| warspite |
| (regular) |
| Thu Feb 21 2008 05:59 PM |
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Should I re-install XP?
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Hi all.
My PC is running slow. I have ran de-frags, stopped all start up progs, ran anti-virus, tried system restore, deleted temp files, updated windows, pretty much all i can think of without re-installing XP.. But my PC still loads the OS slowly and takes time running programs from the desktop. PC is a few years old running XP SP2 and a 1.2GHz Intel Celeron Processor. However it has previously ran a whole lot faster. Perhaps it is not XP related but i have to start somewhere. Anyone any ideas next best step (without buying a new PC!).
| greysts |
| (regular) |
| Thu Feb 21 2008 06:33 PM |
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Re: Should I re-install XP?
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We normally say that re-installing is a last resort but it does have one major fact in it's favour- it's an opportunity to clear out all the crud particularly in the registry. Before we head down that road would you rather we tried some basic fixes first (although it sounds as if you've tried most of them) or do you want to jump straight in?
I clearly don't want to recommend spending any money but a 1.2gh processor ain't that fast these days. Have you increased the RAM lately?
| warspite |
| (regular) |
| Thu Feb 21 2008 07:56 PM |
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Re: Should I re-install XP?
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Hi Greysts, thanks for your reply.
After my last post i ran yet another utility (I have been trawling through old copies of Webuser!) which highlighted the fact that the PC is only running on 128MB SDRAM.. I never gave memory a thought! I have a spare slot so I guess I can replace my 128MB with 256MB and add a further 256MB to run 512MB.. will this actually speed up the PC or is this just memory for holding data? Also I guess the CPU is a little slow. Is it easy enough to upgrade this? Putting memory in is one thing but replacing the CPU??
| greysts |
| (regular) |
| Thu Feb 21 2008 08:57 PM |
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Re: Should I re-install XP?
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Whenever you are looking to upgrade a PC the thing that always gives you the most 'bang for your bucks' is more memory. If you are running XP with 128mb of RAM, no wonder it's crawling. Your suggestion of 512mb is good and you will be amazed at the difference it makes. At the moment your PC is having to use a portion of it's hard disk as 'virtual memory' in order to supplement the RAM. You've probably noticed your hard disk is thrashing about for minutes on end during the boot process.
To check what you can have in your two slots use the Crucial memory checker from here to tell you.
Upgrading your CPU is possible but it depends on your motherboard. Let's leave that for the moment until you've put in more RAM.
| warspite |
| (regular) |
| Thu Feb 21 2008 10:23 PM |
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Re: Should I re-install XP?
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Really appreciate your help on this.. I did wonder why the hard disk drive light was blinking all the time!! I'm off to buy the memory now & will come back to you if and when required. It's good to know people like you exist! Thank you.