still slow despite best efforts

kimmy2hug · 01-04-2008, 12:15 PM

I don't know if this is where i should be.. my computer is slower than death! I have an older Dell L series that was updated several years ago. Pentium III processor, 512MB Ram, Windows XP with SP2. I have uninstalled everything I don't use, I've done disk cleans, defrags, I've run Ad-Aware, Spybot, Trend Micro Anti-Virus, CCleaner, and today I bought JV16 Power Tools and ran everything in there. While I've cleared a ton of space on the hard drive.. (it's 50% empty) it STILL runs like molasses. I really don't want to spend a ton of money for a new system.. Am I missing something?? All I really want to do with the thing is Internet, E-mail, some photo editing and a couple of games (the games are big though.) If anyone has any ideas, it would be GREATLY appreciated!

**Deleted090308** · 01-04-2008, 12:54 PM

Hi, welcome to TSF.

How many anti-malware programs do you have running?
One should be enough - have a look at this guide: PC Safety and Security--What Do I Need?

Remove all startup programs - except your anti-malware and firewall.
To do that:
Click Start > Programs > Startup. Drag the "unwanted" programs out of that folder and drop them another place in the Programs menu.

Download and run CleanUp.
Please read the "warnings" first.

Download and run Auslogics Disk Defrag.

You might want to install at least 512MB RAM more.

kimmy2hug · 01-04-2008, 01:48 PM

thanks for the tips. And so quick too!! I have Ad-Aware, Spybot, and Trend Micro Anti Virus but the only thing I leave running is the Trend Micro. Those other ones only run when I tell them to do a scan. As for increasing the memory, it's as big as it gets for an L series machine. Apparently there are only two spots for memory in there and they're both being used.. when I bought the thing it came with 120MB... can you imagine??? When I get home and on my own system I surely will try your suggestions.... thanks again!!!

**Deleted090308** · 01-04-2008, 01:51 PM

OK. Please keep us updated.

kimmy2hug · 01-04-2008, 02:03 PM

Since you've been oh-so-helpful, might I ask another question?? could it be that my hard-drive is just getting tired?? How long are they designed to last? this one is almost 7 years old, and I certainly am more tired than I was 7 years ago... I really don't want to spend the money but I also think a 7 year old computer is pretty much a dinosaur... and just waiting to fail.. ????

**Deleted090308** · 01-04-2008, 02:11 PM

If you're not receiving error messages, clicking sounds or Windows wants to scan the drive all the time -
then the answer is no (not a tired HDD).

When was the last time you reinstalled Windows?

kimmy2hug · 01-04-2008, 03:47 PM

I've never re-installed it.. I had ME when I bought it, and had it wiped out and then had XP installed. So it's the original installation, probably about 5 years ago, maybe a little more. If I re-install it, what happens to all my files.. not that I have anything earth shattering on there but still... roboform data, pictures, programs..

**Deleted090308** · 01-04-2008, 04:03 PM

All files on the partition where XP is installed will be deleted, so that's not the first choice.

That (of course) includes settings, programs etc.

kimmy2hug · 01-04-2008, 04:11 PM

OMG... y'know what I think? I think the thing is 7 years old and ancient. I think no matter what I do to it, it will never run the photo and game things the way we want them to.. and considering I can spend exactly what I did 7 years ago and get what I want,,,,, I think I'll bite the bullet and do it. But I do thank you for your help, and I LUV this site!!! I have learned a TON more than I ever wanted to know!

**Deleted090308** · 01-04-2008, 04:31 PM

Why don't you try what I suggested in post #2 first?

01-04-2008, 12:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
kimmy2hug Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 25 OS: Windows XP	still slow despite best efforts I don't know if this is where i should be.. my computer is slower than death! I have an older Dell L series that was updated several years ago. Pentium III processor, 512MB Ram, Windows XP with SP2. I have uninstalled everything I don't use, I've done disk cleans, defrags, I've run Ad-Aware, Spybot, Trend Micro Anti-Virus, CCleaner, and today I bought JV16 Power Tools and ran everything in there. While I've cleared a ton of space on the hard drive.. (it's 50% empty) it STILL runs like molasses. I really don't want to spend a ton of money for a new system.. Am I missing something?? All I really want to do with the thing is Internet, E-mail, some photo editing and a couple of games (the games are big though.) If anyone has any ideas, it would be GREATLY appreciated!

01-04-2008, 12:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: still slow despite best efforts Hi, welcome to TSF. How many anti-malware programs do you have running? One should be enough - have a look at this guide: PC Safety and Security--What Do I Need? Remove all startup programs - except your anti-malware and firewall. To do that: Click Start > Programs > Startup. Drag the "unwanted" programs out of that folder and drop them another place in the Programs menu. Download and run CleanUp. Please read the "warnings" first. Download and run Auslogics Disk Defrag. You might want to install at least 512MB RAM more.

01-04-2008, 01:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
kimmy2hug Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 25 OS: Windows XP	Re: still slow despite best efforts thanks for the tips. And so quick too!! I have Ad-Aware, Spybot, and Trend Micro Anti Virus but the only thing I leave running is the Trend Micro. Those other ones only run when I tell them to do a scan. As for increasing the memory, it's as big as it gets for an L series machine. Apparently there are only two spots for memory in there and they're both being used.. when I bought the thing it came with 120MB... can you imagine??? When I get home and on my own system I surely will try your suggestions.... thanks again!!!

01-04-2008, 01:51 PM	#4 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: still slow despite best efforts OK. Please keep us updated.

01-04-2008, 02:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
kimmy2hug Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 25 OS: Windows XP	Re: still slow despite best efforts Since you've been oh-so-helpful, might I ask another question?? could it be that my hard-drive is just getting tired?? How long are they designed to last? this one is almost 7 years old, and I certainly am more tired than I was 7 years ago... I really don't want to spend the money but I also think a 7 year old computer is pretty much a dinosaur... and just waiting to fail.. ????

01-04-2008, 02:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: still slow despite best efforts If you're not receiving error messages, clicking sounds or Windows wants to scan the drive all the time - then the answer is no (not a tired HDD). When was the last time you reinstalled Windows?

01-04-2008, 03:47 PM	#7 (permalink)
kimmy2hug Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 25 OS: Windows XP	Re: still slow despite best efforts I've never re-installed it.. I had ME when I bought it, and had it wiped out and then had XP installed. So it's the original installation, probably about 5 years ago, maybe a little more. If I re-install it, what happens to all my files.. not that I have anything earth shattering on there but still... roboform data, pictures, programs..

01-04-2008, 04:03 PM	#8 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: still slow despite best efforts All files on the partition where XP is installed will be deleted, so that's not the first choice. That (of course) includes settings, programs etc.

01-04-2008, 04:11 PM	#9 (permalink)
kimmy2hug Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 25 OS: Windows XP	Re: still slow despite best efforts OMG... y'know what I think? I think the thing is 7 years old and ancient. I think no matter what I do to it, it will never run the photo and game things the way we want them to.. and considering I can spend exactly what I did 7 years ago and get what I want,,,,, I think I'll bite the bullet and do it. But I do thank you for your help, and I LUV this site!!! I have learned a TON more than I ever wanted to know!

01-04-2008, 04:31 PM	#10 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: still slow despite best efforts Why don't you try what I suggested in post #2 first?