demon. However, installing more RAM and
letting the system manage the size of the pagefile would help.
Jim
#7 Ron Badour
Posted 30 May 2009 - 10:53 AM
512 mb is the bare minimum I recommend for XP--if you are using any memory
hungry programs you might need to go up even more. However, since you don't
want to invest any money, I suggest that you run Msconfig.exe and look at
what is on the startup tab. I'll bet you have a ton of stuff starting at
boot and running in the background. Google each entry and see if you can
determine if the file actually needs to be running. If it doesn't, shut it
off. You also might want to get rid of needless toolbars and other add ons
that aren't really needed. If you haven't defragged recently, do that also.
--
Regards
Ron Badour
MS MVP
Windows Desktop Experience
"Linda in Iowa" wrote in message
news:eW7nsWS4JHA.1092@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> My computer is about 7 years old. Running windows xp home. Service pack
> 3. It is a pentium 4 cpu 1.80 GHz and 256 MB of ram.
>
> It has gotten so slow that I wait for it to print or wonder if I really
> clicked a button at times. I also get a lot of virtual memory messages.
> It has a 40 gig hard drive with 16 gig of free space. My cable internet
> connection is like a dial up these days.
>
> I have thought about cleaning the hard drive as in formatting and
> reinstalling windows and programs I need, but then all those updates need
> to be redone. Is there an easy way to clean up the hard drive so i can
> remove all those little unknown things that mysteriously get there?
>
> Not ready to buy a new computer as I don't want Vista and also don't want
> to spend the money as this computer is more than adequate for what I need.
>
> Thanks.
>
>
hungry programs you might need to go up even more. However, since you don't
want to invest any money, I suggest that you run Msconfig.exe and look at
what is on the startup tab. I'll bet you have a ton of stuff starting at
boot and running in the background. Google each entry and see if you can
determine if the file actually needs to be running. If it doesn't, shut it
off. You also might want to get rid of needless toolbars and other add ons
that aren't really needed. If you haven't defragged recently, do that also.
--
Regards
Ron Badour
MS MVP
Windows Desktop Experience
"Linda in Iowa"
news:eW7nsWS4JHA.1092@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> My computer is about 7 years old. Running windows xp home. Service pack
> 3. It is a pentium 4 cpu 1.80 GHz and 256 MB of ram.
>
> It has gotten so slow that I wait for it to print or wonder if I really
> clicked a button at times. I also get a lot of virtual memory messages.
> It has a 40 gig hard drive with 16 gig of free space. My cable internet
> connection is like a dial up these days.
>
> I have thought about cleaning the hard drive as in formatting and
> reinstalling windows and programs I need, but then all those updates need
> to be redone. Is there an easy way to clean up the hard drive so i can
> remove all those little unknown things that mysteriously get there?
>
> Not ready to buy a new computer as I don't want Vista and also don't want
> to spend the money as this computer is more than adequate for what I need.
>
> Thanks.
>
>
#8 db
Posted 30 May 2009 - 11:23 AM
a pentium 4 is pretty
good.
unfortunately, the powerful
cpu is being hindered by
several bottlenecks.
my suggestion is to
upgrade your system ram
to 1 gigabyte.
upgrade your hard drive
to at least 80 gigs
and add a video board
with at least 256megs of
graphics memory.
the three upgrades above
will turn your turtle into a
jack rabbit.
incidentally, if you get
a larger disk you can
just add it to your system
as a slave/secondary
drive.
windows and your programs
won't have to be reinstalled
and you can simply move the user
data instead;
providing relief to your
over burdened master disk.
--
db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- @hotmail.com
"share the nirvana" - dbZen
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>
"Linda in Iowa" wrote in message
news:eW7nsWS4JHA.1092@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> My computer is about 7 years old. Running windows xp home. Service pack
> 3. It is a pentium 4 cpu 1.80 GHz and 256 MB of ram.
>
> It has gotten so slow that I wait for it to print or wonder if I really
> clicked a button at times. I also get a lot of virtual memory messages.
> It has a 40 gig hard drive with 16 gig of free space. My cable internet
> connection is like a dial up these days.
