Why has my PC...

[PazzaAE86]

Hi guys.. Just wondering a lil somthing about my PC..

When we bought it about a year ago or whatever, it rocked the mad party.. Really fast, no RAM issues when loading up programs like IE and Windows Media Player etc and everything was super spiffy.. Windows XP, 2 GB Processor, 256 RAM, DVD Rom, CD Writer, 80GB HDD, cool sound set up etc.. Got like 36GB of HDD space left too..

In the last few months, the PC seems to have taken a huge shit and it takes days to load anything up and is really slugish somtimes.. Like, for example, the screen saver has come on for a while.. Then you come to use the PC and try to load Internet Explorer, Media Player and a Chat software thingy and basically, sometimes it takes like 5 minutes to open the stupid IE window. Media Player takes its time often too, sometimes freezing and shit like that..

I mean, ive de-fragged the HDD quite a bit and even after this it still seems to suck.. What can i do, short of formatting (which some people have told me you cant do with Windows XP)?

Thanks

Paz

[Nos]

Stick more ram in it, ive just added another 256 pc2100 and the difference is amazing. Goto Crucial i got mine delivered for £27 :D

[PhilMorrison]

Unfortunatly, I've found that it simply comes down to a ground up re-install when it gets to this stage.. I was going through a stage when I was doing this every 2 months, as I was installing so much audio software, now I've been running for about 6months on the same install.. When u re-install XP it lets u format the drive, but obviously u loose all ur data (presumably plenty of drift clips ;) ) I would recommend a seperate system HDD and keep the other 1 for storage :)

[PazzaAE86]

13 GB of Drift Clips :)

So, first step would be to buy another HDD to put all the important stuff on (said drift clips :D ) and go from there.. I really should get the PC's boxes out of the attic to see if i have the Windows XP installation disc..

Oh, and both of the CD/DVD drives dont work properly. They dont actually know when you have put a new CD in untill you force it to look for it.. And i cant write any data to CD's anymore. Poop.

Thanks

Paz

[PhilMorrison]

deffo time for a re-install ;) if needed I can bring software to the next drift day all legit like ;)

[R33-Drifter]

If you've got legit software Phil ;) Wouldn't mind Windows XP :)

Got copies at work, but dont how to get around the activation key thingy :(

[piehound]

yep a complete reformat is your only cure

pieman

[Duff Man]

Also a certain windows xp update is known to cause massive slowdowns, AVOID IT! :( :


811493: Security Update (Windows XP)
Download size: 5.8 MB, 4 minutes
A security issue has been identified that could allow an attacker to compromise a computer running Microsoft® Windows® XP and gain complete control over it. An attacker would need the ability to log onto the computer locally to carry out an attack. You can help protect your computer by installing this update from Microsoft. After you install this update, you may have to restart your computer. Read more...

[PazzaAE86]

How would i go about removing said update? Ive found it, and it is indeed installed.. So can i remove it? Im sure ive done somthing like this before...

Thanks

Paz

[Duff Man]

Start -> Control Panel -> Add or Remove Software -> Find it at the bottom of the list somewhere -> remove it, reboot :)

Hope that helps, it slowed my pc down to a slugs pace when the automatic updater installed it :mad:

[Midgers]

have you tried deleting all the temporary internet files? I had squillions and it's made my pc LOADS faster getting rid of em all :)

[Ant]

Also defrag your disk. Just done mine today, and noticed some performance improvement. Disk I/O is a bottleneck of any computer system, so is always a good place start. :)

[Andy Dee]

Keep folders filled with files off your desktop too. Larger profile slows it down.

[Ally McC]

Originally posted by Adam D
Also a certain windows xp update is known to cause massive slowdowns, AVOID IT! :( :

811493: Security Update (Windows XP)



Had exactly the same problem.

Was considering all kinds of horrible solutions until an 'IT Mgr' mate told me about the Automatic Update that Adam D mentioned above.

Deleted the update and back into the fast lane :) Then disabled Automatic Update ;)

I recommend anyone with Windows XP to make sure this update is not causing their slowdown probs before spending any more ££.

[mattpayne]

oohh.. :) i got that update installed.. and my PC still flys along!... :D P4 1.8gb, 800meg ram, SCSii160 hard drives... :thumbs:

and what you need is the corporate product key for XP no activation needed...

[Dave_S]

Which *cough* PMing me won't get you *Cough*

Oooh matt, Ultra160 drives?? :thumbs: got any spare :D

Dave

[mattpayne]

I wish dave!!! :) need more myself... but the thought of paying for em is making me sick!!!

[BanjoMaster]

Originally posted by PazzaAE86
13 GB of Drift Clips :)

Paz

/BanjoMaster's ears ***** up like a puppy