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[ParadigmDawg]

But I did that and it didn't help much.

Backup all you important files, Find original System restore and do whole pc wipe and restore to original state...

This is basically what Best Buy's Geek Squad would do anyhow, but charge you $300 for this.

 

[Fenix]

The other thing is not just programs taking CPU cycles, but also using your valuable system memory.

How much RAM does your system have?

For Win XP I like to have 2GB+ (I currently have 4GB)

For Win 7, I don't know yet, hopefully I'll be getting that for Christmas and reinstalling everything during the weekend, then I should have an idea.

If you have something like 512MB of RAM than definately upgrade that to 1GB+, past 1GB you don't get a huge performance increase, but you'll surely notice it when you go from 512MB to 1GB.

Anyways...that's something else to look at.

Also it was previously suggested to go through your task list of programs running and google the names to see if you need them. You can kill them, then kill their startup process to free up some of that memory and speed things up a bit.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

But I did that and it didn't help much.

In this case download this little app:
http://www.almico.com/speedfan440.exe

Install and run, check out SMART Tab to check whats the health of your harddrive - they are typically faulty for slow speeds (Granted you did FULL OS reinstall)

 

[Adam]

Greg, did you check out the speed of your computer after doing the OS reinstall but before you put your files back on? If there's some malware causing it, it could have easily come back when you reinstalled your backup files.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

3 GB RAM

Vista OS

The other thing is not just programs taking CPU cycles, but also using your valuable system memory.

How much RAM does your system have?

For Win XP I like to have 2GB+ (I currently have 4GB)

For Win 7, I don't know yet, hopefully I'll be getting that for Christmas and reinstalling everything during the weekend, then I should have an idea.

If you have something like 512MB of RAM than definately upgrade that to 1GB+, past 1GB you don't get a huge performance increase, but you'll surely notice it when you go from 512MB to 1GB.

Anyways...that's something else to look at.

Also it was previously suggested to go through your task list of programs running and google the names to see if you need them. You can kill them, then kill their startup process to free up some of that memory and speed things up a bit.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I didn't check the before and after speeds.

Greg, did you check out the speed of your computer after doing the OS reinstall but before you put your files back on? If there's some malware causing it, it could have easily come back when you reinstalled your backup files.

 

[Adam]

Just send me the laptop and the Rotel and I'll fix the laptop and send it back.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I downloaded but can't seem to pull up anything under the SMART tab.

In this case download this little app:
http://www.almico.com/speedfan440.exe

Install and run, check out SMART Tab to check whats the health of your harddrive - they are typically faulty for slow speeds (Granted you did FULL OS reinstall)

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Done.

I may have just spent all my laptop money on Sushi and scotch...

Just send me the laptop and the Rotel and I'll fix the laptop and send it back.

 

[Boerd]

So I have about had it with my CPU. It got "sick" about a year ago and is very slow now. I tried to dump everything and then reload (I don't have a clue when it comes to computers) but it only helped a little.

I think I would like to just buy a laptop and get rid of this thing. What should I be looking for?

Criteria:

Would prefer to just buy it from a local B&M store
Windows 7?
Need the basic MS work programs
Need a good amount of memory (3 or 4 GB?)
Need it to be fast

What else is important?

Keep in mind that I stream all my music to my AVR using WAV files from WMP11.

I would like to keep it under $500 if possible.

Try cleaning your registry first (free software for this):
http://www.eusing.com/free_registry_cleaner/registry_cleaner.htm
After that take a look at the services you're running and shut down unnecessary ones; uninstall unnecessary programs (and clean again your registry).
Today you can get a PC with 3Gb of Ram from Best buy for 350$ or less but try cleaning the one you have first...

 

[njedpx3]

Can you wait a little while ?

Sorry to come to the party late ... if you can wait until after the Christmas sale .. or January 1 ...then you can get great prices.


