How can I speed up my PC
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RichardSwt wrote:Hi Stig,
Pretty much agree with most of the above, but it is worth saying that 1Gb of RAM isn't very much and RAM is pretty cheap these days.
It'd be well worth spending a bit of cash on upgrading that to 2Gb, 4Gb, or even 8Gb. You will be surprised the difference it makes.
If your not confident taking you computer to bits, you'll need a computer literate friend, but it's not a huge operation and well worth the money.
There are on-line tools available to help you choose the right sort of RAM, but I'm not familiar with these. A friend who knows what they're doing is a better option.
Has the OP confirmed which version of Vista he is using? Installing 8GB of RAM on a 32 bit OS is pointless. Also, running a defrag would be a waste of time as the OP would never gain, in performance terms, the amount of time wasted doing the defrag....2010 Lynskey R230
2013 Yeti SB660 -
dodgy wrote:dmch2 wrote:It's also worth noting that some AV programs default to scanning every file as you access it. This can easily halve (or worse) the performance of the PC.
Provided you take care not to click on dodgy links in spam emails or go to dodgy sites you can turn this off and just get it to do a full scan every week.
Isn't that the whole point of AV though? To save the user from themselves?
Sorry, but I think disabling real time AV protection 'as long as you're careful' is pretty bad advice.
Some AV programs are worse than the effect of any virus. So if you set them to be one step back from their most obtrusive mode then you get a decent balance.
If nothing else you can always try disconnecting the PC from the ADSL line (so no new virus can possibly attack you), turning of the AV program and seeing if it speeds up or not.
Call me cynical but some computer shops seem to sell you an AV program for £50, then when you complain it's slow they sell you more RAM for another £50...2010 Trek 1.5 Road - swissstop green, conti GP4000S
2004 Marin Muirwoods Hybrid0 -
neiltb wrote:Pross wrote:Can any of the anti-virus software work if it can't connect to the internet? As this is the problem on the laptop in question any free software that needs to access the internet won't work for me.
father in law had the same issue, anther computer and a USB stick is your friend.
these viruses can be a bit of a pain, i did one sweep to get it going a bit and then a system restore to a few weeks back.
Thanks. The problem I've got is that all the AV software I've tried seems to automatically try to contact the internet. I understand tha it needs to do this to update and ensure it covers any new viruses but to sort out the initial problem I need it to just run from its file. Anyone recommend a free AV software that can overcome this issue?0 -
Avast free, 55MB so ready has database and all files.Say... That's a nice bike..
Trax T700 with Lew Racing Pro VT-1 ;-)0 -
Errr, I defrag my computer when I'm not sitting at it, do you like to sit and watch all the nice coloured bits moving around?jrduquemin wrote:...running a defrag would be a waste of time as the OP would never gain, in performance terms, the amount of time wasted doing the defrag....0 -
yes I do
Say... That's a nice bike..
Trax T700 with Lew Racing Pro VT-1 ;-)0 -
the malware that you have likely isn;t all that sneaky, install and run malwarebytes and adaware (both free), that'll likely get rid of it.
I put windows defender on afterwards and the combination has had no problems since.FCN 120 -
bompington wrote:
Errr, I defrag my computer when I'm not sitting at it, do you like to sit and watch all the nice coloured bits moving around?jrduquemin wrote:...running a defrag would be a waste of time as the OP would never gain, in performance terms, the amount of time wasted doing the defrag....
i used to like watching defrag when id got in from a nightclub
'dont forget lads, one evertonian is worth twenty kopites'0 -
The windows 95 defragger was much more entertaining than subsequent versions. Windows 7 has no graphics at all.fast as fupp wrote:bompington wrote:
Errr, I defrag my computer when I'm not sitting at it, do you like to sit and watch all the nice coloured bits moving around?jrduquemin wrote:...running a defrag would be a waste of time as the OP would never gain, in performance terms, the amount of time wasted doing the defrag....
i used to like watching defrag when id got in from a nightclub
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After what seems a lifetime working with them, I can confirm that the best way to speed up a PC is to chuck it out of a window and let gravity do the job for you!0
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bompington wrote:The windows 95 defragger was much more entertaining than subsequent versions. Windows 7 has no graphics at all.
