In windows update I get error number Error number: 0x800A0046]. When I try troubleshoot I get another error. Also I want to update my drivers but don't know how. But, most of my concern is to make my computer faster. Can you help me do that.

This post has been edited by heat123: Jul 20 2008, 05:16 AM

What are your current specs, especially on the RAM and CPU? Also try defragmenting the hard drive. Windows XP really needs at least 512MB of RAM to run properly, but I'm putting 1 GB minimum in all the machines I build because RAM is so cheap.

Thanks for your help and I defragment quite often. I was wanting help for my other issues but with someone who knows this stuff quite well because I have done the basics like defragment already. Thanks.

Hey heat123,

Have a look at this article: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...kb;en-us;883821

Hi Ltangelic that did not work. Is there anything else. Also I wanted to make my computer faster. I would appreciate if you could help me with that also. Thanks.

This post has been edited by heat123: Jul 20 2008, 05:17 AM

Hey,

Did you try all the steps below?



To update drivers, have a look at this article: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial119.html
To make your computer faster, take a look at this: http://windows.about.com/od/troubleshootin...waysperform.htm

This post has been edited by Ltangelic: Jul 19 2008, 11:22 PM

I have tryed those steps to fix windows update and that didn't work. Is there any more for that error? I have figured out the driver issues so I don't need anymore help with that. Then is there anymore ways of more techinal use to speed up my computer. Have done a lot already. That article was good but I did all those already.

Regarding Windows Updates: Download and install Dial-a-Fix from my links below. Open the program and check Windows updates in WU/WUAU. Click Go.

Regarding speeding up your computer: You mentioned that you did many things but you don't specify any. There is no point in us giving advises just to hear that you already done them. Write what you did and we'll continue from there.

There are options like stopping some processes, overclocking etc. If that's what you look for then you better look in other forums that specialize in that. You can add RAM, of course, the cheapest and safest of all procedures.

Dial a Fix didn't work. It made matters worse in fact. Now it says I don't even have the necessary files for updating. It says downloading 100% then hangs left for hour and a half. I have ran disk cleanup all windows tools that are built in I have done. Have checked start up items only 2 start up. I have used atf cleaner etc. optimization tools. Have used tons of tools for free have not spent a penny. Looking for technical optimization. If you can't help me with making my computer faster can you recommend some forums that specialize in that. Thanks for all your help so far.

It's very possible that one of the tons of free tools that you used (Don't worry about free tools. I use them all the time) damaged your operating system. If you have XP installation CD place in the drive and click Exit when windows show up. Click Start > Run. Type sfc /scannow (please note the space in the command and press Enter. Windows will replace corrupt system files if there are any. Let the process run to the end.

Regarding speeding up your computer: Has it slowed down? are you trying to fix something or is it that you just want to speed it beyond it's standard capability. If it's slow because of a problem then below is a list of processes that I usually run. If you want to overclock it then I can't help you, but there are forums that deal with that.


To speed-up your computer please do the following: (For most downloads use links from the list below).

1: Click Start > run. Type msconfig. Check Selective Mode and click the "startup" tab. Uncheck everything which is not essential. Leave only antimalware programs (if you change your mind latter you can reactivate those programs). Confirm and reboot. Upon rebooting a message will show up. Please check it and continue. For laptop users: do not uncheck items that clearly relate to the operation of the computer.

2: In Add/Remove programs, in Control Panel, uninstall all unnecessary toolbars such as Yahoo, google and others. Latter on you can download them again.

3: If you have Internet Explorer 7 installed as a windows update, uninstall it in add/remove programs in control panel. This will roll you back to internet explorer 6. Latter on you can download it again as a Windows Update.

4: Download and install CCleaner. Do not install the Yahoo toolbar that comes packed with the program. In addition to items checked by default please check "Old Prefetch Data". Run the "cleaner" and "registry" options a number of times until nothing is left to be cleaned. Use the backup option (in "registry") when prompted to do so.

5: Run a thorough scan with updated antimalware programs. Use the link in my list to the malware forum and follow all the preliminary steps. Run full system scans (all files), preferably in safe mode. Run the programs one at a time,

6: Run disk defragmantation. For this operation I use and recommend Auslogic Disk Defrag. Alternatively you can run Microsoft's defragmenter.

7: Download and run PageDefrag. This program defrags registry and page files which are not defragmented by other means. Set it to work upon next boot and reboot.