I would stick with major brand: Dell or HP ( Compaq is subsidiary). I would stay away from off-brands.o

Concerning Dell .. if you watch closely they peridically have special systems at very,very good prices.


Get at least 15"screen.
Get 3 gig memory minimum ( Vista was a memory pig; Windows7 isn't quite as bad).
get 250 gig harddrive minimum.
Processor speeds are all over the place; but even the slow are fast compared to just a couple of years ago. Some dual core intel are better than quad core. You can get an idea by looking at other laptops.

Windows 7 is fine; in fact better than Vista

Microsoft Works is not very good. Office 7 is good but until you get used to it the navigation is not completely intiuitive.

Important to get Anti-Virus software and keep virus signature files up to date. This means subscribing and paying after trail runs out ( example 6 months McAfee).

If you find one you like ,run the specs by me and/or other Audioholics.

Good Luck and Merry Christmas!

Forest Man

 

[Boerd]

Greg, did you check out the speed of your computer after doing the OS reinstall but before you put your files back on? If there's some malware causing it, it could have easily come back when you reinstalled your backup files.

Good point - do you have an antivirus installed?

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Well, if nothing else at least I have downloaded 50 new programs....

Try cleaning your registry first (free software for this):
http://www.eusing.com/free_registry_cleaner/registry_cleaner.htm
After that take a look at the services you're running and shut down unnecessary ones; uninstall unnecessary programs (and clean again your registry).
Today you can get a PC with 3Gb of Ram from Best buy for 350$ or less but try cleaning the one you have first...

 

[Adam]

Well, if nothing else at least I have downloaded 50 new programs....

That ought to make is run faster.

 

[Warpdrv]

Look.... all new laptop computers are pretty much CR@P no matter what you buy...they are all just hit and miss... some good some bad.... just getting cheaper as time goes on...


If you want to kick the freakin thing across the concrete, get a Panasonic Toughbook.... Military uses those... or Sager makes really fantastic products as well... I have a Dell Latitude business, and its pretty nice... no issues at all, so I will reccomend it as being a very good buy... and Windows 7 is a much better OS then Vista.... If your buying new, you will only get 7 anyways... Also if you buy a new computer, try to get it barebones with no software installed aside from windows... they always load that cr@p on there, you have to spend time to unistall - which you should. Lightens the load...

For any computer you have, don't use that spyware cr@p, just get the best antivirus - ESET NOD32 Every hacker I know runs that and its flawless. Not the smart security, just the antivirus....

I just did my 2 year renewal for 4 computers, $121 for 2 years I have never once had a problem on any of those computers in the 2 years of a fresh load of windows and installing NOD32...

OH and stay away from the PORN Sites bro.... that spit doesn't help...

 

[Adam]

OH and stay away from the PORN Sites bro.... that spit doesn't help...

They have sites where they SPIT?

[Google, Google...come on, fingers, don't fail me now...]