+1
In the old DOS days, I could watch defrag for hours.
Entertaining stuff.0 -
One thing that hasn't been mentioned. Windows added an indexer to mine to make searching faster. It isn't a one click to turn it off either but doing so seriously improved my computers speed. Apparently I may have to wait longer when searching, which I never do.A biking runner
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Thanks for all the advice on here, I managed to get both our laptops sorted last night. Both now running far quicker and the virus causing internet connection issues on my daughter's is now fixed 0
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dodgy wrote:fast as fupp wrote:wipe the hard drive and install ubuntu
It's surprising how often you see that advice given on forums without any attempt to understand the needs of the original poster.
Ah the need for a pc to just work i remember the the good old days defraging,rebooting,wait to install updates,rebooting,blue screen of death,rebooting,going very sslllooooowwww!
Sorry i'm with fast as fupp on this one Ubuntu or linux Mint.
stigofthedump also asked about another os system (mac) i believe dodgy so why hit on fast as fupp? it's just what you are used to or have the nerve to try.
"I do need windows as i also use it at work (i am a teacher). Also Mrs stig and all the young stigs use the computer too"-stigofthedump.
All my family use ubuntu and windows is loaded on it in case they want to use it.
In some countries they use Ubuntu not Windows they must be mad!
It's just that you get used to paying the sh*t.
Mmm my chains dirty i think it's time to go to shop for a new faster one.
stigofthedump a good site for all the (windows)stuff you might need is http://www.download.com0 -
You always get all this install Linux shite, it's a load of bollox.
Windows has moved on from XP.0 -
Well I think ubuntu is faster than any Windows OS, and doesn't require as much high end hardware. If all you're doing is surfing, printing, office, burning Linux is great. But Windows is for gaming. I have Ubuntu 64bit and Windows XP 32bit dual boot.Say... That's a nice bike..
Trax T700 with Lew Racing Pro VT-1 ;-)0 -
To stop Ubuntu from looking FUGLY you have to mess about lots more than with Windows, and it's the same for once simple things are not simple in Linux.0
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freehub wrote:To stop Ubuntu from looking FUGLY you have to mess about lots more than with Windows, and it's the same for once simple things are not simple in Linux.
hey look its mr WRONGO being wrong!'dont forget lads, one evertonian is worth twenty kopites'0 -
freehub wrote:You always get all this install Linux shite, it's a load of bollox.
Windows has moved on from XP.
Nothing wrong with XP, (now anyway). I use 32 bit XP on my little netbook, and XPx64 on my desktop. Both fast enough, and very stable. It's not unusual for my desktop to be on for nearly 30 days without me having to reboot it.
Vista seemed like a step backwards from XP, but granted Windows 7 dose look like a improvement.
I'd like to try Linux, but to be honest I'm happy with XPx64 on my main machine and have no real reason to change.0 -
freehub wrote:You always get all this install Linux shite, it's a load of bollox.
Windows has moved on from XP.
Very grown up of you,thank you for putting me straight.
You always get all this install Linux shite because it's good if you give it a chance.
Oh i was wrong to say "It's just that you get used to paying for sh*t. "sorry but you don't get what you pay for that's all.
Someone told me about Linux Mint on a forum i tried it i liked it and it did "speed up my PC" as the post asked.
You (maybe)tried it you didn't and i annoyed you by offering help/choice to someone.
Oh i moved from Windows7 not XP for the record but stigofthedump has sorted his PC so all is good.0 -
d XPx64 on my desktop
Xp64 is pretty much dead in the water, Windows 7 64bit has far greater hardware support.Say... That's a nice bike..
Trax T700 with Lew Racing Pro VT-1 ;-)0 -
Father Jack wrote:d XPx64 on my desktop
Xp64 is pretty much dead in the water, Windows 7 64bit has far greater hardware support.
I'm sure your right, it never had great support, even when it was a more current OS. But seems to work for me. I know I should, and will upgrade to Windows 7, but:"If it ain't broke, don't fix it".0 -
yeah I don't like Windows 7 either, also my hardware isn't latest and has problems (black screen of death) could do with more RAM as well (64 bit) as 64 bit allocates twice as much memory. Some games seem slower in Windows 7 then they do in XP, but that could be memory....or just that 7 is more resource hungry. Ubuntu is blazing fast though.Say... That's a nice bike..
