how to increase speed of my laptop?

Question

i am an civil engineer and have a hcl laptop with 40 gb hdd & window-xp. i use it for my daily docs and graphic drawings. it is running very slow from last 3 months. even starting, refreshing and opening 'my documents' folder also take too much time then earlier. pl. guid me to make it faster, thks!

Answer 1

First Disable unnecessary programs from starting when you start windows

Start>Run>type in MSCONFIG>Startup tab - uncheck any program you don't want to run when you start Windows
For more info see the links below

Streamline your startups
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm
http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm
http://www.windowsstartup.com/wso/index.php
http://www.3feetunder.com/krick/startup/list.html
http://www.greatis.com/appdata/
http://www.castlecops.com/StartupList.html

Then disable unnecessary services
http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,1786006,00.asp

Then read these

Basic computer maintenance everyone should do
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=106650

Understanding, Cleaning And Preventing Spyware
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=25834

Getting greater stability from Windows
http://aumha.org/a/health.htm

Slow Computer? Check here first; it may not be malware
http://www.castlecops.com/t175258-Slow_Computer_Check_here_first_it_may_not_be_malware.html

Slow Computer Checklist
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic44694.html


Last but not least read these for some great tips!

How to Speed Up Windows Boot Time
http://www.pchell.com/support/how_to_speed_up_windows_boot_time.shtml
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,1786122,00.asp
http://www.pcguide.com/opt/opt/bootSpeed-c.html
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=235571

Answer 2

How To Increase Laptop Speed

Answer 3

How To Boost Laptop Speed

Answer 4

If your HD is 40 GB, I assume it's one of the old one's--few years old and would not have more than 512 MB RAM. You must be running AutoCad and finding it very slow on that. You may have to increase your RAM to 1 GB, although I don't really think you should have too much problem in running ACAD if you have 512 RAM. You may also try to use a 'Portable' version of AutoCad that I'm aware is available. It does not require to be installed in the computer. It is able to run from a CD and does not tax your sytem resources. You might also try to use older version of AutoCad like 2004 version that takes up far less RAM than the later ones--2006, 2007, 2008. The functionality of the older version would be quite enough that you may need as an engineer. If you are continuously or intermittently connected to the internet, you should also think if adwares and spywares are catching on to vital system resources that AutoCad demands. Ad-awareSE and SpyBot S&D 14 are the programs that you can download free from the net and run them once a day to keep your system fast. You could also run Registry Mechanic 5.1 to rectify several registry errors that occur as you work on and on with the adwares & spywares present in the system. Of course, I trust that you run disk cleanup and defragmenter utilities regularly. If not, then that could be one major reason.

Answer 5

If your virus/spyware free, there are a couple things you can do get your computer working faster. If you using your computer for normal stuff and not gaming. You don't always need more RAM you just need to perform a few maintenance task.

Firstly, if you haven't cleaned your registry in a while. This is necessary. Your registry holds all the information regarding updates, installs, un-installs etc. Each one of those events produces a key. That key needs your PC's resources and free space. So, if you clean your registry, you make more resources available for speed. Do a registry scan if you got more than 20 errors you should clean it.
http://www.delete-computer-history.com/what-is-the-best-registry-cleaner.html

2. Clear your Windows cache files, this is your temporary file. It can grow up to a large volume and stop your computer from using RAM properly. In a sense slow it down by preventing it from using free space.Here is how:

1. Quit Internet Explorer, Firefox, or any other web browser
2. Click Start, click "Control Panel", and then double-click "Internet Options".
3. On the General tab, click "Delete Files" under Temporary Internet Files.
4. In the Delete Files dialog box, click to select the "Delete all offline content" check box , and then click OK.
5. Click OK.

3. Manage your startups. Your excess CPU usage is due to too many programs running in the background. You can cut these to barebones by alter your msconfig. Here is how:

1. Open your Start menu.
2. Click Run
3. In the command screen type "msconfig.exe"
4. In the "system configuration utility",click either "service" or "startup" tab
5. Uncheck all programs that your are no longer using.
6. Click "OK"

Other great tip is increasing your virtual memory to simulate more RAM. This will give you a bit more resources for multiple program use or CPU heavy programs. Check the link to alter your virtual memory spec.

Hope this link helps. Shows you how to do everything step by step. You should get a least 60-120% more resources and speed
if you follow the tips.

Answer 6

XP with Service Pack 2 runs better with 512MB RAM, if you have less than that. Add more RAM - 10% faster.

It sounds like an older laptop. Back up all personal and corporate data FIRST. Then, use your laptop Recovery CDs to reset to "Factory Clean". Re-install all Programs and restore your Back ups.

I guarantee a 20 - 50% speed increase on top of the RAM boost.

Answer 7

There are number of reasons, for which your PC mgiht be responding slow. Though you can follow following general steps, which could help you here..

1) Clean up all old unwanted files. Make sure temporary files cache is deleted from your laptop even from recycle bin.

2) Run Disk Defragment.

3) Remove unwanted programs and start up entries.

4) Make sure Anti virus is updated and you are not victim of virus or any spyware programs.

5) Increase the paging file size. How much memory is installed/available on your pc?

Answer 8

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.speeduppc.info/
You can download and scan your computer for free.

Answer 9

I am a developer at Microsoft so I know a thing or two about computers. The best PC cleaner and antivirus program is PC Health Boost, it's very light and it's the only antivirus/cleaner with a 99.99% detection rate.

It's also a PC booster so your computer will be running faster than nomal. Download it here for free: http://www.pcboostsoftware.com

Answer 10

First of all uninstall the programs that you don't need in the control panel, and I think you should add a card of RAM memory.

back up your documents and format your laptop.

be happy!!!