PC Question??

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I have a desktop computer that is about 13 years old. I have replaced the hard drive about 3 years ago. It runs slow. It has XP as the OS.

Is there software that will assist with the cleaning of the hard drive to help remove "junk"?

See/hear advertisements on the radio/tv about programs that will rid your hard drive of "junk" and make it "fun" faster. Are these any good?

I use cc cleaner and one feature in AVG to get rid of "stuff" but I believe I could use something a little stronger.

Ideas/suggestions?

And please don't tell me to purchase a new computer, not in the budget right now.

Thanks.
 
In what ways is it running slow? Is it slow to boot up? Slow on the internet? If so, being 13 years old, I suspect that you don't have enough ram to run the graphic intensive websites that are out there today. Your video card may be struggling as well. You can find good deals on both items on the internet, however, the cost of them may still be approaching some of the entry level computers of today. I would follow the above suggestions of free programs and start saving up and catch a sale. Windows xsp is not supported anymore and neither are the browsers you are running by being on that system. Soon you will find you can't even get to websites or that they won't function properly for you.
 
PC Question ??

+1 for Buttercup!

Buttercup said:
I would follow the above suggestions of free programs and start saving up and catch a sale. Windows xsp is not supported anymore and neither are the browsers you are running by being on that system. Soon you will find you can't even get to websites or that they won't function properly for you.
Click to expand...

I had to replace the power supply on my old XP machine earlier this year and it was only five years old. Another major consideration is the security and protection of the data on your HDD now that WXP is no longer being supported. I used IE as my browser in WXP. The highest compatible version is 8.0. Many websites and hosting services have already moved away from 8.0. 11.0 is the latest for IE. For example, the GB homepage would not fully load for me.

Saving your $$ for a new PC (I bought a high end Dell for under $1,000, yours will be less expensive) will allow you to capture the latest technological advances (they have improved in the past 13 years), upgrade your OS, increase your RAM (important), and acquire newer, better hardware.

I upgraded to Windows 7 64-bit, and it is better!
 
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One other new computer option that can save you TONS is to order the parts and build it yourself. I do a lot of video editing and intense graphics work on mine and needed a kickass system. With the specs I wanted the best I could find already built was a bit over $3K...I built what I needed for about $900...and its a piece of cake...easier than legos.

A BIG advantage (to me, at least) besides the money saving, is that you aren't stuck with that piece of garbage, Windows 8. You can still buy OEM Windows 7, a VERY good reason to build.
 
If you set a restore point you can restore the computer to the condition it was in at an earlier date. Sometimes a computer will get full of cookies and other junk from just browsing. You can go to windows/accessories and clean drive 'c' then run the defrag program after - it's in the same list. If the speed doesn't improve then you might download Firefox web browser that has all the updates. Usually the hard drive becomes so fragmented that it takes a while for the programs to be found. Windows has a bad habit of not putting a program back in the same place each time. Since your version is no longer supported then I would suggest you turn off automatic updates.
 
ought to post up the specs of your PC and what you use it for ??

emailing and browsing doesn't require the latest and greatest



..
 
bhayles said:
One other new computer option that can save you TONS is to order the parts and build it yourself. I do a lot of video editing and intense graphics work on mine and needed a kickass system. With the specs I wanted the best I could find already built was a bit over $3K...I built what I needed for about $900...and its a piece of cake...easier than legos.

A BIG advantage (to me, at least) besides the money saving, is that you aren't stuck with that piece of garbage, Windows 8. You can still buy OEM Windows 7, a VERY good reason to build.
Click to expand...

I second this suggestion. I just built a computer for less than a third of what Dell would have charged me. It's easier than you would think and no special skills needed. There's a web site called PCPartPicker that will help you select the compatible components and find you the best price for each. If you can follow simple instructions and have a screwdriver, you have all the tools you need.
 
Save your data on a backup drive. Then format the drive and re-install the OS and your programs that you actually use. You'll be amazed what a fresh install will do on an XP machine.
 
1. Go to start->control panel->add/remove software and get rid of any software you don't use.

2. Then go to start->run and enter 'msconfig' and elimate unnecessary processes. If you don't know what they are, you can research them on the net but typically you don't want to remove anything from Microsoft.

3. Ctrl-Alt-Del (pressed at the same time) will bring up task manager. Look at processes created by unknown/unwanted software (or by user/your computer name as some software will register itself under your computer name.)

4. Run defragment.

5. Clean your browser of add-ons. There is one add-on software 'ghostery' that is beneficial.

Lots of website will place stuff on your computer unknownly to the user. They'll use advertisements to make it look like normal part of their website. Downloading sites especially like to hide adverts. You have to becareful when picking which download button.