>
> I have thought about cleaning the hard drive as in formatting and
> reinstalling windows and programs I need, but then all those updates need
> to be redone. Is there an easy way to clean up the hard drive so i can
> remove all those little unknown things that mysteriously get there?
>
> Not ready to buy a new computer as I don't want Vista and also don't want
> to spend the money as this computer is more than adequate for what I need.
>
> Thanks.
>
>
good.
unfortunately, the powerful
cpu is being hindered by
several bottlenecks.
my suggestion is to
upgrade your system ram
to 1 gigabyte.
upgrade your hard drive
to at least 80 gigs
and add a video board
with at least 256megs of
graphics memory.
the three upgrades above
will turn your turtle into a
jack rabbit.
incidentally, if you get
a larger disk you can
just add it to your system
as a slave/secondary
drive.
windows and your programs
won't have to be reinstalled
and you can simply move the user
data instead;
providing relief to your
over burdened master disk.
--
db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces
- @hotmail.com
"share the nirvana" - dbZen
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>
"Linda in Iowa"
news:eW7nsWS4JHA.1092@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> My computer is about 7 years old. Running windows xp home. Service pack
> 3. It is a pentium 4 cpu 1.80 GHz and 256 MB of ram.
>
> It has gotten so slow that I wait for it to print or wonder if I really
> clicked a button at times. I also get a lot of virtual memory messages.
> It has a 40 gig hard drive with 16 gig of free space. My cable internet
> connection is like a dial up these days.
>
> I have thought about cleaning the hard drive as in formatting and
> reinstalling windows and programs I need, but then all those updates need
> to be redone. Is there an easy way to clean up the hard drive so i can
> remove all those little unknown things that mysteriously get there?
>
> Not ready to buy a new computer as I don't want Vista and also don't want
> to spend the money as this computer is more than adequate for what I need.
>
> Thanks.
>
>
#9 Rudy
Posted 30 May 2009 - 11:53 AM
> My computer is about 7 years old. Running windows xp home. Service pack
> 3.
> It is a pentium 4 cpu 1.80 GHz and 256 MB of ram.
Sounds like my 2003 Dell laptop. I had 256 Mb til last Fall and was
experiencing similar SL-O-O-O-W
I went online and found two 512's for under $20 each so U/G my ram to 1 Gig
(max for this machine) ..that made a BIG difference.
Then I checked all the programs that run on their own at startup (icons down
at the lower right side of the screen) and was able to shut down several.
That made a noticeable improvement as well.
As someone else said, you can go to START>RUN> type in MSCONFIG then "OK" ..
Next, 'click' on the STARTUP TAB at the top. That will also show you many
programs that run on startup. Check the names of them individually on
GOOGLE (or on www.answersthatwork.com /Task List) and see what they re
actually doing. My guess is several can be unchecked or shut down.
I too dont want VISTA so I'm trying to make this machine "be the best it can
be" for the immediate future. Good luck with yours
#10 Gerry
Posted 30 May 2009 - 01:31 PM
Linda
What is the CPU and how much RAM does the computer have? Right click on
the My Computer icon on ther Desktop and select Properties to get this
information.
Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to select Task Manager and click the Performance
Tab. Under Commit Charge what is the Total, the Limit and the Peak?
You may help system performance by changing programmes from starting
during the boot process to loading on demand. Minimising multi-tasking
will help. Putting shortcuts like Show Desktop, Internet Explorer,
Outlook Express and Windows Explorer in the Quick Launch Tray may help
to encourage you to close these applications after use as it is easy to
reopen them when required.
Minimising the use of Add-Ons with Internet Explorer will help.
Avoid seciuity software which generates excessive demands for memory.
McAfee and Norton products are notably among those to be avoided.
Avoid using facilities which run in the background when they can be run
when the computer is not being used. An example is Diskeeper which can
continuously defragment when it can be set to run on demand.
--
Hope this helps.
Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Linda in Iowa wrote:
> My computer is about 7 years old. Running windows xp home. Service
> pack 3. It is a pentium 4 cpu 1.80 GHz and 256 MB of ram.
>
> It has gotten so slow that I wait for it to print or wonder if I
> really clicked a button at times. I also get a lot of virtual memory
> messages. It has a 40 gig hard drive with 16 gig of free space. My
> cable internet connection is like a dial up these days.
