Slow Desktop HP

chr4us · 10-31-2009, 09:51 PM

Hello~

I have been having some trouble for a while now with my desktop. She's getting older now, and I think there may be a few loose parts that may need tightening, so to speak.

Stats:

Windows XP OS

HP Pavilion
AMD
Athlon(tm) 64 Processor
3700+
1.77 GHz, 960 MB RAM

Problem: "Applications slow to start/run. Mozilla Firefox occasionally slow to start/run."

Problem.2: "Computer makes 'crunching/crackling' noises. (that has to be the HDD.)

Background: I use the Adobe CS4 package (8gb of data) and a range of other programs here and there. I have a lot of files on my computer, because I edit media and do a lot of writing.

Please assist.

rockstat · 10-31-2009, 10:25 PM

Sounds like you may need to clean your computer. I mean open it up and clean all the dust bunnies from the fans and where ever you may find them.
( I would recommend to use a small vacuum with a brush head. Compressed air doesn't do a good job).
It could also be your hard drive (in that case, you would have to replace the drive) if the noise is coming from it.

Also some more RAM wouldn't hurt.

chr4us · 10-31-2009, 10:48 PM

Hm, thank you. I agree a thorough cleaning is probably best. The hard drive may still need replacing.

I was told that my computer can only hold 1GB of RAM, and I would rather like at least 2GB to properly run my Adobe programs. Is this accurate, or can I install more RAM?

**raptor_pa** · 11-01-2009, 07:37 AM

What model of pavillion? You can go to crucial.com and enter the model number and the site will show you what combinations of ram are supported.

chr4us · 11-01-2009, 08:39 AM

Perfect. This was actually a site I used before, but the first time I did not realize that it said "per slot," so my computer can support up to 2GB of RAM.

Thank you both for your help.

**raptor_pa** · 11-01-2009, 10:07 AM

I run CS3 in 1.5 gig on a 3.0 p4 - runs fairly decent except for AE renders, which I think take forever on anything LOL....

10-31-2009, 09:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
chr4us Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New York Posts: 20 OS: Vista	Slow Desktop HP Hello~ I have been having some trouble for a while now with my desktop. She's getting older now, and I think there may be a few loose parts that may need tightening, so to speak. Stats: Windows XP OS HP Pavilion AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3700+ 1.77 GHz, 960 MB RAM Problem: "Applications slow to start/run. Mozilla Firefox occasionally slow to start/run." Problem.2: "Computer makes 'crunching/crackling' noises. (that has to be the HDD.) Background: I use the Adobe CS4 package (8gb of data) and a range of other programs here and there. I have a lot of files on my computer, because I edit media and do a lot of writing. Please assist.

10-31-2009, 10:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
rockstat Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Where ever I live Posts: 116 OS: XP_Pro-SP3/Windows_7_Pro_64-Bit/Linux_distros	Re: Slow Desktop HP Sounds like you may need to clean your computer. I mean open it up and clean all the dust bunnies from the fans and where ever you may find them. ( I would recommend to use a small vacuum with a brush head. Compressed air doesn't do a good job). It could also be your hard drive (in that case, you would have to replace the drive) if the noise is coming from it. Also some more RAM wouldn't hurt. __________________ _____________________________________________ Whatever problem you have...I didn't do it...It's not my fault Okay. But I'll help you..

10-31-2009, 10:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
chr4us Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New York Posts: 20 OS: Vista	Re: Slow Desktop HP Hm, thank you. I agree a thorough cleaning is probably best. The hard drive may still need replacing. I was told that my computer can only hold 1GB of RAM, and I would rather like at least 2GB to properly run my Adobe programs. Is this accurate, or can I install more RAM?

11-01-2009, 07:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,933 OS: XP	Re: Slow Desktop HP What model of pavillion? You can go to crucial.com and enter the model number and the site will show you what combinations of ram are supported. __________________

11-01-2009, 08:39 AM	#5 (permalink)
chr4us Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: New York Posts: 20 OS: Vista	Re: Slow Desktop HP Perfect. This was actually a site I used before, but the first time I did not realize that it said "per slot," so my computer can support up to 2GB of RAM. Thank you both for your help.

11-01-2009, 10:07 AM	#6 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,933 OS: XP	Re: Slow Desktop HP I run CS3 in 1.5 gig on a 3.0 p4 - runs fairly decent except for AE renders, which I think take forever on anything LOL.... __________________