8: Press ctr+alt+del to enter task manager. Under Performance tab look for "physical memory". Please report Total and Available.

9: Enter "My Computer", right-click drive C: and then Properties. Please report Capacity and Free Space of your hard disk (each partition, if you have more then one).

10: Download HD Tune and under Benchmarking run a complete performance test. Please report Average data transfer for the entire test.

The total is 260,096. The total keeps changing but is about 38,000. The capacity is 38.2 GB. The free space is 29.7 GB. That was after I did all the stuff for the slow computer section you told me to do. If I want to overclock my PC what forums would you recommend that do a good job at that. I put a screen shot as a attachment so you could see all those numbers. Which one of these cd's should I put in? Drivers and utilities, Dell Dimension ResouceCD, or the Applications cd. I don't think it is the applications one because doesn't sound right.

Transfer rate in HD Tune is OK.

You have a tiny memory in your computer. Before you even consider overclocking add RAM. Memory modules are very cheap nowadays. Add one module of at least 512 MB, even better, add 1 Gig.

Download Everest from the link in my list below. Install and run it. Click Motherboard and then click SPD. Give us the details of your present memory module, as per attached picture.

This post has been edited by The Skeptic: Jul 21 2008, 12:25 AM

Could not figure out what you did but this has more info and has what you wanted also. Here it is below. Thanks for all your help so far.



EVEREST Home Edition © 2003-2005 Lavalys, Inc.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Version EVEREST v2.20.405
Homepage http://www.lavalys.com/
Report Type Report Wizard
Computer DJDHH141 (bedroom)
Generator troy
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition 5.1.2600 (WinXP Retail)
Date 2008-07-21
Time 08:27


CPU

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CPU Properties:
CPU Type Intel Pentium 4, 2400 MHz (18 x 133)
CPU Alias Northwood, A80532
CPU Stepping D1
Instruction Set x86, MMX, SSE, SSE2
Original Clock 2400 MHz
Min / Max CPU Multiplier 18x / 18x
Engineering Sample No
L1 Trace Cache 12K Instructions
L1 Data Cache 8 KB
L2 Cache 512 KB (On-Die, ECC, ATC, Full-Speed)

CPU Physical Info:
Package Type 478 Pin uPGA
Package Size 3.50 cm x 3.50 cm
Transistors 55 million
Process Technology 6M, 0.13 um, CMOS, Cu, Low-K
Die Size 131 mm2
Core Voltage 1.475 - 1.55 V
I/O Voltage 1.475 - 1.55 V
Typical Power 38.7 - 89.0 W (depending on clock speed)
Maximum Power 49 - 109 W (depending on clock speed)

CPU Manufacturer:
Company Name Intel Corporation
Product Information http://www.intel.com/products/browse/processor.htm

CPU Utilization:
CPU #1 0 %


CPUID

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


CPUID Properties:
CPUID Manufacturer GenuineIntel
CPUID CPU Name Intel® Pentium® 4 CPU 2.40GHz
CPUID Revision 00000F29h
IA Brand ID 09h (Intel Pentium 4)
Platform ID 0Fh (Socket 478)
IA CPU Serial Number Unknown
Microcode Update Revision 2E
HTT / CMP Units 0 / 0

Instruction Set:
64-bit x86 Extension (AMD64, EM64T) Not Supported
Alternate Instruction Set Not Supported
AMD 3DNow! Not Supported
AMD 3DNow! Professional Not Supported
AMD Enhanced 3DNow! Not Supported
AMD Extended MMX Not Supported
Cyrix Extended MMX Not Supported
IA-64 Not Supported
IA MMX Supported
IA SSE Supported
IA SSE 2 Supported
IA SSE 3 Not Supported
CLFLUSH Instruction Supported
CMPXCHG8B Instruction Supported
CMPXCHG16B Instruction Not Supported
Conditional Move Instruction Supported
MONITOR / MWAIT Instruction Not Supported
RDTSCP Instruction Not Supported
SYSCALL / SYSRET Instruction Not Supported
SYSENTER / SYSEXIT Instruction Supported
VIA FEMMS Instruction Not Supported

Security Features:
Advanced Cryptography Engine (ACE) Not Supported
Data Execution Prevention (DEP, NX, EDB) Not Supported
Hardware Random Number Generator (RNG) Not Supported
Montgomery Multiplier & Hash Engine Not Supported
Processor Serial Number (PSN) Not Supported

