[ideliver]

I am running XP pro on a Dell Optiplex at the office. I am a small business owner and I am the IT dept. I have a server running Exchange server 2003. I rely on Outlook 2003 in the office with shared calendars and the like. So I would like to keep this functioning.

My desktop is running like total hell. My appications take several minutes to open. The OS freezes frequently. I know that the HD needs wiped and the OS re-installed. But I am loathe to do that because of all the applications and settings that I know I would never get right.

I run AVG and scan daily...I use several malware programs and have recently defraged and cleaned out all of the old files...I also tried detect and repair for the OS...but I am now running SP3 and only have a dell disk for SP1 and SP2...so I would have to un-install 3...

Any other advice? Do the heavily advertised programs/services that claim to speed up your computer work? I am very skeptical.

[frahuang]

Add more memory if you can. Memory is cheap and should help significantly. Also, look in your startup folder and use msconfig to see what's being loaded during startup. Get rid of stuff that you don't use. This will free up resources for your application.

[d_crome]

What are your system specs?

Also - it pays to do a clean install versus alot of the online programs you'll see that claim "performance increase" - most of the time these are actually malware that will slow your PC down.

A clean install will give you piece of mind, however it is more time consuming.

Also - a registry clean may be in order.

Like the previous poster said, hardware upgrades are cheap - you can build a VERY fast PC today for under $400. If you're a business user that doesn't require a high end video card (say like a graphic designer/CAD etc) then you can definitely build something considerably faster than your dell for not much $.

[Rick]

YES, you should ABSOLUTELY repartition/reformat/reinstall Windows and all applications/plug-ins, and as someone suggested above you should add more memory. PM me if you need help, I'm an IT Administrator/Consultant and have reformatted thousands of computers. You should also create an image of your hard drive after you are done installing/customizing your applications, this is done to minimize downtime when... (NOT if...) your system crashes again. 30 minutes downtime as opposed to 6-7 hours of reformatting, reinstalling, updating, etc. etc. I use the Acronis True Image Boot CD religiously. Imaging your HD is a must if this is a business computer. Good luck.

[The_Blob]

Go to System Tools.....

Do a DISK CLEANUP!!!!!!!

Then, do a disk DEFRAG on the DRIVE your OS is running on. So, I assume it's on your C: drive.

Run an awesome Anti-Virus software on your system such as F-Prot on your entire HD.

You should be FINE THEN!!!!

Trust me, I'm been doing this since the early 90's. Yes, F-Prot was available back then.

[ideliver]

I added 1 gig of RAM from the original 512. MUCH MUCH better...thanks for the help...I am gathering all of the drivers and install disks...I picked up a new 320 g IDE drive to replace my 75% full 40 g HD...hopefully we will fly after this..

[d_crome]

512 meg???

OMG.

Go get yourself a 2x2 gig DDR2 kit for around $20 AR - they're practically throwing the stuff out these days.

Then again - if your system was running 512 I'm almost assuming your PC was PRE DDR2....

If you're running a 32 bit OS (XP etc) there's no need for more than 4 gig.

[ideliver]

yep...DDR memory 333 mhz....my first computer was a Commodore Vic 20...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodore_VIC-20

[d_crome]

Oh I remember the Vic 20....lol

C64 was my favorite, waiting for that tape player to load a game - you'd go OUTSIDE and play with your friends for an HOUR till the game loaded....gee, them good old days!

With current PC prices as low as they are, you should probably consider a new PC and save yourself the headaches.

[Rick]

Originally Posted by d_crome

C64 was my favorite, waiting for that tape player to load a game - you'd go OUTSIDE and play with your friends for an HOUR till the game loaded....gee, them good old days!

Hell yeah! Summer Games and Boulder Dash FTW! (now we're showing our age, lol).

Pictured below is my first computer which i got when i was 9 (The Timex Sinclair 1000) looks like a big scientific calculator.. no monitor.. you hook it up to your tv and learn programming in basic...

10 PRINT "RICK IS COOL"
20 GOTO 10

hahahaha.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timex_Sinclair_1000

[ideliver]

nice one Rick...my friends had that one...Santa brought me....



i had never really considered upgrading my ram ..so obvious but yet overlooked...the machines ran fine out of the box...but then after adding all of the drivers and other crap ...now I am going to upgrade the rest of the computers in the office (5 others) and my imac at home...it really crawls when doing video editing...thanks for the sound advise...

I really don't feel the need to get new machines...besides...I am pretty happy with XP pro and server 2003...pretty stable for my applications...

[d_crome]

Originally Posted by ideliver

nice one Rick...my friends had that one...Santa brought me....

Attachment 254054
...it really crawls when doing video editing...

Oh god - I CRINGED when I saw that you do VIDEO EDITING on a PC that was running 512 meg ram!! LOL

And for the PC Buffs - I still miss my old Amiga...though an Apple IIe was my first PC - nothing quite like that Monitone Green and "Defender of the Crown"...