Need quick way to speed up laptop.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bestfriend
  • Start date Start date
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Bestfriend

Hello,
I have a 2001 Dell laptop(Inspirion?).
The unit has slowed down significantly, espescially when starting up.
Also, it is becoming sluggish when I'm on the internet.
I have only installed a typing program on the computer, otherwise I haven't
added anything to the software.

Does anyone have any generic ways of regaining "lost speed" on a computer?
Are there certain useless files that can be removed? Is there a way I can
tell what specifically is slowing down my computer? I just want to "tweak" it a
bit so it runs like it used to run.

Thanks for your help in advance.

Liz
 
Bestfriend said:
Hello,
I have a 2001 Dell laptop(Inspirion?).
The unit has slowed down significantly, espescially when starting up.
Also, it is becoming sluggish when I'm on the internet.
I have only installed a typing program on the computer, otherwise I haven't
added anything to the software.

Does anyone have any generic ways of regaining "lost speed" on a computer?
Are there certain useless files that can be removed? Is there a way I can
tell what specifically is slowing down my computer? I just want to "tweak" it a
bit so it runs like it used to run.

Thanks for your help in advance.

Liz
Click to expand...
here are a few basics:
check in the control panel for device conflicts.
run a virus scan with a recently updated checker.
delete temp. internet files.
defrag your harddrive
run a spyware detection program too
 
Bestfriend said:
Hello,
I have a 2001 Dell laptop(Inspirion?).
The unit has slowed down significantly, espescially when starting up.
Also, it is becoming sluggish when I'm on the internet.
I have only installed a typing program on the computer, otherwise I
haven't added anything to the software.

Does anyone have any generic ways of regaining "lost speed" on a
computer?
Are there certain useless files that can be removed? Is there a way I
can
tell what specifically is slowing down my computer? I just want to
"tweak" it a bit so it runs like it used to run.

Thanks for your help in advance.

Liz
Click to expand...

And what OS is this? I ask because if it's XP why are you cross posting this
to a completely irrelevant group (microsoft.public.win95.general) and, if
it's 95, why are you posting here?
 
Perdita,

Now that was helpful.... Keep on, I'm waiting to read something that
actually helps.

For the poster - try emptying the cache on IE. Select Tools > Internet
Options > Delete Files.

Bob S.
 
You may also want to give XP Smoker a try

www.xp-smoker.com


--
Kind Regards,


Danny Wareham
Waresoft Software
www.xp-smoker.com

SoftWrap 24/7 Toll-Free Phone Support:

Canada - 1 877 687 7166
United Kingdom (UK) - 0 800 917 2110
USA - 1 800 221 8984
Australia - 1 800 129 251
New Zealand - 0 800 441 133
 
Bob said:
Perdita,

Now that was helpful.... Keep on, I'm waiting to read something that
actually helps.

For the poster - try emptying the cache on IE. Select Tools > Internet
Options > Delete Files.

Bob S.
Click to expand...

How have you managed to escape the bozo bin...? I killfiled you yesterday!
 
Okay ace, since you don't know how to use the Block Sender function in OE,
I'll explain it step-by-step for you since you seem to be a little slow on
the uptake today.

1. Open OE (we know you can do that)
2. Open the email that has the senders address you want to block
3. Click on Message (that's in the top toolbar)
4. Click on Block Sender
5. You will get a confirmation message that the sender's address has been
blocked. Click on OK
6. Done

You should not see any more postings from me. But rest assured, I'll be
looking forward to reading your words of wisdom and commenting as
appropriate and the rest of the world can read the comments.

I think your credibility has about hit zero - just in case you've not
noticed...

Bob S.
 
Good one Bob. I am thinking about collecting her posts, and using them for a
book. I might title it "The collective ramblings of a clinically certified
idiot." That or print it on rolls of toilet paper where it might actually
get used for something.
 
Ya know, the shame of it is that there is a modicum of evidence in a few of
her posts that indicates that she may be very good at this if she lost the
bitchy attitude. Haven't a clue who she is but she's only been around since
Feb 2003 as far as Google results show. Maybe she's a burned out customer
rep or IT support rep and just venting here and taking it out on people she
knows she'll never meet. Maybe she'll come around - after all this is a ng
and it has a short memory.

Bob S.
 
If you look at the top bar of the message, in the To: filed, you can easily
see what newsgroup your message is addressed to. The original message was
cross-posted between the XP and W95 groups and that's where the confusion
originated. The word "here" is loosing its meaning as long as you
cross-post. There are several usenet posting guides available on the net
including http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm (which I quote from Perdita's
reply.)

Definitely, the tricks to improve performance can be way different between
WinXP and W95, one more reason to avoid unnnecessary cross-posting.

jj
 
Thanks, Jim, Philo and JJ for your help.
I have the windows XP system.

Philo suggests.....
check in the control panel for device conflicts.
run a virus scan with a recently updated checker.
delete temp. internet files.
defrag your harddrive
run a spyware detection program too

My questions are:
1. What is meant by device conflicts? How can I verify if there is a
conflict?
2. What is spyware, and why would it slow down my system? (does it
take up lots of memory?)
3. Does anyone know of a "good" virus scanner with an updated checker?
(something I can download, and does not take up lots of memory)

4. Now that you know that I have the XP system, Are there any other
suggestions
a novice (like me) can do to speed up my system.

Liz
 
Thanks, Jim, Philo and JJ for your help.
I have the windows XP system.

Philo suggests.....
check in the control panel for device conflicts.
run a virus scan with a recently updated checker.
delete temp. internet files.
defrag your harddrive
run a spyware detection program too

My questions are:
1. What is meant by device conflicts? How can I verify if there is a
conflict?
Click to expand...
Two or more devices may be competing for the same resource, such as an
I/O port or an interrrupt (IRQ). When this happens (because PC's have
limited ports and interrrupts), time is lost while the operating
system resolves the the interrupt. This is a big problem in W98 but i
am not familiar with how XP handles such.
2. What is spyware, and why would it slow down my system? (does it
take up lots of memory?)
Click to expand...
Spyware is a program that has infiltrated your PC and is running in
the backgroud, possibly sending out details of your web browsing or
worse. Some are relatively benign, trying to track the sites you
visit so that some advertiser can send stuff to you. Otehrs can be
far more malicious, even to extent of capturing your credit card
numbers. Search the web fpr more on this and get a good anti-spyware
program. I recommend SpyBots which is free from
http://security.kolla.de/
3. Does anyone know of a "good" virus scanner with an updated checker?
(something I can download, and does not take up lots of memory)
Click to expand...
There are a couple of reasonable freebies, probably AVS is best. I
prefer Norton which is a paid subscription. Most virus checkers will
take up memory and CPU time if they are always active. You can just
use them when receiving/sending e-mail if you wish.
 
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