compputer slower I have windows xp?

Question

I have had my laptop for 5 yrs. I have noticed that is much slower at times. I defrag, disc clean up and delete files under the interment options in the control panel. Is there something else I should be doing. I also have the yahoo spy ware removal program that comes with the dsl package that I get. Are there any fee programs that can help.

Answer 1

I like Ad-Aware and Spybot Search & Destroy to clean up the machine. I think they both have free versions availavle.

Answer 2

Check for viruses.
Type 'msconfig' in the box when you click on 'run' from the start menu, click the startup tab. This shows you all the programs that are loaded into memory when your computer is turned on. This list grows longer the more programs you install because every program thinks you need it at your fingertips as soon as you power up. Google 'pacs portal' to find out which ones you definately need and untick the rest. Its a confusing website but you'll find an online database of every program you're likely to find in the startup list on your PC and whether you need to load it when you powerup or not. With XP there are only about 4 things you actually need. After you uncheck the ones you don't need and restart, a windows warning will come up - just check the box that says "don't tell me about it" and continue. You'll be amazed at how fast the old beast runs.
As a final cleanup thing, down load 'ccleaner' (google it) and clean up the registry (make sure you back up as per the instructions). Repeat it 3 or 4 times till it comes up clean.
This is all totally free! Happy optimising!

Answer 3

How much memory do you have installed?
YOu can always add more RAM to make it work little bit faster.
Also, try Start>Run>msconfig command to uncheck programs that load when your computers starts up.

But the best way for the old computer is to fully reformat the drive and install a fresh copy of XP. If it wasn't done in 5 years, you must've installed/uninstalled bunch of programs over time. Your registry is full of information about files/folders, file paths that don't exist anymore. That's the major slowdown.

Answer 4

hahaha, you have at&t dsl, probably with a 2wire modem.

Heres what you do. Go into start, go to control panel, go to ad-remove programs.
Now remove anything you don't know. Now if this is a Dell, leave all the ones sayong dell on it. Other than that, that is all adware/spyware/badware you do not need. After it's all done, restart your computer, and enjy the speed!

(p.s. Go into start>all programs>startup, and delete all listed there. Don't worry, these are shortcuts, not the actuall programs. This will keep unwanted programs from automatically comming up, robbing you of RAM.)

Answer 5

You can take your laptop back to an earlier date before this trouble began. See on start button all programs...pc help click on system restore and follow directions, this has worked for me. You can also take it back to factory settings from there I have done this and it did solve the same problem. Another tip is to unplug your modem cords ( ones in the back of modem ) for 30 seconds and replug them.
Have also tried so called free security programs but all they do is scan your pc and then tell you the pc has hundreds of infections and you need to pay for the full version to remove the infections.
I'm now using optus broadband they give you free security valued at $135.00 free for the first year..

Answer 6

First of all,what is your computer's processor?
Pentium IV?
Pentium III?
Speed?
RAM?
I need to know all this before I can really solve your problem!
But never mine,just make sure your antivirus system is not more than 1 and uninstall useless software which takes alot of RAM.You can check what program is eatting your processor speed by monitoring them (CTRL+ALT+DEL).

Second,check for virus or trojan horse downloader.Connect to the internet and see whether your modem is blinking like hell even you are not using the internet.That the sign of trojan horse download.

Third,if you want software to help you,you may try Webroot Window Washer.

That all I can help.

Answer 7

If you never had to reinstall windows in the 5 years you have your pc, your one lucky sob ;-)

If youre getting lot's of popups and weird stuff, thats probably spyware, if your pc is just getting slower, maybe you installed so much software on it, that the harddrive is almost full. An xp installation needs at least 10% free space on the hard drive to do its own magic on, like swapdrives and so on...

www.lavasoft.com (adaware)
www.grisoft.com (AVG antivirus)

Answer 8

I also faced the same problem before this. But I decided to upgrade my RAM to 1GB and the result is my computer became faster. I am told by a computer professional that RAM is urgent to make your computer run fast enough. he said that 1GB or more is recomended for a system with winXP or earlier version of windows. Hope this help you.

Answer 9

Use Kaspersky antivirus...itz the kool stuff on d block! It detects better than other antivirus programs..
Also use Spybot Search and destroy (free program) and Ad-aware(also free).

If your comp still stays slow...try reinstalling XP after a format :)

Answer 10

My suggestion it to do a clean install of XP -- but before yo do this make a custom install disc.


Use NLITE to make a custom install disc of XP and remove all the "bloat" / "eye candy" that you don't need.

Personally, my XP edition takes up 230MB of HD space and it runs liquid smooth.

NLITE is free
http://www.nliteos.com/

Answer 11

try ccleaner, a free PC optimizer
Yahoo anti-spy does not run as resident, try Comodo BOClean a free antispyware app
do you have an antivirus? try AVG Free its light on the resources perfect for a 5 year old laptop