Slow computers

Mack · 09-28-2007, 11:57 AM

I work for a small non-profit and haven't been here very long. I have limited computer knowledge but significantly more than anyone else in the company. My boss' computer is very slow but seems to have adequate disk space. Is there anyone that may be willing to talk me through some things I can do?

Pocahontas · 09-28-2007, 12:13 PM

If you are in Bossier by chance it is mostly likely your cable company! Suddenlink what a joke! We have problems with it all the time! I've had everything else checked out on my own computer and am always told it is your service provider! What can one do?

LateNight · 09-28-2007, 12:20 PM

I don't think he meant that his 'internet' connection was slow

Me, I don't know nothin' about no windoze computers, but I guess my first question might be how much RAM memory does the computer have, maybe it's having to swap disk space etc, ? ?

AnimeSpirit · 09-28-2007, 12:30 PM

Well, if you're using Windows, here's a few tricks to speed the system up.

I'm going to assume you're using Windows XP. If you're using a computer that has an older version of Windows, you might consider replacing this computer with a newer one.

Try checking to see how much RAM the computer has. Do this by right-clicking the My Computer icon and selecting "Properties." A system dialogue will appear. The RAM is usually displayed on that dialogue somewhere. Windows XP can run on 256 MB of RAM, but doing so will slow it down. If you have 256 or less, get a RAM upgrade. You can sometimes even see your CPU speed here too. Having anything over 700 MHz is decent by today's standards. Having 1-2GHz is excellent for commercial computer usage.

You can try squeezing a little extra RAM from the system by adjusting your paging file settings. If you still have that system dialogue open, click the "Advanced" tab and notice how much virtual memory your paging file is using (the 3rd section at the bottom). Setting this too high will effect your available hard drive space, but you can usually bump this setting up 1 or 2 hundred MB and it will speed the system up some, but don't feed all of your resources into your paging file!

Close all programs currently running. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to display the Task Manager and notice how many processes are running at the bottom of the task manager. These are hidden programs running in the background. Window XP should never have more than 35 processes while no major programs are running. If you have more than 35, scan for adware and/or spyware and see if that doesn't free up some of the computer's RAM.

Many people have 20-30 small icons in their system tray and they wonder why their computers are slow. Close as many of these as you can and try to set them NOT to run on their own at startup. Check the startup folder on your start menu and see what programs are running from here.

There are other tricks, but they take a little more explanation. Try these first and see how it works for you.

rhertz · 09-28-2007, 05:20 PM

One more note, Anti-virus and anti-spyware scanning software can really slow things down, so I leave my computer on 24/7 and schedule the scanning to take place at 3am when I am asleep.

Isaac-Saxxon · 09-28-2007, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LateNight

I don't think he meant that his 'internet' connection was slow

Attachment 1519

Me, I don't know nothin' about no windoze computers, but I guess my first question might be how much RAM memory does the computer have, maybe it's having to swap disk space etc, ? ?

Hey Pokie you look pretty as a blond

Pocahontas · 09-28-2007, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Isaac-blond

Hey Pokie you look pretty as a blond

We all have our blond moments!!

Better watch out LN!

LateNight · 09-28-2007, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pocahontas

We all have our blond moments!!

Better watch out LN!

LOL sorry about that.. I just read your reply and thought "a blond moment"

and I couldn't help myself LOL All in good fun

TGIF EVERYONE !!! how 'bout this weather !!?? huh well ? ? how 'bout it ??!!

rhertz · 09-28-2007, 07:54 PM

It's Revel time! Where's all the rain??

Pocahontas · 09-28-2007, 10:47 PM

SSSHHHHHHH...don't jinx it!

rhertz · 09-29-2007, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pocahontas

SSSHHHHHHH...don't jinx it!

Oh I want to jinx it. My yard needs water more than I need the Revel..

Pocahontas · 09-29-2007, 10:22 AM

Every party has a pooper that's why we invited rhertz!

