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-   -   Laptop query (https://www.cableforum.uk/board/showthread.php?t=33606758)

AdamD 23-01-2007 19:04
Laptop query
 
Hi all

Got a question for you all.

My dad bought a cheapo laptop from PCWorld about 2 years ago, it was on offer and was the cheapest laptop they sold

So, here's the problem

It's a Celeron M 1.4Ghz, 256mb of ram, 40gb harddisk

Running Windows XP Home

Problem is, it's SO slow....

He's to cheap to buy any ram for it and i've turned off all unnecessary effects/visuals to speed it up, but it hasn't had much of an effect

What would you do?

Do you think it's worth formatting it and sticking on an older operating system? Like Windows 98SE or perhaps Windows 2000 professional?

Wicked_and_Crazy 23-01-2007 19:07
Re: Laptop query
 
what processes are there running in the background that you can turn off?

Nikesh 23-01-2007 19:09
Re: Laptop query
 
Why not just reformat with XP, surely that will speed it up...

Wicked_and_Crazy 23-01-2007 19:11
Re: Laptop query
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nikesh (Post 34204202)
Why not just reformat with XP, surely that will speed it up...
Why reformat, just get it under control

zing_deleted 23-01-2007 19:11
Re: Laptop query
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by AdamD (Post 34204200)
Hi all

Got a question for you all.

My dad bought a cheapo laptop from PCWorld about 2 years ago, it was on offer and was the cheapest laptop they sold

So, here's the problem

It's a Celeron M 1.4Ghz, 256mb of ram, 40gb harddisk

Running Windows XP Home

Problem is, it's SO slow....

He's to cheap to buy any ram for it and i've turned off all unnecessary effects/visuals to speed it up, but it hasn't had much of an effect

What would you do?

Do you think it's worth formatting it and sticking on an older operating system? Like Windows 98SE or perhaps Windows 2000 professional?
You can only help those who help themselves if its short on ram and he flatly refuses to upgrade tell him to be patient ;)

AndyCambs 23-01-2007 19:14
Re: Laptop query
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wicked_and_Crazy (Post 34204205)
Why reformat, just get it under control
I tend to agree. A reformat and re-installation is a bugger, but does strip out all the useless programmes that seemed a good idea at the time but you no longer use...

Nikesh 23-01-2007 19:14
Re: Laptop query
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wicked_and_Crazy (Post 34204205)
Why reformat, just get it under control
Well, I just thought it's better to do a clean install of a computer rather than trying to clean up a two year old computer by uninstalling everything... and when his dad bought the computer I'm sure it was running fine, so getting it back to its original state would be good :)

Wicked_and_Crazy 23-01-2007 19:15
Re: Laptop query
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by AndyCambs (Post 34204210)
I tend to agree. A reformat and re-installation is a bugger, but does strip out all the useless programmes that seemed a good idea at the time but you no longer use...
agreed, but uninstalling them has almost the same effect

Delta Whiskey 23-01-2007 19:30
Re: Laptop query
 
It might be worth checking what's running at boot time. Startup Inspector (freeware) is a useful tool http://www.windowsstartup.com/

DW

AdamD 23-01-2007 19:32
Re: Laptop query
 
As for a format, yea I did that, using the factory install disk
Removed all the default program that it installs (Aol, ugh :P) and whatnot, but it's still slow
It's weird though, it shouldn't be as slow as it is
It's only got a few programs on there

Open office, powerdvd, avg anti virus and a spyware program
I tried changing the anti virus and spyware program, didn't have any effect
Ah well, I told him to stop being stingy and buy some ram for it

Nikesh 23-01-2007 19:34
Re: Laptop query
 
More RAM is definitely a good thing to do. :) This website is good for picking the right type of RAM.

zing_deleted 23-01-2007 19:45
Re: Laptop query
 
with only 256 meg of ram most active apps will be paging and this is why its slow. Boot laptop then hit ctrl alt delete and look in performance see how much ram is used from boot

AdamD 23-01-2007 20:25
Re: Laptop query
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nikesh (Post 34204243)
More RAM is definitely a good thing to do. :) This website is good for picking the right type of RAM.
Thanks, that helps alot

Nikesh 23-01-2007 20:29
Re: Laptop query
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by AdamD (Post 34204292)
Thanks, that helps alot
You're welcome! ;)

Strzelecki 23-01-2007 20:51
Re: Laptop query
 
If it's an Advent or Packard Bell Machine then after a default Restore the Virtual Memory will be set to a fixed size that is normall way to low. Go to Start > Control Panel > System >Advanced tab > Click the Settings button under Performance >select the Advnced tab > Click the Change button under Virtual Memory > Click System Managed Size and click Set, then ok and restart.

zing_deleted 23-01-2007 20:53
Re: Laptop query
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Strzelecki (Post 34204338)
If it's an Advent or Packard Bell Machine then after a default Restore the Virtual Memory will be set to a fixed size that is normall way to low. Go to Start > Control Panel > System >Advanced tab > Click the Settings button under Performance >select the Advnced tab > Click the Change button under Virtual Memory > Click System Managed Size and click Set, then ok and restart.
if that was the case and the page file wasnt big enough then winblows would give you an error saying so

AdamD 23-01-2007 21:00
Re: Laptop query
 
Yea I allready modified the virtual memory size
I Even reduced the amount of shared video memory the graphics card used, from 32mb to 16mb (or 64 to 32, can't remember now)
Dunno, it's a weird laptop

And yea, it's an Advent

zing_deleted 23-01-2007 21:01
Re: Laptop query
 
edit you deleted your post wicked lol

lol sounds like a normal day at the office ;)

AdamD 23-01-2007 21:01
Re: Laptop query
 
Begging yer pardon Wicked, i'd allready formatted before coming here for help
I can't buy more ram for it, because it's not my laptop
I did check what was running, hence I listed the programs he uses.

zing_deleted 23-01-2007 21:02
Re: Laptop query
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by AdamD (Post 34204354)
Yea I allready modified the virtual memory size
I Even reduced the amount of shared video memory the graphics card used, from 32mb to 16mb (or 64 to 32, can't remember now)
Dunno, it's a weird laptop

And yea, it's an Advent
so he does not even have 256 meg of ram to use for the system.
He needs more ram plain and simple. Changing the page file size would not have made a difference as its all on a local disk and as I said you would be warned if page file isnt big enough. The problem is programs are running in virtual memory because there isnt enough system ram no ifs no buts thats why its slow

The Jackal 24-01-2007 00:04
Re: Laptop query
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by zinglebarb (Post 34204360)
The problem is programs are running in virtual memory because there isnt enough system ram no ifs no buts thats why its slow
Yup that and the fact that its running windows :rolleyes: Sounds like a job for ...... Linux to the rescue ;)

I had an old laptop with 64Meg of RAM which came bundled with windows Me or Millenium I think - problem is that the free ram slot is busted and I cant expand the memory so am stuck with 64Meg. Installing linux solved the problem :p by turned it into a media centre instead.

nffc 24-01-2007 01:08
Re: Laptop query
 
Without hope if there's not at least 512 MB of RAM, nothing else will work.


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