Reinstall OS on a brand spanking new computer?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Itz Just Me
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Itz Just Me

I just got a new Dell computer a few days ago, and, because of
financial constraints, ordered the absolute minimum RAM: 128 MB.
It's a Pentium 4, Intel Processor. The only 'extra' I ordered is
Windows XP Pro.

Dell has become a real whore in terms of selling their souls to these
various software companies, loading bundled software up the wazoo on
new computers. I have programs I would NEVER use, like AOL, Real
Player, M$ Money, etc.

My computer is running VERY slow. PaintShopPro, which I realize is a
memory hog, takes 20-30 secs to open up. Some system procedures take
quite a while, too. My old computer, a Dell 800Hz, 256 RAM, really
ran circles around the new one in terms of performance. I broke down
and ordered some new memory and will have a strip of 512MB delivered
on Monday.

I'm really curious if some of this bundled software could have
anything to do with why my compter is running slow, or is it totally
due to insufficient RAM. While M$ suggests a minimum of 128MB RAM for
XP, I think just about everyone else in the world suggests 256MB.

What do you think?
 
Itz Just Me said:
I just got a new Dell computer a few days ago, and, because of
financial constraints, ordered the absolute minimum RAM: 128 MB.
Click to expand...

memory is VERY cheap at the moment - 128 MB is the ABSOLUTE MINIMUM for
running XP.

get some more RAM.
 
And, to reduce the load on your CPU, go to
http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm and scroll down (about a fourth
of the page) to the section labelled: "Black Viper's Windows XP Home and
Professional Services Configurations". Consider disabling some features that
you don't use or need.

BlackViper provides a description of what each service does. Consider your
options and disable accordingly.



| | > I just got a new Dell computer a few days ago, and, because of
| > financial constraints, ordered the absolute minimum RAM: 128 MB.
|
| memory is VERY cheap at the moment - 128 MB is the ABSOLUTE MINIMUM for
| running XP.
|
| get some more RAM.
|
|
 
I did this on my XP Home edition (the computer I just gave away) and
it improved tremendously.

RIFLEMAN...I appreciate your suggestion to get more RAM, but I'm
wondering if you read my original post...in it I said I ordered 512MB
(from Crucial Technology) that will be at my doorstep Monday! ;)

So...basically you are saying it's all RAM and that all this
preinstalled garbage on my computer could really have nothing to do
with the slowness?
 
In
Itz Just Me said:
I just got a new Dell computer a few days ago, and, because of
financial constraints, ordered the absolute minimum RAM: 128 MB.

My computer is running VERY slow.

I'm really curious if some of this bundled software could have
anything to do with why my compter is running slow, or is it totally
due to insufficient RAM. While M$ suggests a minimum of 128MB RAM for
XP, I think just about everyone else in the world suggests
Click to expand...
256MB.


Almost cetainly it's due to insufficient RAM. 128MB is not
enough.
 
Itz Just Me said:
I did this on my XP Home edition (the computer I just gave away) and
it improved tremendously.

RIFLEMAN...I appreciate your suggestion to get more RAM, but I'm
wondering if you read my original post...in it I said I ordered 512MB
(from Crucial Technology) that will be at my doorstep Monday! ;)

So...basically you are saying it's all RAM and that all this
preinstalled garbage on my computer could really have nothing to do
with the slowness?
Click to expand...

Although I agree the RAM will help, you need to do the BlackViper thing as
well as Uninstall anything you will never use, check for Spyware/Adware,
defragment, tweak it using TweakUI and getting rid of some of the 'unneeded
extras' - Windows XP Performance options should also be tweaked, turning off
the fading and such.
 
In
Itz Just Me said:
I did this on my XP Home edition (the computer I just gave away) and
it improved tremendously.

RIFLEMAN...I appreciate your suggestion to get more RAM, but I'm
wondering if you read my original post...in it I said I ordered 512MB
(from Crucial Technology) that will be at my doorstep Monday! ;)

So...basically you are saying it's all RAM and that all this
preinstalled garbage on my computer could really have nothing to do
with the slowness?
Click to expand...


Note that applications which are installed but not running have
absolutely no effect on your performance.
 
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