Cable Forum - Laptop query

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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)

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.

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