tips on how to make a computer faster

[aodmisery]

if you got microsoft windows try this click the start button then run and type in "msconfig" then when the screen pops up click on the last tab and click disable all then apply and ok restart and it should be a little faster that stops programs from running without you telling them to run.

[NightKidsGTR]

I'm a little late to the party, but I thought I'd throw in my 2 cents.

Click on Start-->Control Panel-->System. Under "Computer" it should show you what processor you're using, what speed you're running at, and how much RAM you have.

Most usually, the case problem causing lag on a computer is lack of RAM. If your ram is about 512MB, upgrade your RAM. In terms of processor speed, 1.0Ghz should be fine for what you're doing (anime, casual gaming, etc). If you're internet connection is slow, maybe you're too far from the router or there's a lot of interference in the way.

[Tim]

Almost certainly a virus/spyware problem.

[GameTraveler]

Originally Posted by NightKidsGTR

I'm a little late to the party, but I thought I'd throw in my 2 cents.

Click on Start-->Control Panel-->System. Under "Computer" it should show you what processor you're using, what speed you're running at, and how much RAM you have.

Most usually, the case problem causing lag on a computer is lack of RAM. If your ram is about 512MB, upgrade your RAM. In terms of processor speed, 1.0Ghz should be fine for what you're doing (anime, casual gaming, etc). If you're internet connection is slow, maybe you're too far from the router or there's a lot of interference in the way.

++ Adding RAM is a GoodThing™

First, use the computer for a bit, doing your normal things (web surfing, etc.)

If you right click on the taskbar at the bottom (usually at the bottom), and left click on task manager (see attached picture for an example of what it looks like). Click on the Performance tab, and then go get your older brother who bought you the computer.

Point at the Physical Memory section and show him what you have.
Then point at the Commit Charge section and compare the Peak number versus the Total number in the Physical Memory section.

If the Peak number is bigger than the Physical Memory section, then all of the things that you normally do in Windows takes up more RAM than you have installed. Any part of the Peak amount more than the Physical Memory number is 'borrowed' from the hard drive--your computer is then moving at the speed of it's slowest part...your hard drive; which has to make a file called Pagefile.sys bigger to make up that difference.

Then tell your older brother that he would be even more wonderful if he helped you upgrade your computer with more RAM so you wouldn't have to suffer such a slow computer (well, at least not as much).

Go here and use the Crucial Memory advisor to find out what type of RAM you need to buy, and how much you can buy for the computer you have (it'll work for Macs and other types of electronics that require memory...*CyberGypsy* ).

Now that you know what to buy, shop around, and don't buy it at BestBuy, unless you have some type of discount there. Crucial is good, but it's always possible to find memory elsewhere at a cheaper price, like NewEgg.

There's lots more tips to speed up a computer, but this is a start in the right direction.

YMMV

[jonesthewine]

Originally Posted by the1337

what??! i have to do that?! everytime my computer is slow?? cant the re be any other way and i went to a website for a speed test it says i only have a 2mbps connection but when im on my bros and sisters comptuers its more than 10mbps

Very basic advice is being given and you don't understand it, which I bring up only because of the irony, it being that fact that you call yourself the leet...the leet what? the 1337 newb?

Are your bros' and sis' computers hooked into the same network as yours...are they in the same house...or are they at a different location? We need to know that before any diagnosos can be offered.

Have you ever opened your case and cleaned out all of the dust that accumulates, clogging the heatsinks and fans and causing temps to rise, which is not good for electrical components? That would be the first thing that I would do. Clean out the case and see if that helps. Please let us know if it does

[jonesthewine]

Originally Posted by aodmisery

if you got microsoft windows try this click the start button then run and type in "msconfig" then when the screen pops up click on the last tab and click disable all then apply and ok restart and it should be a little faster that stops programs from running without you telling them to run.

You really don't want to disable everything. Just the processes that you know that you don't need.

[striker_1818]

get rid of norton and all that crap.
Install kersparky(spelling?) antivirus and AVG anti-spyware

[JeShUa]

I cant believe I didnt mention this before.. or nobody else said to.. but you should drop a k20 in it.. it'll go REAL FAST

[xanatos]

Alright man, i learned this little trick that might work out for you, some of the guys gave good advice such typing msconfig and dissabling the background programs but when you do that you will dissable your anti virus if you are using one.

Step 1: go to my computer and right click and go to properties


Step 2: click on properties and once system properties is open go to the Advanced tab.


Step 3: Select the settings button under performance then you will get this window with alot checked boxes.


Step 4: Select the radio button that states Adjust for best performance


Step 5: once you have selected that option you will notice that they are all unchecked which is good, now scroll down and check use common task in folders and use visual styles on windows and buttons.



this will change the icons on your desktop and will free up some resources on your P.C and if you dont like the way it looks just do the steps backwards.
hope this helps!!!

PEACE!