>
> I have thought about cleaning the hard drive as in formatting and
> reinstalling windows and programs I need, but then all those updates
> need to be redone. Is there an easy way to clean up the hard drive
> so i can remove all those little unknown things that mysteriously get
> there?
>
> Not ready to buy a new computer as I don't want Vista and also don't
> want to spend the money as this computer is more than adequate for
> what I need.
>
> Thanks.
What is the CPU and how much RAM does the computer have? Right click on
the My Computer icon on ther Desktop and select Properties to get this
information.
Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to select Task Manager and click the Performance
Tab. Under Commit Charge what is the Total, the Limit and the Peak?
You may help system performance by changing programmes from starting
during the boot process to loading on demand. Minimising multi-tasking
will help. Putting shortcuts like Show Desktop, Internet Explorer,
Outlook Express and Windows Explorer in the Quick Launch Tray may help
to encourage you to close these applications after use as it is easy to
reopen them when required.
Minimising the use of Add-Ons with Internet Explorer will help.
Avoid seciuity software which generates excessive demands for memory.
McAfee and Norton products are notably among those to be avoided.
Avoid using facilities which run in the background when they can be run
when the computer is not being used. An example is Diskeeper which can
continuously defragment when it can be set to run on demand.
--
Hope this helps.
Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Linda in Iowa wrote:
> My computer is about 7 years old. Running windows xp home. Service
> pack 3. It is a pentium 4 cpu 1.80 GHz and 256 MB of ram.
>
> It has gotten so slow that I wait for it to print or wonder if I
> really clicked a button at times. I also get a lot of virtual memory
> messages. It has a 40 gig hard drive with 16 gig of free space. My
> cable internet connection is like a dial up these days.
>
> I have thought about cleaning the hard drive as in formatting and
> reinstalling windows and programs I need, but then all those updates
> need to be redone. Is there an easy way to clean up the hard drive
> so i can remove all those little unknown things that mysteriously get
> there?
>
> Not ready to buy a new computer as I don't want Vista and also don't
> want to spend the money as this computer is more than adequate for
> what I need.
>
> Thanks.
#11 Unknown
Posted 30 May 2009 - 01:38 PM
Did you read her post??????
"Gerry" wrote in message
news:eL98P1V4JHA.1196@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Linda
>
> What is the CPU and how much RAM does the computer have? Right click on
> the My Computer icon on ther Desktop and select Properties to get this
> information.
>
> Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to select Task Manager and click the Performance
> Tab. Under Commit Charge what is the Total, the Limit and the Peak?
>
> You may help system performance by changing programmes from starting
> during the boot process to loading on demand. Minimising multi-tasking
> will help. Putting shortcuts like Show Desktop, Internet Explorer,
> Outlook Express and Windows Explorer in the Quick Launch Tray may help
> to encourage you to close these applications after use as it is easy to
> reopen them when required.
>
> Minimising the use of Add-Ons with Internet Explorer will help.
>
> Avoid seciuity software which generates excessive demands for memory.
> McAfee and Norton products are notably among those to be avoided.
>
> Avoid using facilities which run in the background when they can be run
> when the computer is not being used. An example is Diskeeper which can
> continuously defragment when it can be set to run on demand.
>
> --
>
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Gerry
> ~~~~
> FCA
> Stourport, England
> Enquire, plan and execute
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>
> Linda in Iowa wrote:
>> My computer is about 7 years old. Running windows xp home. Service
>> pack 3. It is a pentium 4 cpu 1.80 GHz and 256 MB of ram.
>>
>> It has gotten so slow that I wait for it to print or wonder if I
>> really clicked a button at times. I also get a lot of virtual memory
>> messages. It has a 40 gig hard drive with 16 gig of free space. My
>> cable internet connection is like a dial up these days.
>>
>> I have thought about cleaning the hard drive as in formatting and
>> reinstalling windows and programs I need, but then all those updates
>> need to be redone. Is there an easy way to clean up the hard drive
>> so i can remove all those little unknown things that mysteriously get
>> there? Not ready to buy a new computer as I don't want Vista and also
>> don't
>> want to spend the money as this computer is more than adequate for
>> what I need. Thanks.
