any suggestions on how to make my pc run faster?

Question

Got a hp computer with windows XP and it's running sooooooo slow. Tried defrag, disc clean up and running the norton anti virus. still slow! any ideas?

Answer 1

Your first order of business should be to get Norton the hell off your comp. It is notorious for starving your resources. Get something else like McAfee.

You can also edit your startup list of programs which can make your comp run faster by going to Start>Run>Msconfig.exe>Startup and disable anything you do not want running on start up. Msconfig is a great tool for customizing your comp's performance. You can also delete stubborn files that you see in Task Manager (aka CTRL ALT DLT menu) by booting in safe mode. Restart your computer, and while it's doing the memory test, before the word "windows" appears press and HOLD the F8 key (don't just press once, hold it) . Now you can boot in safe mode and remove any stubborn programs.

Ok there are a 101 things you can do. You've done defrag, good. But you may want to reformat your C:/ Drive. This involves wiping everything off the hard drive and reinstalling Windows using backup disks (if you did not receive a backup disk, as they tend to stop doing in recent years, you can contact your computer manufacturer and gain a copy of the backup with drivers for about 20 bucks. Trust me, you want to spend the 20 bucks. The disc is invaluable.).

Back everything up, I'd suggest investing in a small external harddrive. You'll want to have the following programs ready to be installed after the reformatting:

-Anti-virus (not norton) with all standalone update files ready to be installed
-An Antispyware, with all standalone update files ready to be installed
-SP2 (Service Pack 2) if your computer is old like mine was I had to order the disc from microsoft. It is free if you need it.
- Mozilla Firefox (do not use IE for anything except liveupdate, which you should run frequently)
-Any other information, programs documents pictures, etc that are not infected.

After backing everything up, reformat by restarting your comp with the disc inserted.

After Windows is completely reinstalled, (before connected to the internet) IMMEDIATELY insure that SP2 is installed and install your antivirus and all updates. You can find out if SP2 is installed by going to Start>My Computer. Go up one level to Desktop, right click "My comptuer" and click properties. You will see who it is registered to, it's name, manufacturer etc. You will see "Windows XP Home" or Whatever version you have, then "Service Pack 2" under it. This is also where you see how much RAM you have currently installed and your processor speed and type etc. Make sure the firewall is on. Go to control panel and click "Live Update" and get all the updates. Now you are a ready for surfing and enjoying your computer.

I stress that the single most important thing you can do for your comp is get the windows updates. My old computer (without alot of updates) had an alphabetized dictionary-sized list (no joke) of trojans, viruses and other malicious files on it that i just could not get rid of safely without reformatting.

After doing all this, you will want to clear cookies, history, defrag, clear temporary internet files, USE MOZILLA, for the duration of your owner ship. Oh and getting a new stick of RAM and updating your processor is good too, but not always necassary.

Good luck :)

Answer 2

There are several primary areas that could be causing your computer to run slow. The most likely reason is that Corruption within your registry keys, registry classes, and registry settings,you have too many programs running behind the scenes and your system is essentially running in circles with its internal processing.
Everytime you install and uninstall software on your computer and surfing online you create junk in the computer registry.over time, the registry can grow to enormous proportions, especially if the various programs you've installed do not do a good job of deleting and/or updating it's Registry entries.To clean the junk and then speed up your computer, you will need to run a self diagnostic program called regsitry cleaner.This program is very very useful,it can fix regsitry errors,clean registry remnant,corrupt files and temp files in a few minutes.Then give you a bran-new and high-speed computer.It even can speed up your computer by 300% or more!You can find top 5 registry cleaner here:
http://www.computerspeed.info/index.php?t=cspeed ,From there you can download and scan totall FREE.

The second most common problem is that you have spyware/adware in your computer.Spyware/adware not only pop up ads,collect personal info,but also can hamper your computer's performance.It use system resources and slow your computer down. Detecting and removing the programs will improve system performance.
check out http://www.computerspeed.info/index.php?t=antispy to learn how to help protect your computer and improve computer performance.

Hope that can help you.

Answer 3

Your Page File should be 2 1/2 times bigger than your RAM. I personally disagree with Page Filing. I've setup some of my machines with as little as 16 MEG Page File. If you have a large amount of RAM (512 or above) I usually reduce the Page File size to a third the size of my RAM To change your Page File size >Control Panel >System > Advanced >Performance > Setting >Advanced >Virtual Memory> Change. Just make sure that this is what you want to do before doing this. There is a shareware program "Cachemon" that I have found to be very good without getting you hands dirty. But, again, make sure you know what you are doing. I just use an un-installer program to remove Cachemon after I have the setting saved.

Answer 4

Try a different anti virus Norton slowed my pc down also.

Answer 5

I have found a very good, and free, program that will probably help you out. It's called "Advanced Windows Care Personal". It's at the below link. when you get there, click on the "Get Freebie" button, download it and install it, and then run it. It'll correct a large amount of problems with no problems. That ought to speed things up. Hope this helps.

Answer 6

get rid of norton this slows your pc down so much
you can get other anti virus software free on the internet

Answer 7

Take it to the running track 3-4 times a week. Also make sure the pc is plugged in otherwise it probably won't work.

Answer 8

first off.im your man for pcs! :p

ok,i wouldn't use nortan i use avast 4 or panda antivirus.
try clearing your temp internet files n cookies
download tuneup utilities 2007,loads of great features
download xoftspy 4.29 and use this patch in the place xoftspy is installed,run it and if it needs a dll search for JUST the name of it in google n download it and put it with the patch.exe.
patch for 4.29 http://putstuff.putfile.com/75836/4637814

increase your virtual memory.search google on how to do it

Answer 9

It could be that you need more RAM. Check your available RAM by pressing CTRL+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager and click the Performance tab. Look under Available Physical Memory and if it is low (<75000 or so), get some more.

Answer 10

end all the programs that are runnning at background. in other words.. end all unneccessary programs that run during start up. You can end it by doing.. program>run>msconfig
then uncheck the programs which you don't want when you boot..! this will speed up ur computer upto 60%.
good luck.
defrag.. scan .n all that don work these days.. those are for babies..!! ..