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Here is what is under registry errors. It means nothing to me.
Invalid File or Folder ##### HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\CLSID\{32be5ed2-5c86-480f-a914-0ff8885a1b3f}\ToolboxBitmap32\ ##### %SystemRoot%\system32\rdpencax.ocx, 1
Invalid File or Folder ##### HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\IMEJP\10.0\directories\UsrDictPath ##### %SystemRoot%\system32\IME\IMEJP10\UsrDict
Invalid File or Folder ##### HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Speech\Recognizers\Tokens\MS-1033-80-DESK\Models\1033\L1033\ ##### %windir%\Speech\Engines\SR\en-US\L1033
Invalid File or Folder ##### HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Speech\Recognizers\Tokens\MS-1033-80-DESK\Models\1033\L1033\AMs\AF031033 ##### %windir%\Speech\Engines\SR\en-US\af031033
Invalid File or Folder ##### HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Speech\Recognizers\Tokens\MS-1033-80-DESK\Models\1033\L1033\AMs\AI031033 ##### %windir%\Speech\Engines\SR\en-US\ai031033
Invalid File or Folder ##### HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Speech\Recognizers\Tokens\MS-1033-80-DESK\Models\1033\L1033\AMs\AM031033 ##### %windir%\Speech\Engines\SR\en-US\am031033
Invalid File or Folder ##### HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Speech\Recognizers\Tokens\MS-1033-80-DESK\Models\1033\L1033\LMs\Main\ ##### %windir%\Speech\Engines\SR\en-US\L1033
Invalid File or Folder ##### HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Speech\Recognizers\Tokens\MS-1033-80-DESK\Models\1033\L1033\LMs\Main\Pronunciation ##### %windir%\Speech\Engines\SR\en-US\p1033
Invalid File or Folder ##### HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Speech\Recognizers\Tokens\MS-1033-80-DESK\Models\1033\L1033\LMs\Main\Spelling ##### %windir%\Speech\Engines\SR\en-US\s1033
Invalid File or Folder ##### HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Speech\Recognizers\Tokens\MS-1033-80-DESK\Models\1033\L1033\LMs\Main\URL ##### %windir%\Speech\Engines\SR\en-US\u1033
Invalid File or Folder ##### HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Speech\Recognizers\Tokens\MS-1033-80-DESK\Models\1033\L1033\LMs\Main\HowDoI ##### %windir%\Speech\Engines\SR\en-US\t1033
Invalid File or Folder ##### HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Speech\Recognizers\Tokens\MS-2057-80-DESK\Models\2057\L2057\ ##### %windir%\Speech\Engines\SR\en-GB\L2057
Invalid File or Folder ##### HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Speech\Recognizers\Tokens\MS-2057-80-DESK\Models\2057\L2057\AMs\AF032057 ##### %windir%\Speech\Engines\SR\en-GB\af032057
Invalid File or Folder ##### HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Speech\Recognizers\Tokens\MS-2057-80-DESK\Models\2057\L2057\AMs\AI032057 ##### %windir%\Speech\Engines\SR\en-GB\ai032057
Invalid File or Folder ##### HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Speech\Recognizers\Tokens\MS-2057-80-DESK\Models\2057\L2057\AMs\AM032057 ##### %windir%\Speech\Engines\SR\en-GB\am032057
Invalid File or Folder ##### HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Speech\Recognizers\Tokens\MS-2057-80-DESK\Models\2057\L2057\LMs\Main\ ##### %windir%\Speech\Engines\SR\en-GB\L2057
Invalid File or Folder ##### HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Speech\Recognizers\Tokens\MS-2057-80-DESK\Models\2057\L2057\LMs\Main\Pronunciation ##### %windir%\Speech\Engines\SR\en-GB\p2057
Invalid File or Folder ##### HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Speech\Recognizers\Tokens\MS-2057-80-DESK\Models\2057\L2057\LMs\Main\Spelling ##### %windir%\Speech\Engines\SR\en-GB\s2057
Invalid File or Folder ##### HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\IME\China\imesc\Directories\InstallDir ##### %SystemRoot%\IME\IMESC

Try cleaning your registry first (free software for this):
http://www.eusing.com/free_registry_cleaner/registry_cleaner.htm
After that take a look at the services you're running and shut down unnecessary ones; uninstall unnecessary programs (and clean again your registry).
Today you can get a PC with 3Gb of Ram from Best buy for 350$ or less but try cleaning the one you have first...

 

[Adam]

Thanks, punk. I clicked on this thread and thought that I got hacked when all that gibberish popped onto the screen.

BTW, I use a program called CCleaner to get rid of unneeded files and also to clean up my registry. It stores a back-up of the registry (if you want) before anything happens. It's free.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Isn't lsiberian a computer wizard and my neighbor? Shouldn't he just come over and fix this thing?

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Hummm, I had Norton 360 but it expired....mmmmm....about the time my computer starting getting slow...

Good point - do you have an antivirus installed?