I figured you to be a guy with a sprinkler system.

rhertz · 09-29-2007, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pocahontas

Every party has a pooper that's why we invited rhertz!

I used to be quite the party animal back in my day. Nowadays I just try to save on my water bill...

09-28-2007, 11:57 AM	#1
Mack New Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	Slow computers I work for a small non-profit and haven't been here very long. I have limited computer knowledge but significantly more than anyone else in the company. My boss' computer is very slow but seems to have adequate disk space. Is there anyone that may be willing to talk me through some things I can do?

09-28-2007, 12:13 PM	#2
Pocahontas SBLive! Veteran Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,691 Rep Power: 279	If you are in Bossier by chance it is mostly likely your cable company! Suddenlink what a joke! We have problems with it all the time! I've had everything else checked out on my own computer and am always told it is your service provider! What can one do? __________________ "The greater your capacity to love, the greater your capacity to feel the pain." Jennifer Aniston

09-28-2007, 12:30 PM	#4
AnimeSpirit SBLive! Veteran Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Nowhere Age: 42 Posts: 1,659 Rep Power: 268	Well, if you're using Windows, here's a few tricks to speed the system up. I'm going to assume you're using Windows XP. If you're using a computer that has an older version of Windows, you might consider replacing this computer with a newer one. Try checking to see how much RAM the computer has. Do this by right-clicking the My Computer icon and selecting "Properties." A system dialogue will appear. The RAM is usually displayed on that dialogue somewhere. Windows XP can run on 256 MB of RAM, but doing so will slow it down. If you have 256 or less, get a RAM upgrade. You can sometimes even see your CPU speed here too. Having anything over 700 MHz is decent by today's standards. Having 1-2GHz is excellent for commercial computer usage. You can try squeezing a little extra RAM from the system by adjusting your paging file settings. If you still have that system dialogue open, click the "Advanced" tab and notice how much virtual memory your paging file is using (the 3rd section at the bottom). Setting this too high will effect your available hard drive space, but you can usually bump this setting up 1 or 2 hundred MB and it will speed the system up some, but don't feed all of your resources into your paging file! Close all programs currently running. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to display the Task Manager and notice how many processes are running at the bottom of the task manager. These are hidden programs running in the background. Window XP should never have more than 35 processes while no major programs are running. If you have more than 35, scan for adware and/or spyware and see if that doesn't free up some of the computer's RAM. Many people have 20-30 small icons in their system tray and they wonder why their computers are slow. Close as many of these as you can and try to set them NOT to run on their own at startup. Check the startup folder on your start menu and see what programs are running from here. There are other tricks, but they take a little more explanation. Try these first and see how it works for you. __________________ Confuscious says~

09-28-2007, 10:47 PM	#10
Pocahontas SBLive! Veteran Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,691 Rep Power: 279	SSSHHHHHHH...don't jinx it! __________________ "The greater your capacity to love, the greater your capacity to feel the pain." Jennifer Aniston

09-29-2007, 10:22 AM	#12
Pocahontas SBLive! Veteran Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,691 Rep Power: 279	Every party has a pooper that's why we invited rhertz! I figured you to be a guy with a sprinkler system. __________________ "The greater your capacity to love, the greater your capacity to feel the pain." Jennifer Aniston

09-28-2007, 12:20 PM	#3
LateNight SBLive! Veteran Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,609 Rep Power: 274	I don't think he meant that his 'internet' connection was slow Me, I don't know nothin' about no windoze computers, but I guess my first question might be how much RAM memory does the computer have, maybe it's having to swap disk space etc, ? ?

09-28-2007, 05:20 PM	#5
rhertz SBLive! Veteran Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,834 Rep Power: 301	One more note, Anti-virus and anti-spyware scanning software can really slow things down, so I leave my computer on 24/7 and schedule the scanning to take place at 3am when I am asleep.

09-28-2007, 07:54 PM	#9
rhertz SBLive! Veteran Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,834 Rep Power: 301	It's Revel time! Where's all the rain??

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