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View Full Version : OT: Computer speed help needed!


scotty1
12-22-2004, 12:51 PM
Hi

My computer is a PC with a crappy dial-up modem, but recently it seems to have gotten REALLY slow.

I remember someone saying something about being able to increase the speed by de-fragging, or clearing something?!:)

Any ideas? Bear in mind I'm not particularly computer literate...
MasterKiller
12-22-2004, 12:58 PM
Start > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup. Select all the options and run it.

Then

Start > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter. Make sure your screensaver is turned off before you start, though. It can cause the defrag to hang up.

If you've never run a defrag, it will take a long time. Also, you can run it more than once. I'd do it 2 or 3 times in a row.
sean_stonehart
12-22-2004, 01:02 PM
Then go to Download dot COm & download Adaware & SpyBot to kill off most of the crap on your machine you've received from the Net... spyware, malware, data miners, ad generators, etc...
GunnedDownAtrocity
12-22-2004, 01:39 PM
also get another defrag util from dowload.com ..... i dont care which. the one built into windows is teh suxor.
unixfudotnet
12-22-2004, 01:45 PM
Don't use Windows ;)
scotty1
12-22-2004, 01:53 PM
Jesus! Thanks guys. :D
scotty1
12-23-2004, 07:57 AM
Yeah thanks, the cleanup and de-frag's helped a lot.

I already had spy-ware, and I'm just about to get Spybot.

So once I've got them (and the better de-frag util. from Cnet) am I all set for safe surfing? ;) :D
Ming Yue
12-23-2004, 08:13 AM
also have a look at your taskbar and see what's resident and/or starting up with your computer. There's always a bunch of stuff you don't need stacked up in there.

-C
MoreMisfortune
12-23-2004, 08:17 AM
yeah kiddo, you gotta do da msconfig thang on the "run" and go there and remove some crap that it starts up yo
MasterKiller
12-23-2004, 08:32 AM
If you are running XP I would make sure you have Service Pack 2 installed.
scotty1
12-23-2004, 08:59 AM
Just checked on download.com and that seems to have got a lot of bad reviews, saying it made stuff go wrong. It seems really good once it's on though.

The only thing I'm concerned about is that if it ****s up my machine I won't know how to fix it:(

Plus it's gonna take 12 hours to download!

Did it go ok on yours?
Ming Yue
12-23-2004, 09:05 AM
it is a huge download..

I had to update/reinstall a printer driver and a driver for my tablet, but otherwise no problems for me.
MantisFistMonk
12-23-2004, 09:08 AM
http://iolo.com/sm/5pro/download.cfm

Download that.

Run the maintenence programs. Leave everything at default and you should be fine.
scotty1
12-23-2004, 09:48 AM
Thanks, but it's my parent's machine (home for Christmas) and I only want free stuff. :D
Becca
12-24-2004, 12:59 AM
Originally posted by scotty1
Just checked on download.com and that seems to have got a lot of bad reviews, saying it made stuff go wrong. It seems really good once it's on though.

The only thing I'm concerned about is that if it ****s up my machine I won't know how to fix it:(

Plus it's gonna take 12 hours to download!

Did it go ok on yours?
Spybot has been known to goof up e-mail and dail-up settings from time to time, but basicly, it's a good program.