Power Management Features:
Automatic Clock Control Supported
Enhanced Halt State (C1E) Not Supported
Enhanced SpeedStep Technology (EIST, ESS) Not Supported
Frequency ID Control Not Supported
LongRun Not Supported
LongRun Table Interface Not Supported
PowerSaver 1.0 Not Supported
PowerSaver 2.0 Not Supported
PowerSaver 3.0 Not Supported
Processor Duty Cycle Control Supported
Software Thermal Control Not Supported
Temperature Sensing Diode Not Supported
Thermal Monitor 1 Supported
Thermal Monitor 2 Not Supported
Thermal Monitoring Not Supported
Thermal Trip Not Supported
Voltage ID Control Not Supported

CPUID Features:
36-bit Page Size Extension Supported
Address Region Registers (ARR) Not Supported
CPL Qualified Debug Store Not Supported
Debug Trace Store Supported
Debugging Extension Supported
Fast Save & Restore Supported
Hyper-Threading Technology (HTT) Not Supported
L1 Context ID Supported
Local APIC On Chip Supported
Machine Check Architecture (MCA) Supported
Machine Check Exception (MCE) Supported
Memory Configuration Registers (MCR) Not Supported
Memory Type Range Registers (MTRR) Supported
Model Specific Registers (MSR) Supported
Page Attribute Table (PAT) Supported
Page Global Extension Supported
Page Size Extension (PSE) Supported
Pending Break Event Supported
Physical Address Extension (PAE) Supported
Secure Virtual Machine Extensions (Pacifica) Not Supported
Self-Snoop Supported
Time Stamp Counter (TSC) Supported
Virtual Machine Extensions (Vanderpool) Not Supported
Virtual Mode Extension Supported

CPUID Registers (CPU #1):
CPUID 00000000 00000002-756E6547-6C65746E-49656E69
CPUID 00000001 00000F29-00010809-00004400-BFEBFBFF
CPUID 00000002 665B5101-00000000-00000000-007B7040
CPUID 80000000 80000004-00000000-00000000-00000000
CPUID 80000001 00000000-00000000-00000000-00000000
CPUID 80000002 20202020-20202020-20202020-6E492020
CPUID 80000003 286C6574-50202952-69746E65-52286D75
CPUID 80000004 20342029-20555043-30342E32-007A4847

MSR Registers:
MSR 00000017 000A-0000-0000-0000
MSR 0000002A 0000-0000-0000-0000
MSR 0000002C 0000-0000-1211-0012
MSR 0000008B 0000-002E-0000-0000
MSR 0000019A 0000-0000-0000-0000
MSR 0000019B 0000-0000-0000-0000
MSR 0000019C 0000-0000-0000-0000
MSR 000001A0 0000-0000-0000-00C9


Motherboard

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Motherboard Properties:
Motherboard ID <DMI>
Motherboard Name Dell Dimension 2400

Front Side Bus Properties:
Bus Type Intel NetBurst
Bus Width 64-bit
Real Clock 133 MHz (QDR)
Effective Clock 533 MHz
Bandwidth 4267 MB/s

Memory Bus Properties:
Bus Type DDR SDRAM
Bus Width 64-bit
Real Clock 167 MHz (DDR)
Effective Clock 333 MHz
Bandwidth 2667 MB/s

Chipset Bus Properties:
Bus Type Intel Hub Interface
Bus Width 8-bit
Real Clock 67 MHz (QDR)
Effective Clock 267 MHz
Bandwidth 267 MB/s

Motherboard Manufacturer:
Company Name Dell Computer Corporation
Product Information http://www.dell.com
BIOS Download http://support.dell.com


Memory

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Physical Memory:
Total 254 MB
Used 214 MB
Free 39 MB
Utilization 85 %

Swap Space:
Total 625 MB
Used 262 MB
Free 362 MB
Utilization 42 %

Virtual Memory:
Total 879 MB
Used 477 MB
Free 401 MB
Utilization 54 %

Physical Address Extension (PAE):
Supported by Operating System Yes
Supported by CPU Yes
Active No

Problems & Suggestions:
Suggestion Install more system memory to improve applications performance.