"Gerry"
news:eL98P1V4JHA.1196@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Linda
>
> What is the CPU and how much RAM does the computer have? Right click on
> the My Computer icon on ther Desktop and select Properties to get this
> information.
>
> Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to select Task Manager and click the Performance
> Tab. Under Commit Charge what is the Total, the Limit and the Peak?
>
> You may help system performance by changing programmes from starting
> during the boot process to loading on demand. Minimising multi-tasking
> will help. Putting shortcuts like Show Desktop, Internet Explorer,
> Outlook Express and Windows Explorer in the Quick Launch Tray may help
> to encourage you to close these applications after use as it is easy to
> reopen them when required.
>
> Minimising the use of Add-Ons with Internet Explorer will help.
>
> Avoid seciuity software which generates excessive demands for memory.
> McAfee and Norton products are notably among those to be avoided.
>
> Avoid using facilities which run in the background when they can be run
> when the computer is not being used. An example is Diskeeper which can
> continuously defragment when it can be set to run on demand.
>
> --
>
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Gerry
> ~~~~
> FCA
> Stourport, England
> Enquire, plan and execute
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>
> Linda in Iowa wrote:
>> My computer is about 7 years old. Running windows xp home. Service
>> pack 3. It is a pentium 4 cpu 1.80 GHz and 256 MB of ram.
>>
>> It has gotten so slow that I wait for it to print or wonder if I
>> really clicked a button at times. I also get a lot of virtual memory
>> messages. It has a 40 gig hard drive with 16 gig of free space. My
>> cable internet connection is like a dial up these days.
>>
>> I have thought about cleaning the hard drive as in formatting and
>> reinstalling windows and programs I need, but then all those updates
>> need to be redone. Is there an easy way to clean up the hard drive
>> so i can remove all those little unknown things that mysteriously get
>> there? Not ready to buy a new computer as I don't want Vista and also
>> don't
>> want to spend the money as this computer is more than adequate for
>> what I need. Thanks.
#12 Gerry
Posted 30 May 2009 - 01:58 PM
It's obvious you didn't!
--
Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unknown wrote:
> Did you read her post??????
> "Gerry" wrote in message
> news:eL98P1V4JHA.1196@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>> Linda
>>
>> What is the CPU and how much RAM does the computer have? Right click
>> on the My Computer icon on ther Desktop and select Properties to get
>> this information.
>>
>> Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to select Task Manager and click the Performance
>> Tab. Under Commit Charge what is the Total, the Limit and the Peak?
>>
>> You may help system performance by changing programmes from starting
>> during the boot process to loading on demand. Minimising
>> multi-tasking will help. Putting shortcuts like Show Desktop,
>> Internet Explorer, Outlook Express and Windows Explorer in the Quick
>> Launch Tray may help to encourage you to close these applications
>> after use as it is easy to reopen them when required.
>>
>> Minimising the use of Add-Ons with Internet Explorer will help.
>>
>> Avoid seciuity software which generates excessive demands for memory.
>> McAfee and Norton products are notably among those to be avoided.
>>
>> Avoid using facilities which run in the background when they can be
>> run when the computer is not being used. An example is Diskeeper
>> which can continuously defragment when it can be set to run on
>> demand. --
>>
>>
>> Hope this helps.
>>
>> Gerry
>> ~~~~
>> FCA
>> Stourport, England
>> Enquire, plan and execute
>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>
>>
>> Linda in Iowa wrote:
>>> My computer is about 7 years old. Running windows xp home. Service
>>> pack 3. It is a pentium 4 cpu 1.80 GHz and 256 MB of ram.
>>>
>>> It has gotten so slow that I wait for it to print or wonder if I
>>> really clicked a button at times. I also get a lot of virtual
>>> memory messages. It has a 40 gig hard drive with 16 gig of free
>>> space. My cable internet connection is like a dial up these days.
>>>
>>> I have thought about cleaning the hard drive as in formatting and
>>> reinstalling windows and programs I need, but then all those updates
>>> need to be redone. Is there an easy way to clean up the hard drive
>>> so i can remove all those little unknown things that mysteriously
>>> get there? Not ready to buy a new computer as I don't want Vista
>>> and also don't
>>> want to spend the money as this computer is more than adequate for
>>> what I need. Thanks.