Trax T700 with Lew Racing Pro VT-1 ;-)0 -
fast as fupp wrote:freehub wrote:To stop Ubuntu from looking FUGLY you have to mess about lots more than with Windows, and it's the same for once simple things are not simple in Linux.
hey look its mr WRONGO being wrong!
Hey look GO AWAY.D@VE wrote:freehub wrote:You always get all this install Linux shite, it's a load of bollox.
Windows has moved on from XP.
Very grown up of you,thank you for putting me straight.
You always get all this install Linux shite because it's good if you give it a chance.
Oh i was wrong to say "It's just that you get used to paying for sh*t. "sorry but you don't get what you pay for that's all.
Someone told me about Linux Mint on a forum i tried it i liked it and it did "speed up my PC" as the post asked.
You (maybe)tried it you didn't and i annoyed you by offering help/choice to someone.
Oh i moved from Windows7 not XP for the record but stigofthedump has sorted his PC so all is good.
Linux never made your PC run faster. It might be less resource intensive than a Windows OS but that does not make it better. People who are not bothered about ugly dated looking OS's and just use a PC to browse the web then I guess it's fine. But people who think it's better than Windows are wrong.0 -
Win 7 has poor SCSI support - unless you have 39160 upwards (and it took Adaptec long enough to decide to provide a driver for that). It means that a few businesses will stick to XP or Server 2003 for a while yet. Still, it encouraged me to flash one of my 29160 cards and stick it in one of the Macs. No fear of the card becoming obsolete for a while now. Microsoft may have moved on from XP, but Vista has gained a bad reputation and Win 7 has a bit to go before it rivals XP's share of the market. It is gaining popularity, however.freehub wrote:But people who think it's better than Windows are wrong.
One wonders why there are so many Linux servers in the world......0 -
Since when was this about servers?0
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I always install a distro of linux on people's computers when they have a history of allowing their computers to be brought down by spyware/crapware/virii.
Personally I won't use Linux as my main OS, as I get along with windows, although I dual boot some distros with Windows 7. I run 4 computers with Windows 7 on, and it's a quality OS.
Oh and the 32bit OS not allowing more 4GB of RAM is a myth - a thing called PAE exists that enables you to use more than 4GB. (OK Windows 32bit won't see more than 4GB, but that's not 32bit's fault)0 -
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Why do people get hung up about the OS?
At home your only concenr should be the applications you want to run. You then pick the best OS for those apps.
I run Win7 at home. It's excellent.
At work I have a Win XP box. It's a little flakey, but hey, it's a corporate box - what do you expect.
I couldn't use a Mac at home or work as the software I need donesn't run on a Mac. There are Mac alternatives, but none that I prefer (although I'd like Aperture). Linux at home? Heh, don't made me laugh. I've had suse, mandrake, debian, solaris10 and redhat. I often go to dual boot, install a *nix then never use it. Everytime I booted up I chose windows. I gave up trying to use other OSs ages ago. I thought I'd write some cool apps in perl/java on linux but I never quite got round to it.
I have nearly 1000 RHEL blades at work though, plus solaris and even windows servers.
Best tool for the job, innit?0 -
Linux ugly dated OS? What planet are you on? I'm on Ubuntu 10.04 64 bit now and it looks lovely. And as for applications under Linux- heard of Wine? Photoshop works fine under it. Just setup my printer that's running from my NAS, no problem (last time did not work) So it's getting better and better all the time. Flash now works (that was a biggie) Just need acrobat 64bit. Having a few things like auto-mapped drives on boot but probably figure that out.
Linux isn't for everyone, but since it's free, and low in resource, comes with everything, easy to install extra applicationss, and more secure/unlikely to be infected by a virus, spyware or adaware free, and faster because you don't need AV and clean up once a month with spybot, and customisiable to how you want it, you'd have to be a fool not to give it a try.
I've recently replaced XP on my brothers dated laptop, geting sick of him whining of his slow computer.Say... That's a nice bike..
Trax T700 with Lew Racing Pro VT-1 ;-)0
