New Computer is Slow Too

[BlueBrooke]

Thanks to everyone who tried to help with my SYSTEM take over problem.
It wasn't a virus -- it was a hardware issue -- an expensive hardware
issue, so I bought a new computer. Of course, without specially
ordering, I had to get one with Vista, even though that wasn't what I
really wanted.

I've spent the last day or two getting everything set up on it and
this is the first time I've ever bought a new computer where I wasn't,
at least temporarily, blown away by the speed. This thing is a slug.
I've done some checking and found that 512 RAM is apparently the
minimum -- and that's what I have. Should I go ahead and install more
RAM or is there something else I should look at first?

TIA

 

[BlueBrooke]

Thanks to everyone who tried to help with my SYSTEM take over problem.
It wasn't a virus -- it was a hardware issue -- an expensive hardware
issue, so I bought a new computer. Of course, without specially
ordering, I had to get one with Vista, even though that wasn't what I
really wanted.

I've spent the last day or two getting everything set up on it and
this is the first time I've ever bought a new computer where I wasn't,
at least temporarily, blown away by the speed. This thing is a slug.
I've done some checking and found that 512 RAM is apparently the
minimum -- and that's what I have. Should I go ahead and install more
RAM or is there something else I should look at first?

TIA

Doh --

HP-Compaq SR5013WM
Intel Pentium 4 CPU 3.20 GHz
502 MB RAM (Consistently at 75% +)
32-bit
Vista Home Basic

Sorry!

 

[peter]

Vista and 512 of RAM is not a good situation.........without knowing the
specs of the machine
that you just spend good money on..I would say install more RAM....
peter

 

[Richard in AZ]

Thanks to everyone who tried to help with my SYSTEM take over problem.
It wasn't a virus -- it was a hardware issue -- an expensive hardware
issue, so I bought a new computer. Of course, without specially
ordering, I had to get one with Vista, even though that wasn't what I
really wanted.

I've spent the last day or two getting everything set up on it and
this is the first time I've ever bought a new computer where I wasn't,
at least temporarily, blown away by the speed. This thing is a slug.
I've done some checking and found that 512 RAM is apparently the
minimum -- and that's what I have. Should I go ahead and install more
RAM or is there something else I should look at first?

TIA

Yes. While Vista will operate at 512 megs of RAM, it does not run, it walks.
You were taken in by the vendor who put just enough RAM in to make it work.
They used to do that in Windows XP (128 megs) until people stopped buying PC with XP without 512
megs.
The minimum practical limit for Vista is 1 gigabyte of RAM.
Did your PC come with Vista Basic?

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

While 512 may be OK, my laptop works well with Vista and 512 MB,
consider as a minimum doubling to 1 GB or more if possible.
I would suggest purchasing a 1 GB memory stick from Crucial:
http://www.crucial.com/

Are you sure you want Vista Home Basic?
It is very basic as the name suggests and lacks some features many
want:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/choose.mspx

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org


in message
news:[email protected]...

 

[Guest]

I have the same problem with 1gb ram. Also there are long black screen
pauses between start up and login's and switching users. Is it ment to be
this way, if so i will ask for a refund. I have a 3.8gh processor 64bit, but
it's a lot slower than my 1.47gh was.

 

[BlueBrooke]

Thanks to everyone for the help and ideas. I ended up disabling a lot
of bells and whistles to get this to work, and disabled a lot of
unneeded services. I think what made the biggest difference was
switching the theme to Windows Classic. So it's ugly -- but it's
faster.