Computer is soooo sloooowww?

[ImnoGuru]

Hello and thank you for looking at my problem.

I have a friends computer that he wants me to try to make it faster.

The computer takes ages to start up and load all the programs and be ready to use.

Then when he gets on the net, the computer runs so slow, that I can go and boil a kettle and make the coffee before it is ready to look at google to do a search.

Can someone give me a hand please to see if we can speed it up a bit?

(Should be ready by now Hopefully)... YEP up and running.

Its an Intel Pentium(R)4 CPU 2.00 GHz, 2.02 GHz with a massive 256MB of RAM. Running XP Home Edition 2002, SP3.
The Hard Drive is a 37 GIG, NTFS. 13 GIG used on the drive with 24 GIG free space.

I ran the clean up facility and it has quite a large amount of files that have been deleted and temp internet files, nearly 2 GIG of stuff in there.
Oh and I doubt that the computer have ever been defrargged in its life.
Plus the grandkids have used it mostly to play games while they visit. There seems to be a lot (lot) of games on it.

Apart from the obvious, (increase the RAM) how else can I try to get this computer to run a bit more quick please? Would the games the kids have put on the computer likely to drag it back or if they are in the startup menu can I just take them out of the startup without actually deleting them?

Thanks for any pending replies to this one.
Mark.

[patio]

massive 256MB of RAM

There ya go...
With the price of RAM these days he should have done this a year ago...

PS. Most any app can be removed from the Startup folder...they are only shortcuts.
Why games would be in there i have no idea.

DLoad and install Startup CPL from Mike Lin.

NOTE: Do NOT remove anything if you don't know what it is.

[Karnac]

If the grandkids have downloaded games I'll bet there's a whack of spyware on it as well....Two antivirus programs running at startup will do the same.

[Junkz]

Definitely increase the ammount of RAM you have in your system.

Also Defragging would be incredibly helpful.
Try Auslogics Defragger. A speedy tool for defragging without the hassle of compressing and moving files like the original windows defragger does.

Remove any games you don't need, tell your kids first 

And try CHKDSK for any errors.

As mentioned remove un-needed startup files, it is usually safe to remove all startup items.

Also Super-Anti-spyware is a helpful antispyware program I occasionally use.

It's pretty much vital you Get more RAM. A minimum of 1GB RAM suitable for your motherboard will help a bunch.
If your computer is still slow after all that I'd be surprised.

[jonas.tech]

you must have  upgrade your ram memory make it 1 or 2g read your mobo manual to know the maximum capacity of your mobo.

dfragment is helpful do this twice a week..
remove unnecessary programs like games..
always update the anti virus and regularly scan and clean your hdd for viruses which is possible causes in running your pc slower..

[geek hoodlum]

1) Remove unnecessary programs or games. Consult first your grand kids.
2) Do some cleanup, virus scan, and defragmentation
3) If still slow, upgrade your RAM. 1GB or higher is better. But check first the compatibility to your main board.

[patio]

Who's feeding the parrotts again ? ?

[ImnoGuru]

WOW Thanks everybody for your replies. 

Patio thanks for the reference I'll get that first and fix the startup menu. I think that is where a lot of the drag comes from.

Karnac, I think the AVG and McAfee running would be another slowing aspect.... I I've taken them both out and replaced them with Microsoft Essentials. (I dont know if that's up there with other good ones... but it works at this point).

Junkz, jonas.tech and geek hoodlum, the ram is most probably why the pages on the net take such a long time to load.
He's a bit of a dinosaur when it comes to computers. Certainly in todays world 1 gig would be a minimum requirement for a computer. So I'll see if I have a few sticks hanging around that will suit it. Lets see if we can bring him into the 19th century at least. 
Thanks Junkz, for the Auslogics Defrag, I'll get that now and run that next.

Kids games are a really big hassle. I'll bet there will be heaps of little trojans, viruses and all sorts of spyware in there because of it.

I don't know at this point whether he has ADSL or dial up but the modem has only got a small connection for the line in. Its an E162061 card, I can find a few little bits about it but don't know much more.
Its a 56k modem. Is that compatible with ADSL?
I can buy one from just about anywhere but they don't tell you anything about the card at all.

Come to think of it he must be on ADSL because he doesn't have a home phone now.

Great , thanks for the help everyone. I'll get back to it then and give you an update.

 

[soybean]

I think the AVG and McAfee running would be another slowing aspect.... I I've taken them both out and replaced them with Microsoft Essentials. (I dont know if that's up there with other good ones... but it works at this point).

Microsoft Security Essentials is good.

Certainly in todays world 1 gig would be a minimum requirement for a computer. So I'll see if I have a few sticks hanging around that will suit it. Lets see if we can bring him into the 19th century at least.     

I have 512MB in my Win XP system.  Works pretty good, IMO, but I probably keep my system more finely tuned than many other users.  Looking for "a few sticks hanging around" may not suit.  You'll need to be sure the RAM works in his computer. 

BTW, ImnoGuru, we're in the 21st century now.   

Kids games are a really big hassle. I'll bet there will be heaps of little trojans, viruses and all sorts of spyware in there because of it.

And this means anti-virus and anti-malware scans should be run.

I don't know at this point whether he has ADSL or dial up but the modem has only got a small connection for the line in. Its an E162061 card, I can find a few little bits about it but don't know much more.
Its a 56k modem.

A 56k modem is not ADSL by any means. ADSL, or simply DSL, is typically at least 15, or many more, times faster than a 56k modem.

Come to think of it he must be on ADSL because he doesn't have a home phone now.

This statement doesn't make sense.  DSL works on a regular phone line.  So, he either has a home phone line or he's on cable, not DSL.

[jkolak]

DSL works on a regular phone line.  So, he either has a home phone line or he's on cable, not DSL.

Will DSL work if there is a phone line to the house, but the phone service is disconnected?

[patio]

Yes.

If the Bill is paid.

[rthompson80819]

Btw, DSL and ADSL are not the same.  Typically ADSL is faster than plain DSL, often times much faster.

[soybean]

Btw, DSL and ADSL are not the same.  Typically ADSL is faster than plain DSL, often times much faster.

Well, I believe DSL is commonly used as generic term to mean ADSL or SDSL.  A reference: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-difference-between-dsl-and-adsl.htm

[rthompson80819]

DSL has become a generic term to mean data over twisted pair copper phone lines.  DSL was the first widespread data service offered by phone companies and it's average speed was around 384k.  ADSL was developed to offer faster download speeds to compete with cable companies. Today the majority of "DSL" subscribers actually have ADSL. 

[patio]

I'm thinking that's what Soybean meant...