XP - Running Slow

[Gerry]

Ginnie

That seems OK.

Select Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp to
Empty your Recycle Bin and Remove Temporary Internet Files. Also
select Start, All Programs, accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp,
More Options, System Restore and remove all but the latest System
Restore point. Run Disk Defragmenter.


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Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Bob I]

Crucial is where I would go
http://www.crucial.com/systemscanner/

 

[Unknown]

Logical only if you want to pay an inflated retail price. You're in hell
with Dell.

 

[Gerry]

And yet you would buy at Staples!

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Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Gerry]

Bob

For many computers that is a fair suggestion. For a Dell I would like to
know the price differential. I am not sure the cheapest is always the
best.

Crucial are a popular supplier but there are others. Kingston used to be
highly respected but I do not know what their standing is today.

--



Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Bob I]

This is the support issue that garners my vote.

"We understand that purchasing computer hardware can be a frustrating
process. That's why all of our memory products are backed by a limited
lifetime warranty. Use the Crucial Memory Selector to find the right
memory upgrade for your computer, and we guarantee that your memory will
be compatible with your system and give you the performance boost you're
looking for. In the unlikely event that your module is defective or you
are not happy with the performance of the memory please call us! We will
happily replace it at any time. For more detailed information on our
warranty, click here. To find out how to contact a Crucial Memory Expert
by phone or online, click here. "

 

[Gerry]

Bob

That is a good assurance to receive. However, if the computer is a Dell,
the manufacturer should know what is best for their computer. The
problem now with any supplier is that you can never know where
components are sourced. Everything thing you buy has quality sacrificed
to be able to compete. The latest financial situation can only mean the
quality issue is going to be increasingly difficult for buyers.


--



Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Ronaldo]

You are right, I got mixed up.. I meant to say Avast!

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[Ronaldo]

And only requires registration, I believe after the initial period of 6
months(?) don't exactly remember.


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[Unknown]

Incidentally, once again you did not comprehend what you read.

 

[Gerry]

Unknown

What % uplift are you suggesting is the differential between Dell and
Crucial? It is true that manufacters can make extra profits on
relacement components but it becomes less easy to do this where there
are competitive non-branded alternatives.

--



Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Gerry]

Unknown

You commented on one retail outlet but not the other. As a result the
inference is that what you said about one does not apply to the other.

--



Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Unknown]

Exceeds 100% higher than Crucial. If you compare Crucial module with Dell
you cannot tell the difference.
When daughter bought her computer (I won't buy Dell) they wanted $129 per
256meg.
I told her order computer with minimum memory. I upgraded her computer at a
cost of $39 per 256 meg.

 

[Unknown]

You do that all the time. DON"T read things into any post.
There is NO inference.

 

[Ginnie]

Yes - I did mean adaware - my subscription to McAfee doesn't end till June 09
- Can I disable anything or not.
Thanks for the help

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Yes - I did mean adaware - my subscription to McAfee doesn't end till June 09
- Can I disable anything or not.

Regardless of when your subscription ends, it's a poor product and you
would do well to replace it with a better one. That's especially true
since you can get better ones that are free.

Moreover, as I said, Adaware is neither the best anti-spyware program,
nor is it alone sufficient. Follow my recommendation in point #4
below.

Thanks for the help

You're welcome. Glad to help.

 

[Ginnie]

Did download and run ccleaner - Not sure what program to go with for
security - some say NOD32 and others say Kaspersky????

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Did download and run ccleaner - Not sure what program to go with for
security - some say NOD32 and others say Kaspersky????

Those are anti-virus programs, and my view is that NOD32 is the best
such product available.

But an anti-virus program doesn't provide complete security, and you
should also run at least two (because none of them is perfect)
anti-spyware programs--Malwarebytes and one or two others.

 

[Ginnie]

Thanks so much for all of the replies - my question is now - should I just
add 512 memory - or update to 1 or 2 gbites - not sure what would be best -

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thanks so much for all of the replies - my question is now - should I just
add 512 memory - or update to 1 or 2 gbites - not sure what would be best -

How much RAM you need for good performance is *not* a
one-size-fits-all situation. You get good performance if the amount of
RAM you have keeps you from using the page file, and that depends on
what apps you run. Most people running a typical range of business
applications find that somewhere around 512MB works well, others need
more. Almost anyone will see poor performance with less than 256MB.
Some people, particularly those doing things like editing large
photographic images, can see a performance boost by adding even more
than 512MB--sometimes much more. But unless you are running such a
demanding application, it's highly unlikely that more than 1GB can
help you at all.

If you are currently using the page file significantly, more memory
will decrease or eliminate that usage, and improve your performance.
If you are not using the page file significantly, more memory will do
nothing for you. Go to
http://billsway.com/notes_public/winxp_tweaks/ and download
WinXP-2K_Pagefile.zip and monitor your pagefile usage. That should
give you a good idea of whether more memory can help, and if so, how
much more.