how can a 1.50Ghz 448 MB RAM celeron (R)M Gateway laptop be improved -- don't want to discard.Thank you?

Question

pc is running very slow

Answer 1

Increase RAM to 1Gb. Overall PC performance should improve and graphics shared memory should increase from current 64mb to 128mb or higher. If not, increase it in BIOS. Press Del or F2 after powering ON to open BIOS menu.

Answer 2

The running slow could be from having too many items open on startup. Therefore clean that up. Defrag and place program files first.

Next is to limit the size of the swap file that windows uses and not allow windows to auto select the size as windows slows down to do the resize. A fixed size means no resize so windows works faster.

More RAM if the machine will take it. This is a windows problem.

Opening fewer windows at a time will also help speed as windows must look at each window that's open for any changes.

Basically try to make things as lean as possible for loading and regular running.

Answer 3

Using a registry cleaner can clean up your computer and then make your computer faster,Why?the reason is that there may be some regsitry errors and remnant,corrupt files and temp files in your computer to cause "computer slow".
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.You need to scan and clean your computer with registry cleaner to make it fast.Good Regisry Cleaner will improve your computer and Internet performance dramatically!It even can speed up your computer by 300% or more!
There are some comparison and review of TOP 5 registry cleaners.
http://www.computer-speed.info/index.php?t=makepcf
You can download and scan your computer for free.

Answer 4

Try pc booster: http://www.pc-booster.info
It contains all the secrets to speeding up and optimizing your PC, without spending a single $ on hardware. It turbo-charges your PC to make it much more stable by preventing system inefficiencies that cause crashes, lockups and slowdowns of your computer. By running PC Booster's Auto Tune, you'll be left with a faster and more responsive system that is less prone to crashes and fatal error messages. So you have no more troubles running important programs or memory consuming multimedia or Internet applications.
pc booster: http://www.pc-booster.info

Answer 5

A good registry cleaner I use is CCleaner. It's a reliable tool to get rid of worms, trojams, malwares and viruses that affect your pc performances. Free download here http://j.mp/UrADbE
I guess it's the sotware you need.
Regards

Answer 6

1. Go to Start --- Run --- Type "msconfig" Enter --- Go to Startup --- Remove all programs on the list. Save and Apply. Restart later.

2. Go to Start --- All Programs --- Accessories --- System Tools --- Disk Cleanup --- Remove all including temporary internet files.

3. Restart the computer

4. Go to http://www.free.grisoft.com/doc/2/lng/us... and download AVG antivirus. Download updates and scan your harddrive.

5. Follow step 4 except go to http://www.safer-networking.org/en/downl... then download from Safer Network and install Spy Bot Search and Destroy. Download updates and scan your computer.

6. If that remains unfix, you need to get more system memory.

Don't forget to rate me as Best Answer!

Answer 7

Check out http://www.pc-optimizer-pro.com
With pc optimizer pro you can safely clean, repair and optimize your computer.
It will help improve your system performance without expensive hardware upgrades.
Good luck!

Answer 8

Backup files and reformat hard drive, reinstall Windows, reinstall drivers and reinstall software.

Increase RAM to 1 GB. RAM is about $40/GB.

Install a better video card if your video is slow.
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Speed up computer:

1) Disable programs that can be disabled to improve computer performance using msconfig.
First: Uninstall any programs listed in "step 1"
http://www.techsupportforum.com/security-center/hijackthis-log-help/15968-updated-important-read-before-posting-log.html

Install MSconfig Update for Windows XP (KB906569)
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=9689F6E9-ADED-44B8-BBBB-BEAE1B4A4BC9&displaylang=en

Run PCPitstop "full tests" and "running programs" in the results it will designate programs that can be disabled to improve computer performance. Run MSconfig and uncheck any program "that can be disabled to improve computer performance"
http://www.pcpitstop.com/

How to use MSCONFIG
http://www.netsquirrel.com/msconfig/

Using MSCONFIG to reduce background programs at startup
http://alri.org/step2/usingmsconfig.htm

TASK LIST PROGRAMS A-Z
http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm
http://www.castlecops.com/StartupList.html
http://www.pcreview.co.uk/startup/

The PC Decrapifier
http://www.pcdecrapifier.com/

Startup Delayer v2.3.125
http://www.r2.com.au/software.php?page=2&show=startdelay&PHPSESSID=51519f

Can you learn another language in the time it takes for your machine to boot? Do you turn on your PC when you go to bed, so it's finished booting by the time you get home from work the next day?