--
Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unknown wrote:
> Did you read her post??????
> "Gerry"
> news:eL98P1V4JHA.1196@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>> Linda
>>
>> What is the CPU and how much RAM does the computer have? Right click
>> on the My Computer icon on ther Desktop and select Properties to get
>> this information.
>>
>> Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to select Task Manager and click the Performance
>> Tab. Under Commit Charge what is the Total, the Limit and the Peak?
>>
>> You may help system performance by changing programmes from starting
>> during the boot process to loading on demand. Minimising
>> multi-tasking will help. Putting shortcuts like Show Desktop,
>> Internet Explorer, Outlook Express and Windows Explorer in the Quick
>> Launch Tray may help to encourage you to close these applications
>> after use as it is easy to reopen them when required.
>>
>> Minimising the use of Add-Ons with Internet Explorer will help.
>>
>> Avoid seciuity software which generates excessive demands for memory.
>> McAfee and Norton products are notably among those to be avoided.
>>
>> Avoid using facilities which run in the background when they can be
>> run when the computer is not being used. An example is Diskeeper
>> which can continuously defragment when it can be set to run on
>> demand. --
>>
>>
>> Hope this helps.
>>
>> Gerry
>> ~~~~
>> FCA
>> Stourport, England
>> Enquire, plan and execute
>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>
>>
>> Linda in Iowa wrote:
>>> My computer is about 7 years old. Running windows xp home. Service
>>> pack 3. It is a pentium 4 cpu 1.80 GHz and 256 MB of ram.
>>>
>>> It has gotten so slow that I wait for it to print or wonder if I
>>> really clicked a button at times. I also get a lot of virtual
>>> memory messages. It has a 40 gig hard drive with 16 gig of free
>>> space. My cable internet connection is like a dial up these days.
>>>
>>> I have thought about cleaning the hard drive as in formatting and
>>> reinstalling windows and programs I need, but then all those updates
>>> need to be redone. Is there an easy way to clean up the hard drive
>>> so i can remove all those little unknown things that mysteriously
>>> get there? Not ready to buy a new computer as I don't want Vista
>>> and also don't
>>> want to spend the money as this computer is more than adequate for
>>> what I need. Thanks.
#13 Ron Badour
Posted 30 May 2009 - 02:46 PM
The reason you were asked the question is because of the first para of her
post:
My computer is about 7 years old. Running windows xp home. Service pack
3. It is a pentium 4 cpu 1.80 GHz and 256 MB of ram.
--
Regards
Ron Badour
MS MVP
Windows Desktop Experience
"Gerry" wrote in message
news:Oq1JOEW4JHA.5276@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> It's obvious you didn't!
>
>
> --
>
>
> Gerry
> ~~~~
> FCA
> Stourport, England
> Enquire, plan and execute
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>
> Unknown wrote:
>> Did you read her post??????
>> "Gerry" wrote in message
>> news:eL98P1V4JHA.1196@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>> Linda
>>>
>>> What is the CPU and how much RAM does the computer have? Right click
>>> on the My Computer icon on ther Desktop and select Properties to get
>>> this information.
>>>
>>> Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to select Task Manager and click the Performance
>>> Tab. Under Commit Charge what is the Total, the Limit and the Peak?
>>>
>>> You may help system performance by changing programmes from starting
>>> during the boot process to loading on demand. Minimising
>>> multi-tasking will help. Putting shortcuts like Show Desktop,
>>> Internet Explorer, Outlook Express and Windows Explorer in the Quick
>>> Launch Tray may help to encourage you to close these applications
>>> after use as it is easy to reopen them when required.
>>>
>>> Minimising the use of Add-Ons with Internet Explorer will help.
>>>
>>> Avoid seciuity software which generates excessive demands for memory.
>>> McAfee and Norton products are notably among those to be avoided.
>>>
>>> Avoid using facilities which run in the background when they can be
>>> run when the computer is not being used. An example is Diskeeper
>>> which can continuously defragment when it can be set to run on
>>> demand. --
>>>
>>>
>>> Hope this helps.
