Is there any way(s) to speed up my computer, other than buying more memory?

Question

It takes almost 30 seconds to go from one e-mail to the next or even to delete one. I just defragmented my computer and it has 73% free space. This slowness has just recently happened, so I don't know if I accidently did something to make this happen. I have no clue as to what my next step might be to try. As you can see I'm not very computer literate. I would appreciate any detailed step by step answers. I have a Dell that's about 2 years old with Windows XP. Thanks.

Answer 1

Most computer users have been trained that if you want more speed for your computer, then add more memory. Well, this is true, in certain circumstances. But for most of the times, it really is just bad files in your registry files. Corrupted or missing registry files can make your computer too slow.
The registry is a main part of your computer's Operating System. With time, as you use Windows and install and uninstall programs, your registry will get congested and full of errors. So your computer could slow down. So, if you can clean it up this problem can be solved.Sometimes you can speed computer up by 300%. To clean up registry,You can download a software called regsitry cleaner---Clean registry,remnant,corrupt files and temp files,history,cookies,etc.. This site:
http://www.speeduppc.info/index.php?t=makepcf
lists top 5 registry cleaner,you can download and scan for free.
Good luck!

Answer 2

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.

First, 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.
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 3

Disconnect from the Internet. (unplug your modem)
Click Start, Run, type msconfig. Click the Startup tab. Click the disable all button.
Click OK
It will prompt you to restart your computer.
Check stuff out and see if it is faster.
It will give you a message about selective startup when you reboot.
Click Start, Run, type msconfig. Click the Startup tab. Put a checkbox by anything that seems like antivirus software you should be running.
Click OK, and restart.
Plug your internet back in and test it out.

From Internet Explorer, go to tools, internet options. On the General tab, delete temporary internet files and clear history.

These things are the primary ones that are an easy fix to make your computer faster.

I would also download and run Clean-up. I put the link below.

Answer 4

How much RAM do you have on your system?

Did you recently install new software or update your XP? If so, that may be the culprit. If you recently upgrade to Internet Explorer 7, that has been known to cause the computer to slow down a bit.

Are you running a lot of applications at the same time, or leaving your computer on without rebooting? Its recommended to reboot every so often.

If it just suddenly began running slow, you may either have a virus, or spyware Try doing a virus scan at a site like http://housecall.trendmicro.com .. If you don't already have a updated anti-virus subscription, I would definitely recommend one ASAP. If all that checks out, try running a spyware cleaner. Ones that I recommend are Ad-Aware, and Spybot.

Ad-aware: http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
Spybot: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

Both software are free.

Answer 5

If its a problem only with checking mails then it might be that you have an internet connection with low bandwidth.then nothing can be done except that you go to your internet dealer and change your plan.

If your system is also slow then

You might have dumped all your files into C drive.And the remaining are free.
You might have installed many softwares which run in the background.So delete some softwares which u think are useless.

Answer 6

There could be several things causing this. I'll try to help. You may need to clean up your browser history. Alot depends on the kind of sites you visit. To clean up browser history (if you have IE7), click on Tools, then internet options. You will probably need to have someone who is computer savy to help you with maintanence.

Answer 7

1) Start>>run>>Msconfig and press enter
2) Goto Startup
3) Click to Disable all
4) Reboot

Answer 8

Sounds like you picked up a virus. Run a scan with your antivirus program and see if it picks anything up. If you don't have an anti-virus program you can download good low cost programs like AVG. Google AVG or antivirus.

Answer 9

Check 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.
Good luck!