[GameTraveler]

Originally Posted by the1337

what??! i have to do that?! everytime my computer is slow?? cant the re be any other way and i went to a website for a speed test it says i only have a 2mbps connection but when im on my bros and sisters comptuers its more than 10mbps

Depending on which speed test or site you went to, that was either a java based applet or a flash based applet. Either way, the speed test would be heavily dependent on how fast your computer looked at the data and compared the start and stop times. That won't be a good test to compare against.

How many other wireless computers are in your house? Is your brother's and sister's computers hooked up by a network cable or are they wireless too?

Lots of things to check and change, but need to know more to help...

My $.02

[KingMarineM16a4]

Just buy a new computer. To really make it not slow you need mhz and that is inbedded in the motherboard itself.

[DNieves]

Format c: (I'd backeverything up to cd/dvd then rebuild it from scratch minus all the Dell shovelware).

[new06Civic]

I double doubt that the setting cause it to slow.

Let me ask you this:
Is your computer used to be fast when you first got it? If it is, I can almost guarantee the Spyware and Virus slow it down. Some Spyware and Virus can easily eliminate with Antivirus software, but some virus cannot be removed with Antivirus software. You'll have to use HijackThis to remove it, but it is not very friendly to use. You will need computer knowledge to use it. It can be remove just a matter of minute with this software. Sometime, the easiest way to destroy the entire virus is freshly reload the Windows!

Another thing- if you have multiple Antivirus software loaded, you need to destroy one and keep your favorite one. It tends to conflicting each other when multiple of them are loaded.

If it is always slow during surfing, I would recommend upgrading your wireless router and adapter. I doubt it is the RAM that causes it to slow. I have a lot of older computers at work. Some computers have 128 MB and 256 MB. I cannot tell the different in surfing speed when compared to 1 GB. Anyway, do you use cable high speed service or phone company DSL?

[taejinah]

Usually I do the following every half year or so (assuming you don't want to buy anything for your computer)

run adaware, spybot search and destroy

remove anything manually (google for instructions) that can't be removed

run virus scan

remove anything manually (google for instructions) that can't be removed

start-->run-->msconfig (check services and startup and uncheck anything that seems sketchy or that you don't NEED--emphasis on need)

control panel-->add/remove programs (remove anything you don't NEED)

control panel-->internet options (clear history, delete all files cookies, etc and set it to not keep history or save too many files in temp internet)

or if you wanna skip all that just reformat harddrives and reinstall windows (i find that if you partition one of your harddrives and make a separate area for windows--ie: 20gb for it... it seems to keep things running faster and you can easily clean the other partition from time to time)

if you do want to buy new hardware
-upgrade ram, upgrade cpu

[taejinah]

oh also someone mentioned something in an earlier response too but...

run as little programs as you can
this includes active virus scans, spyware checkers etc

i find that if you do this all manually when you have free time it saves you the frustration when you're computer is running ass slow while you use it

[new06Civic]

Originally Posted by taejinah

Usually I do the following every half year or so (assuming you don't want to buy anything for your computer)

run adaware, spybot search and destroy

remove anything manually (google for instructions) that can't be removed

run virus scan

remove anything manually (google for instructions) that can't be removed

These softwares cannot remove 'Trojan' and many other viruses. It has to be removed by HijackThis.

start-->run-->msconfig (check services and startup and uncheck anything that seems sketchy or that you don't NEED--emphasis on need)

It will definitely help w/ boot up speed.

control panel-->add/remove programs (remove anything you don't NEED)

control panel-->internet options (clear history, delete all files cookies, etc and set it to not keep history or save too many files in temp internet)

You can set it up to remove temporary file everyday.

or if you wanna skip all that just reformat harddrives and reinstall windows (i find that if you partition one of your harddrives and make a separate area for windows--ie: 20gb for it... it seems to keep things running faster and you can easily clean the other partition from time to time)

if you do want to buy new hardware
-upgrade ram, upgrade cpu

[lowerlevel]

Originally Posted by the1337

hello my older bro bought me a dell last year and my friends told me that its slow, they told me to defrag it and i did. are the any iother steps that i can do without buying new stuff? thanks,.

back up your harddrive and re-install another.. u will be fast again...80gig is pretty cheap..

[Si 07]

some here have mentioned backing up your hard drive, and doing a fresh install, this will definitely make things go fast as well as eliminate any software issues or problems you may have (beauty of fresh installs) but if you want to keep things the way they are now, from experience there are a few things you can do.



programs i recommend to speed your computer up.



1.) ccleaner (cleans and repairs issues with your computer, a very reliable clean software)

2.) diskeeper ( the standard windows one does a good job, but if you can get this it does an even better job )

3.) lastly this isnt a program but more of a tweak, this web link is for speeding up the start up of your computer and/or programs

blackviper

hope this helps

[Elmacho]

Probably the first thing she should have done is posted the system's specs. Then we can see if RAM is the bottleneck to the system's performance. It could have nothing to do with spyware.

[the1337]

hlelo im back i did the steps above but something went wrong and it didnt start again im ok now circuit city fixed it but i lost everything like my games boohooo