How can I make my computer faster?

Question

My computer runs Windows XP Professional, ASUS P5P800-VM motherboard with Intel 82865G graphics controller, nVIDIA GeForce 5500 FX graphics card, Intel Celeron D 2.6GHz processor, 2 hard disks (40 MB and 30 MB), 780 MB memory and a Compaq Coloreal 7550 monitor. Will this information help?

Answer 1

have you defragmented it?

Answer 2

For starters, delete any programs you don't use anymore, including toolbars, games and the like. Also, if you keep a downloads folder, clean that up. It's really just a waste to keep installers around. I've also found that if you clean your Internet Cache (sp?) your computer will thank you for it lol. Also, clean out any Internet favorites that are no longer, well, favorites.

But if you want a more long term and permanent solution, get a hard drive with a faster RPM as opposed to more memory.

Hope I helped =)

Answer 3

Most folks simply don't keep their PC's "tuned up" (so to speak). All you need to do is some periodic maintainence and it will help it run more efficiently. You may not realize great improvements in speed, but your PC will perform much better. I had a 2.2 GHz Sempron, with 768M RAM and is was okay for most things, so your 2.6GHz should run better than the Sempron I had.

Try these tips. They should help.

A major cause of slow PC's is fragmentation of the hard drive.
You need to defragment the HD at least once a week if not more depending on how much you use your computer, and what you do with it.

One way is to use the defragment utility built into Windows XP. It is slow but does the job rather well. Go to:
Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools and then click on System Defrag to run the tool. It may take several hours, so let it run overnight or simply walk away from your PC for a few hours.

A great program for defragging automatically is Diskeeper. It costs $30 but is well worth it. Go to http://www.download.com and search for Diskeeper. Read the Publishers Description and the Editor and User reviews. It can be scheduled to run automatically as the program deems necessary, and if you are using your PC and the program launches itself, it will take a backseat to whatever you are doing and give you the priority for CPU usage. I think you'll agree it's a good program to have. It precludes your needing to remember to defrag at regular intervals.

Another major cause of a slow PC is programs that are running in the background. Here's another really good Microsoft tool. It’s called Autoruns and it was written by SysInternals who were recently bought up by Microsoft.

Before you download the program create a folder under program files called Autoruns. Leave Windows Explore open.

Launch Internet Explored and go to the following Microsoft web page.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/utilities/autoruns.mspx

Go to the bottom of the page and download the Autoruns program. After it downloads open the file. It is a Zip file. Unzip the file and you will see 4 files. Drag and drop those 4 files to the Autoruns folder you created under Program Files.

Once you have the 4 files in the C:\Program Files\Autoruns folder you can double click on the file titled “autoruns”.

This will bring up a window with several tabs at the top. Click on the “Logon” tab. It will list the programs that are running on your PC and eating up resources. Look them over carefully and turn off any that don’t absolutely have to be running. Simply click on the “check mark” in the little box beside the program name. Clicking on it will remove the check mark. Once you have edited the Startup list, click on Apply and then on OK.
NOTE: Leave items that show Windows; System 32; Program Files; etc. alone. Shutting them off may cause some things not to work.

Once you have exited the window, reboot your PC for the settings to take effect.

WARNING: Don’t go into the other tabs and start deleting things. You will probably give yourself major headaches if you do that. Stay focused on the “Logon” List only.

Another good thing to have is a little program called FreeRAM XP Pro. It is free and is available from http://www.download.com This program puts a little RAM meter on the System Tray and shows how much RAM you have remaining that you are not using at any given time. I think you may be surprised at how little RAM you have to run other programs. Also, once it is installed you can right click on the little meter, then click on RESTORE and it will open the RAM display window. You can tweak the settings so it will display your CPU usage also. Then just click “Minimize” and then “To System Tray” to return to the Task Bar.

What happens when you run out of or run real low on RAM is that the OS recognizes the low or no RAM situation and starts using a section of your hard drive as memory. This is called virtual memory, or a swap file. The PC is constantly writing and reading from your HD. Comparitively, it is a very slow process. Check your motherboard manual and determine how much RAM each slot can hold. It will also tell you what type of RAM you need. You can also go to http://www.crucial.com or http://www.4allmemory.com and run their analysis utility to determine what kind and how much RAM is installed in your PC. Depend on your MoBo manual to determine the RAM limits of each slot though.

Hope this helps

Answer 4

Hi. Use 'msconfig' to control the processes that start when you boot, make sure you are malware free, defragment at least once a month. You should get satisfying speed out of that machine.

Answer 5

First use msconfig by going to start; run and type msconfig that will control your programs you have running when you start your computer. After you've done that start removing programs you dont use by going to control panel; add & remove programs. Also defrag your computer by going to control panel; performance & maintenance; rearrange. Also try downloading Adaware SE and Spysweeper if you dont already have these. You cne get them for free at www.download.com

Answer 6

Hi

Well the config of the mem , its not very good , cause you have 780 wish means that you either have a 512mem plus a 128mb mem , now sometimes it works sometimes it not. Anyway , first you need to start taken out software loading with windows that you really dont need . that means working on the registry , so visit this site

www.retestrak.nl

Answer 7

Go to AMD processor 64. doble core hyper thread.Run on a new hard drive without moving parts.

Answer 8

Get verizon.