Microsoft Windows Xp Slow memory?

Question

My computer xp is running out of memory, I have tried to restore it,but have failed to make any reasonable adjustment to it. I would like to know is there a standard configuration for xp settings & if so. Where can I find a good guide to show me the best settings for XP, Also How can I clean up my drives, without losing some important files.???? Is there a handbook that someone can recommend, that just could be the best guide to Windows Xp and make my life easy again ?

Answer 1

2 things.
Adjust your virtual memory.
Click on start, click on my computer. Click properties, now click the "advanced" tab, next to performance is settings, click this button.
Click advanced, next to virtual memory click "change". If you have enough room on your hard drive, check the "custom" setting, and set the minimum to 2000 and the max to 2500, now click "set",ok to close the window, then apply on the next window and ok, thats a total of 2 1/2 gigs of virtual memory......

Step 2, stop any unnecessary programs from running at startup, like messenger, or whatever you dont want to start.
Click the start button, click on run, and type msconfig. Click on the "startup" button, and uncheck anything you dont want to run. Just dont uncheck anything that says C:\windows, your looking for programs you installed, C:\programs.......

Alternatively try this online benchmarking program, its free to sign up, and if you dont want to, you can still run the program..its free! It will tell you the overall performance of your pc......and what you can benefit from, and what might be wrong...

http://pcpitstop.com/

Hope this helps you out.....you may want to invest in more ram also....

Answer 2

It would be helpfull if you told me how much memory you have, in order for me to determine whether lack of memory is your problem, or more likely, that you are infected with malware. Try this:
Point your pointer at a blank spot in the task bar at the bottom, right click, and click task manager. Click the performance tab. It will show you how much memory you have, and how much you are using. If you have less than 512 Mb ram, my guess is that you could benefit with the purchase and installation of more memory. If your CPU usage is at 100% or nearly so all the time with nothing running but the task manager, then you almost certainly have malware. Another key number is the number of processes, usually in the lower left hand corner. If you have over 50 processes, you are either infected with malware, or you are running too many programs at once. 45-50 processes is a danger zone, where you still could be infected.

Answer 3

It is very curious that with every "security update" XP get slower and uses more memory.
It almost seems like Microsoft is doing it intentionally to make Vista seem more attractive.
Do you think that they would do something like that?
Not Microsoft, right?
But I did do a clean install on a PC here at my work just yesterday and it run as fast and clean as you can possibly imagine.
That was until I installed the 73 security updates and then it slowed down to a pace equal to that of Windows Vista.
Curious.

Answer 4

Adding more memory is a great tool for freeing up speed. Also you surly might want to defrag and scan the hard drive as well. Go to tools on the Internet Explorer and then go to Internet options and then go to the " delete bar" and select it. Then you will be given options for getting rid of much unwanted old files and unecessary cookies and all your old history that is left on temp files on your hard drive.
But the best way is to get rid of old programs that U no longer need or use. Of course get more memory as i said earlier.

Good luck !

Answer 5

You may have a bunch of useless temp files or something. Try this: http://safety.live.com/site/en-US/default.htm do the Full Service Scan. I do this every 10 days or so, and it's great (it's an official Microsoft site). Hope this helps.

Answer 6

Ehm..
I recommend to clean up the register in order to improve your pc performances and get rid of malwares. A good program you can use is CCleaner http://j.mp/UrAEfO
It's surely the leader program of its type
Bye

Answer 7

on your internet explorer bar click on tool and delete all your temp file,don't worry they are just pages and websites you have recently visited - it will create some space
remove unwanted programs from your system click on start control panel and add and remove programs
defragment your system it will create some available space and also your system performance will improve.
Finally you should scan your system to verify you are free from spyware and virus

Answer 8

buy some cd-r's.. and burn your data on to these..

and the person above me is right.. u must have your temp net files n stuff.. their settings must be too high.

you ideally only want a few mb of temp files.. choose their recommended amount.