SPD

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[ DIMM1: Nanya NT256D64S88B1G-6K ]

Memory Module Properties:
Module Name Nanya NT256D64S88B1G-6K
Serial Number 50560903h
Manufacture Date Week 49 / 2003
Module Size 256 MB (1 rank, 4 banks)
Module Type Unbuffered
Memory Type DDR SDRAM
Memory Speed PC2700 (166 MHz)
Module Width 64 bit
Module Voltage SSTL 2.5
Error Detection Method None
Refresh Rate Reduced (7.8 us), Self-Refresh

Memory Timings:
@ 166 MHz 2.5-3-3-7 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
@ 133 MHz 2.0-3-3-6 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)

Memory Module Features:
Early RAS# Precharge Not Supported
Auto-Precharge Not Supported
Precharge All Not Supported
Write1/Read Burst Not Supported
Buffered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
Registered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
On-Card PLL (Clock) Not Supported
Buffered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Registered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Differential Clock Input Supported
Redundant Row Address Not Supported

Memory Module Manufacturer:
Company Name Nanya Technology Corp.
Product Information http://www.nanya.com/e-htm/abc/abc-03.htm


Chipset

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[ North Bridge: Intel Brookdale-G i845GEV ]

North Bridge Properties:
North Bridge Intel Brookdale-G i845GEV
Revision 01
Package Type 760 Pin FC-BGA
Package Size 3.75 cm x 3.75 cm
Core Voltage 1.5 V
In-Order Queue Depth 12

Memory Timings:
CAS Latency (CL) 2.5T
RAS To CAS Delay (tRCD) 3T
RAS Precharge (tRP) 3T
RAS Active Time (tRAS) 7T

Error Correction:
ECC Not Supported
ChipKill ECC Not Supported
RAID Not Supported
ECC Scrubbing Not Supported

Memory Slots:
DRAM Slot #1 256 MB (PC2700 DDR SDRAM)

Integrated Graphics Controller:
Graphics Controller Type Intel Extreme Graphics
Graphics Controller Status Enabled
Shared Memory Size 1 MB

Chipset Manufacturer:
Company Name Intel Corporation
Product Information http://www.intel.com/products/browse/chipsets.htm
Driver Download http://support.intel.com/support/chipsets/index.htm

[ South Bridge: Intel 82801DB ICH4 ]

South Bridge Properties:
South Bridge Intel 82801DB ICH4
Revision / Stepping 81 / A1
Package Type 421 Pin BGA
Package Size 3.1 cm x 3.1 cm
Core Voltage 1.5 V

AC'97 Audio Controller:
Audio Controller Type Intel 82801DB(M) ICH4
Codec Name Analog Devices AD1981B(L)
Codec ID 41445374h
S/PDIF Output Not Supported

Chipset Manufacturer:
Company Name Intel Corporation
Product Information http://www.intel.com/products/browse/chipsets.htm
Driver Download http://support.intel.com/support/chipsets/index.htm


BIOS

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


BIOS Properties:
BIOS Type Phoenix
System BIOS Date 09/19/03
Video BIOS Date 05/12/20

BIOS Manufacturer:
Company Name Phoenix Technologies Ltd.
Product Information http://www.phoenix.com/en/products/default.htm
BIOS Upgrades http://www.esupport.com/biosagent/index.cfm?refererid=40

This post has been edited by heat123: Jul 21 2008, 06:30 AM

The reason your computer is slow is that it has just about the minimum RAM that your computer can handle. It has only one module of 256 MB out of which only 39 MB are free. On top of it, the single module that you have is relatively slow at DDR 333. I checked with Crucial, an important RAM manufacturer (a division of Micron) and your computer can handle modules of DDR 400. I would suggest the following:

1: Optimal, if somewhat more expensive solution: Buy two modules of RAM, DDR 400 (pc3200), 512 MB each. Take out the slower module, save it for emergency, and install the two new modules. This will give you 1 Gig of RAM at DDR 400.

2: More Economic: Buy one module of the same specs (512 MB, DDR 400 ) and install it in a free slot in your computer. This will give 750 MB of RAM at a lower speed (DDR 333. The new module will lower it's speed to DDR 333).

If you are not sure about how to do this (it's quite simple) you can take your computer to the shop (if they have a lab there) and they will install the new module(s) in few minutes.

I will do that but what about windows update? Still not working read last reply if you missed it on Jul 20 2008, 04:51 PM.

This post has been edited by heat123: Jul 22 2008, 07:23 AM