XP slows down my computer... can't get it back up to speed?

[Guest]

After my Dad died, my mom gave my son Grandpa's 3 yr old Compaq Presario. Specs on the computer are pretty much straight from the store - my Dad used it to check stock prices and do e-mail, the only software he added that didn't come with the computer was Microsoft Office. It has an Intel Celeron 462mhz Processor, 64 mg ram, and a 10 gig hard drive that is less than half full - it came loaded with Win 98.

When we got it - for some reason we kept getting error messages that some Windows file was missing and certain things would not run - or the computer would lock-up. I tried to find Windows on the restore disk, or find just the necessary file - but couldn't figure it out from all the extra crap on the disk. I had just gotten WIN XP to put on my Gateway ( to up grade from ME) and a computer repair guy who had been working on my Gateway, said I'd be better off putting XP on The Compaq - that dong so should restore any missing files. so I did.

So far it has been a BAD MOVE. It's true we no longer get error messages, but now the system is SO SLOW - we wait, literally 3-7minutes for programs to load, or close - when you click on things, it takes so long for a response you think the computer has locked up. Many times it DOES lock-up - or I get "program not responding" when I do a Cntrl/Alt/Del.

The only thing that DOES work somewhat normally is when you are online - then the response to the mouse or keyboard is fairly normal, though still slightly slow.

This can't be right.

anybody have any idea how I can fix this?

I may not be able to find this forum again - so please e-mail suggestions to

(e-mail address removed)

Thanks!

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

You really need more memory, I would suggest at least 256MB if the
motherboard can handle it.
64 is Microsoft Minimum for Windows XP but no where near adequate.
This is a good source:
http://www.crucial.com/

See this link about speed issues:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/slowcom.htm

You may have other issues but this is a good start.

Also see this link:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/munad.htm

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
An easier way to read newsgroup messages:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/newsgroups/setup.asp
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/

After my Dad died, my mom gave my son Grandpa's 3 yr old Compaq

Presario. Specs on the computer are pretty much straight from the
store - my Dad used it to check stock prices and do e-mail, the only
software he added that didn't come with the computer was Microsoft
Office. It has an Intel Celeron 462mhz Processor, 64 mg ram, and a 10
gig hard drive that is less than half full - it came loaded with Win
98.

When we got it - for some reason we kept getting error messages that

some Windows file was missing and certain things would not run - or
the computer would lock-up. I tried to find Windows on the restore
disk, or find just the necessary file - but couldn't figure it out
from all the extra crap on the disk. I had just gotten WIN XP to put
on my Gateway ( to up grade from ME) and a computer repair guy who
had been working on my Gateway, said I'd be better off putting XP on
The Compaq - that dong so should restore any missing files. so I did.

So far it has been a BAD MOVE. It's true we no longer get error

messages, but now the system is SO SLOW - we wait, literally
3-7minutes for programs to load, or close - when you click on things,
it takes so long for a response you think the computer has locked up.
Many times it DOES lock-up - or I get "program not responding" when I
do a Cntrl/Alt/Del.

The only thing that DOES work somewhat normally is when you are

online - then the response to the mouse or keyboard is fairly normal,
though still slightly slow.

 

[Zardoz]

You really need more memory, I would suggest at least 256MB if the
motherboard can handle it.
64 is Microsoft Minimum for Windows XP but no where near adequate.
This is a good source:

I agree. I thought all computers in the last 3 years came with a
minimum of 128 MB memory, which is the smallest memory sized chip
available nowadays. A 256 MB chips is under $50 easy I think.

Check to see if you have slots for two memory chips, & if so, check to
see if you can have different sized memory chips on your computer. On
mine, adding a 256 chip to an existing 128 is compatible, but back in
the older days I remember you had to have both chips the same amount.
But just one 256 MB chip (replacing) would be fine without adding to
your 64 MB chip.

I would think the major manuafacturer would have a web site you can
send an email to tech help on, or even a voice # (hopefully with free
tech support).