A lot of software, when installing, will also place all types browser add-ons that will bog down a browser; tracking software, useless ware, even software that constantly redirect you to sites paid by ads.
 
ChuckS1 said:
If you can follow simple instructions and have a screwdriver, you have all the tools you need.
Click to expand...

O(ne big caution...do NOT use a screwdriver with a magnetized tip.

Rather than the part picker site, if you tell me what you want the computer to do I'll come up with a parts list for you, and I guggest using Tiger Direct to buy them. I build a couple a month for folks and that is my go to source for parts.
 
I agree with buttercup

Processor speed might not be the holdup.

1) More ram
2) more graphics memory
3) clean hard drive.

These cause the logjams that really make a computer run slow.

I'd also highly recommend going to Windows 7 (NOT windows 8)
It does a better job of housekeeping and prevents a lot of broken files, etc.
 
I fled my PC w/XP installed about 5 yrs. ago.
Got a Mac
Problem solved, for me anyway.
 
In my day job I am a computer scientist and I have experience with a variety of operating systems and hardware. XP is a great OS even though it is not supported still and if the computer is running slow this is what I would do to try to speed it up.

First running slow should be elaborated upon, is booting slow or is it slow doing everyday things or just browsing the internet. If it is booting slow, check MSCONFIG and see what programs are executed at startup along with services, these can greatly increase boot times but only disable them if you are certain of what you are doing. The internet is great for figuring out which ones are okay to disable. If it is running slow doing stuff, check task manager see if you are using more RAM than you have or if you're CPU load is very high. If either is the case see what program or programs are using it up and see if you can uninstall them. If only internet is slow uninstall your browser and install chrome or firefox. If it is still slow defragment the hard drive. If still slow reinstall the OS, they get slow it's a fact of life.

Clearing up junk doesn't really speed anything up, ccleaner may fix registry problems but is not risk free and malware bytes only removes malicious software. They are great tools but won't in most cases won't improve performance.

If you can post some more details regarding your problem, I would be happy to help out. The make and model of your computer, the amount of RAM and hard drive specs would be useful. Also a list of services being ran and programs along with their cpu usage. or pm me.

Additionally, I know a new computer isn't in the budget but a self built basic machine would be around $430, less if parts are reused.
 
You said not to suggest that you get a new computer so I won't say it. What I will say is that throwing money into a 13 year old PC is pretty much a waste because it is so many generations old and so out dated. It comes a point where updating just doesn't pay off and it's like throwing money down the sewer. While you say a new PC is not in the budget I am thinking it would be bad budgeting to throw money at a 13 year old machine.

Just saying it as I see it.......
 
chief38 said:
You said not to suggest that you get a new computer so I won't say it. What I will say is that throwing money into a 13 year old PC is pretty much a waste because it is so many generations old and so out dated. It comes a point where updating just doesn't pay off and it's like throwing money down the sewer. While you say a new PC is not in the budget I am thinking it would be bad budgeting to throw money at a 13 year old machine.

Just saying it as I see it.......
Click to expand...
...not to mention an unsupported operating system and "anti-virus" software which verges on malware itself.

As the punchline says, "Then stop doing that."
 
13 yr old PCs make great door stop and anchors. Outside of that they are pretty much useless
Buy a new one. Youll save money.
 
Haldir said:
If it was mine, I would install Linux on it. It usually does better on old hardware than windows.
Click to expand...

Especially if all your doing is using the internet...Try lubuntu..Its very very easy to use and works great on old slow computers. Its free to download and does not require antivirus protection. I been using it for some time now with 0 problems.
 
absolutevil said:
Especially if all your doing is using the internet...Try lubuntu..Its very very easy to use and works great on old slow computers. Its free to download and does not require antivirus protection. I been using it for some time now with 0 problems.
Click to expand...

If you are going to go Linux, go Linux Mint.
 
Linux Mint is good also. I tried both and the lubuntu ran faster on the old Dell systems I have.
 
13y/o... Unless you've added more RAM it may only have 500mb. So that could be slowness problem #1.

I have XP on a 10y/o Dell. Here is what I did as it became painfully slow.

Upgraded to 2gig RAM.

Put all my pics and documents on a stick

Reinstalled the OS (wipes everything out)

Once I was up and running on the Net I downloaded Firefox.

Spent a morning downloading all the Windows updates :rolleyes:

Used Add or Remove Programs and removed all non essentials

Checked Start Up folder and made sure it was empty

Cleanup and defrag

My old Dell Dimension was like a new PC and operated quite well on the Net.