>>>
>>> Gerry
>>> ~~~~
>>> FCA
>>> Stourport, England
>>> Enquire, plan and execute
>>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>>
>>>
>>> Linda in Iowa wrote:
>>>> My computer is about 7 years old. Running windows xp home. Service
>>>> pack 3. It is a pentium 4 cpu 1.80 GHz and 256 MB of ram.
>>>>
>>>> It has gotten so slow that I wait for it to print or wonder if I
>>>> really clicked a button at times. I also get a lot of virtual
>>>> memory messages. It has a 40 gig hard drive with 16 gig of free
>>>> space. My cable internet connection is like a dial up these days.
>>>>
>>>> I have thought about cleaning the hard drive as in formatting and
>>>> reinstalling windows and programs I need, but then all those updates
>>>> need to be redone. Is there an easy way to clean up the hard drive
>>>> so i can remove all those little unknown things that mysteriously
>>>> get there? Not ready to buy a new computer as I don't want Vista
>>>> and also don't
>>>> want to spend the money as this computer is more than adequate for
>>>> what I need. Thanks.
>
post:
My computer is about 7 years old. Running windows xp home. Service pack
3. It is a pentium 4 cpu 1.80 GHz and 256 MB of ram.
--
Regards
Ron Badour
MS MVP
Windows Desktop Experience
"Gerry"
news:Oq1JOEW4JHA.5276@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> It's obvious you didn't!
>
>
> --
>
>
> Gerry
> ~~~~
> FCA
> Stourport, England
> Enquire, plan and execute
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>
> Unknown wrote:
>> Did you read her post??????
>> "Gerry"
>> news:eL98P1V4JHA.1196@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>> Linda
>>>
>>> What is the CPU and how much RAM does the computer have? Right click
>>> on the My Computer icon on ther Desktop and select Properties to get
>>> this information.
>>>
>>> Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to select Task Manager and click the Performance
>>> Tab. Under Commit Charge what is the Total, the Limit and the Peak?
>>>
>>> You may help system performance by changing programmes from starting
>>> during the boot process to loading on demand. Minimising
>>> multi-tasking will help. Putting shortcuts like Show Desktop,
>>> Internet Explorer, Outlook Express and Windows Explorer in the Quick
>>> Launch Tray may help to encourage you to close these applications
>>> after use as it is easy to reopen them when required.
>>>
>>> Minimising the use of Add-Ons with Internet Explorer will help.
>>>
>>> Avoid seciuity software which generates excessive demands for memory.
>>> McAfee and Norton products are notably among those to be avoided.
>>>
>>> Avoid using facilities which run in the background when they can be
>>> run when the computer is not being used. An example is Diskeeper
>>> which can continuously defragment when it can be set to run on
>>> demand. --
>>>
>>>
>>> Hope this helps.
>>>
>>> Gerry
>>> ~~~~
>>> FCA
>>> Stourport, England
>>> Enquire, plan and execute
>>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>>
>>>
>>> Linda in Iowa wrote:
>>>> My computer is about 7 years old. Running windows xp home. Service
>>>> pack 3. It is a pentium 4 cpu 1.80 GHz and 256 MB of ram.
>>>>
>>>> It has gotten so slow that I wait for it to print or wonder if I
>>>> really clicked a button at times. I also get a lot of virtual
>>>> memory messages. It has a 40 gig hard drive with 16 gig of free
>>>> space. My cable internet connection is like a dial up these days.
>>>>
>>>> I have thought about cleaning the hard drive as in formatting and
>>>> reinstalling windows and programs I need, but then all those updates
>>>> need to be redone. Is there an easy way to clean up the hard drive
>>>> so i can remove all those little unknown things that mysteriously
>>>> get there? Not ready to buy a new computer as I don't want Vista
>>>> and also don't
>>>> want to spend the money as this computer is more than adequate for
>>>> what I need. Thanks.
>
#14 Expert
Posted 30 May 2009 - 03:08 PM
No amount of cleaning will improve the speed of your system. The only way to
rectify your system to its original state is to reformat your HD and to
reinstall the OS. To do this, you should have either your original operating
system CD or recovery Cd as supplied by your vendor.
Please also make copies of all your personal documents and emails including
photos and music files as wiping your HD erases all these files.