When Windows loads it's Startup file, it attempts to load every program in there at the same time. Therefore if you have quite a lot of programs starting when Windows starts, each program will try and grab CPU time so that it can load

Startup Delayer allows you to specify which programs to start first and which ones to delay. You can set a custom delay for each one, even drag the visual display graph which shows you exactly how your programs are starting and allows you to easily modify the order or adjust delay times. (1 second to 100 minutes)

2) Eliminate malware on your computer
------------------------------...
Update your antivirus and run a full scan

If you do not have virus protection install:
AVG Antivirus 7.5 Free Edition
http://free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/avg-anti-virus-free/lng/us/tpl/v5
http://www.download.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10669237.html?tag=lst-0-1
or
Free antivirus - avast! 4 Home Edition
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html
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Install Windows Defender (full time spyware protection)
Perform a full scan.
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
------------------------------...
Install the following five programs and run weekly or at least monthly. You need all five. They are not a substitute for full time spyware and virus protection.

Ad-Aware SE Personal (update + full scan)
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad-aware_se_personal.php

Spybot Search & Destroy (update + immunize + scan)
Do not enable Tea Timer and SDHelper
After installation: update + scan + immunize
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html

SpywareBlaster: Update then open and click “enable all protection”.
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

SUPERAntiSpyware free version: (update + scan)
http://www.superantispyware.com/

CCleaner: Do not install toolbar option
Removes tracking cookies, unneeded files, history
In options.
Set to run when computer starts.
Place cookies you want to keep in save list
http://www.ccleaner.com/
------------------------------...
Additional run this time and as needed.

Microsoft OneCare Live, run “full service scan”
Updates windows, virus and spyware scan, disk cleanup, disk fragmentation (if needed), backs up registry and then cleans registry, and checks for open firewall ports
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/default.htm

Malicious Software Removal Tool (run “full scan”)
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx
------------------------------
Run this time:

CWShredder: run
http://www.trendmicro.com/cwshredder/
Shoot The Messenger
http://www.grc.com/stm/shootthemessenger.htm


VX2 tool for Ad-Aware and run tool (Install and run)
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/securitycenter/vx2_cleaner.php
-----------------------------------------
Special Removal Tools
Run only if indicated

Roguefix.bat
http://www.internetinspiration.co.uk/roguefix.htm
SmitFraudFix
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/How_to_use_SmitFraudFix-t109268.html
Vundo Fix and
VirtumundoBegone (if VundoFix does not work)
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic18610.html
Vundo Rootkit Removal
http://wiki.castlecops.com/Vundo_Rootkit_Detection_and_Removal_Procedure
------------------------------
Online Scanners

Trend Micro: HouseCall Free Scan (removes what it finds)
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
BitDefender Online Scanner
http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html
Kaspersky Labs Online Scanner
http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner
McAfee
http://us.mcafee.com/root/mfs/default.asp?affid=294
Panda ActiveScan Free Online Scanner
http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/activescan?
Symantic Online Scanner
http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/ssc_eula.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym&plfid=23&pkj=ALUFRHYTINMHDKDCWLL&vc_scanstate=2
------------------------------...

3) Run "check disk" check both options and restart.
Run Disk Cleanup then Disk Defragment.
4 Ways to Speed Up Your Computer's Performance
http://www.microsoft.com/atwork/getstarted/speed.mspx

4) Update your drivers
How to update a Windows hardware driver
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial119.html

To find drivers:
Google the manufacturer's name and go to the manufacturer's site for you computer/motherboard; video card; sound card; network card; printer; scanner; mouse; web cam; etc. Each site will have a support section to find the latest drivers and download them. You will need to know the make and model number. If you do not know the make and model number run Belarc Advisor and look in Windows Device Manager.

Belarc Advisor
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

5) Reduce resources needed for protection:
Replace Norton with NOD32, AVG, Avast, etc.
Use the Windows Firewall (very light on resources)

6) Add more ram

7) Faster video card

8) Faster Internet service

9) Faster computer / processor

10) Format drive and reinstall everything