-----


As far as a new computer budget... Wife needed Win7 for work. I picked up an open box HP at BestBuy for $250. It is quite an impressive PC with 4gig RAM and 1TB drive for the price.
 
Haldir said:
If it was mine, I would install Linux on it. It usually does better on old hardware than windows.
Click to expand...
That's not really true anymore, especially when it comes to video.

Installing Linux on anything with an older Nvidia video chipset is a real project these days. It's definitely not for those short on technical skill or patience. Count on either becoming VERY familiar with the terminal window and text commands... or giving up.
 
cmort666 said:
That's not really true anymore, especially when it comes to video.

Installing Linux on anything with an older Nvidia video chipset is a real project these days. It's definitely not for those short on technical skill or patience. Count on either becoming VERY familiar with the terminal window and text commands... or giving up.
Click to expand...

With the right distro it's not the bad, akmod-nvidia works on most of the nvidia video chipsets I have encountered when the stock drivers don't cut it. On lower spec'd machines I would have to say linux still beats windows. I have an old acer netbook that came with XP, terribly slow with XP probably because it's only a 1gb of RAM. Installed fedora 17 on it with LXDE now it flies.

Mint gets alot of recommendations, it's great but do not install the KDE version on an older machine. KDE is absolute resource hog, I love it, but LXDE would be my choice for that environment. I avoid Ubuntu for alot of reasons but it's a great choice as well. Fedora is a great one as well but you have to do some terminal work, most of the easy distros the terminal is more or less optional.

Only ditch the old machine when you absolutely must, I have never had a computer that outlived it's usefulness. The security threats on older machines while existent, aren't of a great concern. Most of what you care about protecting is SSLd across the web and accessing the local machine is only an issue when you've done something wrong to start with.
 
sipowicz said:
Socks and computers should be replaced every 10 years. You are 3 years over...and how is your sock drawer?
Click to expand...

OK...to start with, I'll acknowledge this is advice for power users or anyone whose computer is critical to a continued good life, even if that just means HAVING to0 be able to access this forum daily (some people consider that an absolute MUST, ya know...and you know who you are!)...

For a mission critical (or peace of mind critical) computer a good rule of thumb is to budget for a new computer every two years. If it turns out you don't NEED to replace it every two years, great...that's extra ammo money, but every two years IS considered "best practice".
 
bhayles said:
OK...to start with, I'll acknowledge this is advice for power users or anyone whose computer is critical to a continued good life, even if that just means HAVING to0 be able to access this forum daily (some people consider that an absolute MUST, ya know...and you know who you are!)...

For a mission critical (or peace of mind critical) computer a good rule of thumb is to budget for a new computer every two years. If it turns out you don't NEED to replace it every two years, great...that's extra ammo money, but every two years IS considered "best practice".
Click to expand...

I'm curious where people get these numbers on when to replace a machine. I have the complete opposite mindset and I work in a computational biochemistry lab where it is definitely mission critical. In general, I say don't touch the machines if they aren't acting up and even then, only mess with them when the machine is really acting up. Most of the machines we own with the exception of our newest workstations are about 4+ years old and have had more work on them than most of our computers combined but they work fine. We only upgrade when when we need more firepower and we never throw out machines. For even the normal user in the private world, upgrading anything but the gpu or going from HDD to SSD gives big noticeable improvements.

OP: That being said, 13 years old might be past the point of salvaging good performance out of... have you done the defrag / reinstall yet?
 
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jmmitc06 said:
With the right distro it's not the bad, akmod-nvidia works on most of the nvidia video chipsets I have encountered when the stock drivers don't cut it. On lower spec'd machines I would have to say linux still beats windows. I have an old acer netbook that came with XP, terribly slow with XP probably because it's only a 1gb of RAM. Installed fedora 17 on it with LXDE now it flies.
Click to expand...
The problem is that if your distribution really doesn't like the video, it's not going to be an appearance problem. It's going to lock the machine up... maybe to the point where you can't even open a tty session. That happened to me when I set up Ubuntu 14.04 on an existing server last weekend. When I logged into the GUI, it would run for a minute or two then lock COMPLETELY up. I had to FIRST log into a tty session, install the proprietary Nvidia drivers, then reboot and do a GUI login, changing the drivers in the GUI fast enough to prevent it from locking up. I did it, but it took two or three tries to change it fast enough. And this was after previously experiencing the behavior. DEFINITELY not something for somebody afraid of the OS.
 
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