The spec of your system is more pwerful than my own which is Pentium 3! with 256
RAM.
Linda in Iowa wrote:
> My computer is about 7 years old. Running windows xp home. Service pack 3.
> It is a pentium 4 cpu 1.80 GHz and 256 MB of ram.
>
> It has gotten so slow that I wait for it to print or wonder if I really
> clicked a button at times. I also get a lot of virtual memory messages. It
> has a 40 gig hard drive with 16 gig of free space. My cable internet
> connection is like a dial up these days.
>
> I have thought about cleaning the hard drive as in formatting and
> reinstalling windows and programs I need, but then all those updates need to
> be redone. Is there an easy way to clean up the hard drive so i can remove
> all those little unknown things that mysteriously get there?
>
> Not ready to buy a new computer as I don't want Vista and also don't want to
> spend the money as this computer is more than adequate for what I need.
>
> Thanks.
rectify your system to its original state is to reformat your HD and to
reinstall the OS. To do this, you should have either your original operating
system CD or recovery Cd as supplied by your vendor.
Please also make copies of all your personal documents and emails including
photos and music files as wiping your HD erases all these files.
The spec of your system is more pwerful than my own which is Pentium 3! with 256
RAM.
Linda in Iowa wrote:
> My computer is about 7 years old. Running windows xp home. Service pack 3.
> It is a pentium 4 cpu 1.80 GHz and 256 MB of ram.
>
> It has gotten so slow that I wait for it to print or wonder if I really
> clicked a button at times. I also get a lot of virtual memory messages. It
> has a 40 gig hard drive with 16 gig of free space. My cable internet
> connection is like a dial up these days.
>
> I have thought about cleaning the hard drive as in formatting and
> reinstalling windows and programs I need, but then all those updates need to
> be redone. Is there an easy way to clean up the hard drive so i can remove
> all those little unknown things that mysteriously get there?
>
> Not ready to buy a new computer as I don't want Vista and also don't want to
> spend the money as this computer is more than adequate for what I need.
>
> Thanks.
#15 Gerry
Posted 30 May 2009 - 03:57 PM
Quite Ron. I was asking about the Commit Charge. Unknown is one of those
contributors who offer little and love to pick up on irrelevant points
in other peoples posts.
Now I can just as easily pick up points in posts by others including
yours but it generally does not help resolve anything so I try to
refrain from doing it!
--
Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ron Badour wrote:
> The reason you were asked the question is because of the first para
> of her post:
>
> My computer is about 7 years old. Running windows xp home. Service
> pack 3. It is a pentium 4 cpu 1.80 GHz and 256 MB of ram.
>
>
>
> "Gerry" wrote in message
> news:Oq1JOEW4JHA.5276@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> It's obvious you didn't!
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>>
>> Gerry
>> ~~~~
>> FCA
>> Stourport, England
>> Enquire, plan and execute
>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>
>>
>> Unknown wrote:
>>> Did you read her post??????
>>> "Gerry" wrote in message
>>> news:eL98P1V4JHA.1196@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>>> Linda
>>>>
>>>> What is the CPU and how much RAM does the computer have? Right
>>>> click on the My Computer icon on ther Desktop and select
>>>> Properties to get this information.
>>>>
>>>> Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to select Task Manager and click the
>>>> Performance Tab. Under Commit Charge what is the Total, the Limit
>>>> and the Peak? You may help system performance by changing
>>>> programmes from
>>>> starting during the boot process to loading on demand. Minimising
>>>> multi-tasking will help. Putting shortcuts like Show Desktop,
>>>> Internet Explorer, Outlook Express and Windows Explorer in the
>>>> Quick Launch Tray may help to encourage you to close these
>>>> applications after use as it is easy to reopen them when required.
>>>>
>>>> Minimising the use of Add-Ons with Internet Explorer will help.
>>>>
>>>> Avoid seciuity software which generates excessive demands for
>>>> memory. McAfee and Norton products are notably among those to be
>>>> avoided. Avoid using facilities which run in the background when
>>>> they can be
>>>> run when the computer is not being used. An example is Diskeeper
>>>> which can continuously defragment when it can be set to run on
>>>> demand. --
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Hope this helps.
