Recommendations for a slow PC?

Question

Our 5 year old Compaq has been running very slow lately. I tried to run Ad-aware to see if we had any spyware running, but it keeps encountering errors and can never complete the scan and delete issues. There are tons of sites out there with software for spyware and also to clean up your registry. Which is recommended and safe to use?

Answer 1

There are some comparison and review of TOP 5 registry cleaners.
http://www.fix-system.com/index.php?t=fixsys

Answer 2

Old windows installations tend to slow down over time. It's why most enthusiasts tend to reinstall windows every so often. Though for an older computer you might want to try linux. If you're just doing web surfing and email and maybe some media it should be perfectly usable.

http://www.ubuntu.com

It's a live cd so you can boot off of it and play with linux a bit. It will be slower than a hard drive install but it won't change anything on your computer until you tell it to install.

Answer 3

There are a lot of things you can do for yourself to increase speed. It may look formidable to you, but if you run through these you will see that after you get used to it, it only involves a few mouseclicks and believe me, it's worth it.

1. Set wallpaper and screensavers to blank or none — they run continuously in the background and use memory.
2. Review your start menu – remove anything you don’t need on a daily basis — load games, etc. on an as-needed basis.
3. From Internet Explorer, Tools, Internet Options: delete cookies, delete files (offline), and clear history. (You can also set days to store history to 0.)
----- These actions will clear your computer’s cache. (For a description of cache, go to http://help.yahoo.com/l/ph/yahoo/mail/access/access-27210.html )
4. Run Disk Cleanup, Scandisk, Defrag at least every two weeks (the more frequently they are run, the less time they take).
5. Periodically, click Start, Programs, Run — they type ipconfig renew
(that’s ipconfig space renew).

These things should increase speed and free up memory as much as possible.
It will also help if you download two free programs: Ad-aware and Spybot .

Good web sites to visit: http://www.theonlinefamily.net/organize/spring_clean_computer/index.html
http://wehow.ehow.com/how_2007317_keep-computer-running-fast-smooth.html

***********************************

Spring Cleaning Help from Microsoft
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA100970121033.aspx?pid=CH011085921033

Answer 4

i do this for friends all the time.

you need multiple anti-virus and spyware apps, not just one.

one app may stop so try another until you can get rid of SOME of the net s.t.d.'s so you can run a diff app and remove MORE of them til you're free of all of them, then prevent ALL from occurring again

Go to download.com and get all these FREE apps:

1. spywareblaster - it'll prevent viruses etc from even installing. make sure you enable all protections after updating it each week.

2. spyware doctor - update it each week and run weekly.

3. spybot s&d - update weekly, immunize, & run weekly.

4. ad-aware SE persona- update weekly & run wkly.

5. avg 7.5 - update weekly and setup the scheduler to run wkly

6. ccleaner - update everytime and run wkly

7. regscrub xp - run wkly (will not work on Vista)

Answer 5

Hope this Helps a little..

Go to Start>All Programs>Accessories>System's Tool>Click Disk Defraggmenter

From there Choose "Defragging"

It will compressed your Files ...

This will help up to increased your Speed..


Note:Don't have more than one Anti Virus ..will have comflict with each other..

It's Ok to have more than one "SpyWare"...

FireWall...

Download "Window's Defender" as your FireWall....


"SpyBot" for MalAware...

"Nod32" for your Anti Virus...

OR...."KasperSky" Anti Virus


Note:Don't believe on "AVG Free edition"...It sucks!!I still get Virus so I buy a Anti Virus Software..

Don't believe in the saying "The Best thing in Life are FREE"....

Not on Computers ok...

Just come to think of it...Why they are selling AV software? for what?..If it's FREE to ..DownLoad

Do you think any company will try to Market it?

The best:Try to upgrade your Specs

Answer 6

Ad-aware is a scam. It brings in more than it keeps out. The only real answer is to replace your computer. Old processors can't handle new software very well.

Answer 7

CCleaner is the best free registry cleaner
Spybot S&D is my fave spyware remover
AVG is a good free antivirus

Answer 8

Make sure you optimize your PC with right stuff which not drag slower you PC. Get the useful resources at http://www.clickaudit.com/goto/?71493

Answer 9

guy>>> eliminate this antiviruses all of them suck. im attempting to describe human beings to give up making use of antiviruses cos tey decelerate u laptop and that they aint do n e ingredient only consume lots of reminiscence... as quickly as u have virus in ur laptop antivirus would finde it and delete it. yet virusl already completed super harm to ur laptop . like tousled ur equipment settings and all form of stuff. n e way all antiviruses suck.. solid ingredient is registryfix and secret agent ware cleaners. they do clean and attach ur residing house windows. antivirus sucks. so ur difficulty i assume is u would desire to do finished test of ur HDD. and decide scadule day ne month week day u like. solid luck bear in mind ANTIVIRUS SUCKS AND ITS only EATS lots of reminiscence

Answer 10

This is a real good one and the one I use :
http://majorgeeks.com/Advanced_WindowsCare_v2_Personal_d4991.html

And its completely free