[Paranoid Android]

Hi there I am hoping you are my salvation!
I am not at all technically minded, its about as much as I can do to switch our PC on, I leave anything more complicated to the wife so I can complain when things go wrong!
We have a Compaq Presario with a Celeron D processor, have been happy with it up to now.
BUT recently its going slower and slower!
We've tried defragging, disk clean etc but nothing seems to help.
We don't have a huge amount of programmes running, any suggestions on how we can speed things up that don't involve buying a new base unit!!!

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do you have norton

[mash potato]

do you have norton

[Paranoid Android]

No did have until the wife said it was rubbish and installed AVG 7.5 instead???

[mash potato]

i don't really know about avg

is it a free download or did you buy it

could give me enlightenment

[Paranoid Android]

Bought it! Its an Interney Security package anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-spam, firewall, free updates etc
It tells you when its updating so I expect slowness then but this isn't just since that was installed, we have that about 6 months and the slowness has been for about 2???
Thanks

[mash potato]

right,

my norton has some extra possible downloads. 1 of which is pc optimzer and disk check cleaner.

do you know if avg has similar downloads that came with the cd

[Paranoid Android]

No nothing like that! Its just a virus checker etc...

[Mr Freeze]

you can do some simple things here

1- Download ATF CLEANER >>Install it and run it

Download it from here>> http://www.atribune....c...5&Itemid=25

2- Defragment your harddrive press the start Button on your left buttom of your screen
Click on ALL PROGRAMS >>move cursor to ACCESSORIES>>SYSTEM TOOLS>>Click On DISK DEFRAGMENTER>>Just press DEFRAGMENT>>this may take awhile depending on your harddrive so be patient and let it finish

3-Run a CHECK DISK start Button on your left buttom of your screen Click on RUN>> In the small window Type this in chkdsk /r Click ok>>on the command window you see a flashing white bar Type Y for yes Press ENTER on your keyboard >>>>You will get a warning saying check disk cannot run ...another volume is using it.... Do you wish to schedule it....Just RESTART your computer.....

NOTE When you type chkdsk /r >>there a space between the k and the /
At the restart of your computer CHECK DISK will run...Again this will take about 1 1/2 to 2 hours to reach desktop
so DO NOT DISTURB this...Once its complete your computer will restart to normal windows

Doing these three steps without any issues with your computer it should increase performance
Another concern for having a slow performance is your RAM
To determine how much RAM you have installed you can find out by checking your SYSTEM PROPERTIES To do this just >>>PRESS THE WINDOWS KEY on your keyboard and PRESS PAUSE/BREAK KEY
WINDOWS KEY is between your CTRL and ALT>>>>>PAUSE/BREAK is on the upper right above the NUM LOCK KEY
Your SYSTEM PROPERTIES will pop-up on that window look for any of these possible numbers that match your RAM 128MB>>256MB>> 512MB>>1.0GB or 1024MB.....
Other possibilities of slow computer is Not needed Programs running in the background >>>>malware
But start with the three steps first

Edited by Mr Freeze, 02 April 2008 - 04:04 PM.

[happyrock]

click on start...run...type in msconfig...press enter...click on startup tab...
uncheck everything EXCEPT your AV and firewall...
if its a laptop you have to be careful about what you uncheck or your touch pad and wireless and things
like that will not function for you..
google each start up item to decide if you need it to load with windows...
unchecking them does not remove them ..they are still available to use...

these tweaks will speed you up some...
turn off indexing...click ...START...MY COMPUTER...right click on the hard drive...properties..uncheck allow indexing
and compress drive...then click on OK...when it asks about subfolders say YES...it will take a little while to finish...

go to add/remove programs and get rid of anything you don't want or use
get rid of real player... Quicktime ...and Adobe reader
they are resource hogs
get CCLEANER here
To clean your temp folder, recycle bin, etc..please download this free tool...

CCleaner

Don't install any Toolbars, or other programs, should it ask you!Just
uncheck the option of installing the Yahoo toolbar....if you get
the slim version it does not have the toolbar
thats the one I recommend...
It will put a shortcut on your Desktop.

Before first use...
Select Options then Advanced.
UNCHECK "Only delete files in Windows Temp folder older than 48 hours"
The rest of the standard settings are fine...

Click on CCleaner to start it. Then click "Run Cleaner"

DO NOT USE ANY OF THE OTHER TOOLS...RUNNING THEM MAY CAUSE OTHER PROBLEMS

this replace's Adobe reader
Foxit Reader is a free utility that includes some tools that Adobe lacks, including
a "typewriter" tool that lets you type text over any PDF, and edit any of the text they contain.
not just files that have been set with form fields.
Foxit launches very quickly (in about one second) and it requires no installation...
It allows you open, view, print, and change the page layout in PDF files. For some functions, such as the typewriter function,
FoxIt Reader shows an ad for FoxIt Reader Pro. However, these functions still work with minor limitations.
get foxit reader

I highly recommend these alternatives to quicktime and real player..
they both are
- Quick and easy install..about 30 seconds..
- No background processes
- Low on resources
- Smaller size

http://www.free-code...alternative.htm
http://www.free-code...Alternative.htm

Edited by happyrck, 02 April 2008 - 06:23 PM.