>>>>
>>>> Gerry
>>>> ~~~~
>>>> FCA
>>>> Stourport, England
>>>> Enquire, plan and execute
>>>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Linda in Iowa wrote:
>>>>> My computer is about 7 years old. Running windows xp home.
>>>>> Service pack 3. It is a pentium 4 cpu 1.80 GHz and 256 MB of ram.
>>>>>
>>>>> It has gotten so slow that I wait for it to print or wonder if I
>>>>> really clicked a button at times. I also get a lot of virtual
>>>>> memory messages. It has a 40 gig hard drive with 16 gig of free
>>>>> space. My cable internet connection is like a dial up these days.
>>>>>
>>>>> I have thought about cleaning the hard drive as in formatting and
>>>>> reinstalling windows and programs I need, but then all those
>>>>> updates need to be redone. Is there an easy way to clean up the
>>>>> hard drive so i can remove all those little unknown things that
>>>>> mysteriously get there? Not ready to buy a new computer as I
>>>>> don't want Vista and also don't
>>>>> want to spend the money as this computer is more than adequate for
>>>>> what I need. Thanks.
contributors who offer little and love to pick up on irrelevant points
in other peoples posts.
Now I can just as easily pick up points in posts by others including
yours but it generally does not help resolve anything so I try to
refrain from doing it!
--
Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ron Badour wrote:
> The reason you were asked the question is because of the first para
> of her post:
>
> My computer is about 7 years old. Running windows xp home. Service
> pack 3. It is a pentium 4 cpu 1.80 GHz and 256 MB of ram.
>
>
>
> "Gerry"
> news:Oq1JOEW4JHA.5276@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> It's obvious you didn't!
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>>
>> Gerry
>> ~~~~
>> FCA
>> Stourport, England
>> Enquire, plan and execute
>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>
>>
>> Unknown wrote:
>>> Did you read her post??????
>>> "Gerry"
>>> news:eL98P1V4JHA.1196@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>>> Linda
>>>>
>>>> What is the CPU and how much RAM does the computer have? Right
>>>> click on the My Computer icon on ther Desktop and select
>>>> Properties to get this information.
>>>>
>>>> Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to select Task Manager and click the
>>>> Performance Tab. Under Commit Charge what is the Total, the Limit
>>>> and the Peak? You may help system performance by changing
>>>> programmes from
>>>> starting during the boot process to loading on demand. Minimising
>>>> multi-tasking will help. Putting shortcuts like Show Desktop,
>>>> Internet Explorer, Outlook Express and Windows Explorer in the
>>>> Quick Launch Tray may help to encourage you to close these
>>>> applications after use as it is easy to reopen them when required.
>>>>
>>>> Minimising the use of Add-Ons with Internet Explorer will help.
>>>>
>>>> Avoid seciuity software which generates excessive demands for
>>>> memory. McAfee and Norton products are notably among those to be
>>>> avoided. Avoid using facilities which run in the background when
>>>> they can be
>>>> run when the computer is not being used. An example is Diskeeper
>>>> which can continuously defragment when it can be set to run on
>>>> demand. --
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Hope this helps.
>>>>
>>>> Gerry
>>>> ~~~~
>>>> FCA
>>>> Stourport, England
>>>> Enquire, plan and execute
>>>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Linda in Iowa wrote:
>>>>> My computer is about 7 years old. Running windows xp home.
>>>>> Service pack 3. It is a pentium 4 cpu 1.80 GHz and 256 MB of ram.
>>>>>
>>>>> It has gotten so slow that I wait for it to print or wonder if I
>>>>> really clicked a button at times. I also get a lot of virtual
>>>>> memory messages. It has a 40 gig hard drive with 16 gig of free
>>>>> space. My cable internet connection is like a dial up these days.
>>>>>
>>>>> I have thought about cleaning the hard drive as in formatting and
>>>>> reinstalling windows and programs I need, but then all those
>>>>> updates need to be redone. Is there an easy way to clean up the
>>>>> hard drive so i can remove all those little unknown things that
>>>>> mysteriously get there? Not ready to buy a new computer as I
>>>>> don't want Vista and also don't
>>>>> want to spend the money as this computer is more than adequate for
>>>>> what I need. Thanks.
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