slow pc

[buzzyb]

Hi all,

My pc is about 4 years old and getting rather sluggish. I've deleted all unwanted programs and files. Carry out usual virus maintance, defrag etc. etc.

It runs ok when I'm doing simple things like documents, internet ie one thing at a time but anything more challenging and it takes ages.

Is there anything I can do to speed it up.

Many thanks.

[ChuckFickens]

Bit hard to say really as you've provided exactly zero details about the computer for us to base any suggestions on.

If it's a mainstream brand what's the make and model, what CPU does it have and how much RAM does it have in it currently.

[tommy-h]

Do you regularly shut down?If not try a few times instead of putting pc in sleep mode.Surprising how many uploads are waiting for attention.

[ChuckFickens]

↑↑ EH??

[AlBags]

Double-lol there : )

[tommy-h]

only me then

[bookbinder]

Try installing extra memory. It worked OK for my PC.

[anneasquith]

how do " you store extra memory " mine is low !

[AlBags]

You don't store it Ann .. you fit and use it.

Only sure way is to reload Windows . b .. They all need it in the end.

However .. check and reduce if possible ALL background processes from installed programs. There are many background services that Windows does NOT need to run all the time .. around 20 of them. This can only be done in services.msc

[bookbinder]

anneasquith, this site will give you some information. You can do the job yourself, or, if you don't fancy tinkering inside your computer, take it to a computer shop and ask the staff to do it, or (as I did) ask a local expert to come and do it for you. It's not a difficult job for those who know their way around a computer. It's just a case of slotting in one or two memory cards.
http://www.microsoft..../setup/addmemory.aspx

[ChuckFickens]

It's all very well making suggestions like add more memory but without knowing what we are talking about it's not possible to make a informed suggestion.

If the OP has a fairly modern dual core system with less than 1GB of ram then more memory would be a benefit, but if they come back sating they have a PII then throwing memory at it will be a waste of money.

[deggers316]

re-install the O S.
if that doesn't cure it, bin it!

[hc4361]

Eeek! If you do reinstall the OS you will lose all your files. The pc will be in exactly the same state as when you bought it, so be sure to back everything up first.

[carlton23]

I sped mine up quite a lot by using AOL`s homepage PC Performer