Windows-based computers always run nice and smooth when you first buy them. They always have plenty of space to do their swapping. But over time, they begin to run slow. This is because Windows is a sloppy system that doesn't really run neatly. In my opinion, there are better operating systems out there, but everybody is hooked on M$.

So, I'm offering some advice on what to do when your computer starts running slowly:

When you buy a new computer, do one of the following:

• Drop a couple extra hundred bucks on a new hard drive. It's kinda like buying a car with air conditioning in the deep south - it seems like a luxury, but you're gonna need it.
• Take the computer home and before you do anything else re-partition the hard drive into two partitions with the primary (boot) partition getting at least 50% or 25GB - whichever is smaller. Re-load your operating system and all applications on the primary partition.

Option 1 is easier.
After you do one of these, move "My Documents" to D: for all users on the computer. Whenever you install a new application, make sure it saves its data to drive D:. If you manually save anything, make sure it's going to drive D:. You don't want to save anything to drive C:.

Now, all your data is safe. Windows will become corrupted over time and begin to run slowly. You can do like my mom and dad and run out and buy a new computer every time this happens, or you can do like po' little ol' me does: reformat and re-load drive C:. It's a lot easier than it sounds.

If you have what we techies call an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer's) piece o' crap (Dell, HP, Compaq, etc.), there will be a "System Restore Disk" that you can use. Pop that CD in and tell it to re-load everything. (HP and Compaq put it on your HDD - that's why they advertise a 100GB drive but you can only use 80GB of it.) This disk will re-format C:, re-load Windows and your applications and drivers.

If you have a home-grown machine (or a clone), you can do it manually. Boot up with the Windows XP disk, tell it to format C: and install clean. Then start re-installing all your applications.

This process needs to happen at least once every year. It needs to happen on my computer right now, but my folks are going to give me their old computer that they just replaced.

That couple hundred extra bucks you spent on a new hard drive will save you a lot down the road. Instead of replacing a machine, you can simply re-load your old one.

You lost me at "repartition" :blink:

I'll come back to this thread later..

More:

Be careful where you surf. My mother likes to play games online. Some of the seemingly 'safe' games sites will load all kinds of crap on your computer without your permission. Things like browser extensions that will redirect your yahoo or google searches to their own marketing site. Or pop-up spyware that will constantly pop-up new advertisements on your computer. And, there's always the ever-present porn.

Truly 'safe' games sites are few and far between. Perhaps the safest would be Yahoo Games, although I've had problems with some of their games refusing to unload (they disappear from your screen but remain in memory).

So, in order to protect your surfing, you spend money and install something like Norton Internet Security. But this slows your computer down even more because it takes up memory and CPU time and scans everything that comes in from the net. Now your surfin' is taking even longer.

Bottom line: be careful where you surf. Windows Firewall will actually do a very good job of protecting your computer. Use it. Read "Firewalls for Dummies" (I think that book exists) and learn how to use Windows Firewall. You'll save money and protect your computer without slowing it down.

Re-partition:

Hard to do once everything's loaded. Here's the easiest way to do it:

• Back-up all your data. Easiest way is by using a CD or DVD-burner. I prefer just to copy everything the system will let me. I can sort it all out later. That way I don't forget to back up something that's vital to the system.
• Boot up with your Windows XP install CD. (If you have an OEM system restore disk, use that.) A screen will come up - that looks like this:
  
• Select Delete Partition
• Yes, you're sure.
• Create a partition - make the size 50% of the drive or 25GB - whichever is smaller.
• Create another partition with the rest of the drive. If it's >100GB, you may want to break it up into 100GB chunks. (ie: create several 100GB partitions)
• Format the primary partition with NTFS - but don't use the QUICK option - it won't work on a newly partitioned drive.
• Install Windows as usual.

Be careful doing this. When you re-partition a drive, it whacks everything on the drive. It's actually safer and easier to use a second hard drive.

are all these things here things I can do now?

I took my computerto this place where they ran something on it and told me that I need to clean up my hard drive, install ram, anti this and anti that and they wanted to charge me $315 to do it. Now that is not a possiblity for me obviously. is it possible for me to clean it up on my own?

This is all stuff you can do right now. If you need to call for tech support, PM me for my phone number.

But remember this: you MUST back everything up before doing anything with your partitions. If you don't you WILL (not might - WILL) lose ALL your data. I'm stressing that because it's important.

I've worked with people who say, "There's nothing on there worth saving," so I whack the drive. Then, after I'm done, they say, "Oh, there was some important data I need to save." Now, I just back everything up before I even start. You should do the same. It's the stuff you don't think you need that you'll be wishing you had after all is said and done.

Yes, more RAM will speed up your computer - but not by much because it's Windows itself that's failing and needs to be re-installed. Yes, anti-this and anti-that will help, but in the long run they will slow down your computer and only cost you extra money that yuo really don't need to spend.

But the salespeople will get a commission for selling you this stuff you don't need.

Hmmm...I'll talk to cliff about it and start saving my crap. reallyy I want to get it all off there anyway...


I've used the word crap a lot today..

Clay, can you come over and help me do this?

Bring the girls, I'll make lunch!

Sure.

Let's see - go east on 10 about a thousand miles, go north on 95 about a thousand miles and turn left at the giant oak, right?

Oh come on. We're less than 2,000 miles I bet!

Format reinstall the enema for teh computer....


Giving your computer a "colonic" should boost it's performance for at least three to six months unless you're a heavy PC user doing a lot of downloading and deleting of files.....

Good way to put it. 'Crusoe yuo sreuioyls ende ot swol wond pginyt!

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DON'T DO THIS....

OMFG...."oh my freakin' gosh"


Sheesh, you could be a whole new computer for close to that.


Probably fly clay out to OK for cheaper also....


(You could ask me, but I'd say no.)

Yeah--that's why its not done yet... I'll get to cleaning it up eventually. Got to get some other stuff done around this house first..

Heck it'd be almost as quick for me to drive there.

Squat's right. $315 would buy a new computer. Make sure you get an extra hard drive!

We might just have to consider that. I'll consult you guys before i do....Actually, how would I go about getting a new one for $300??

Order a new tower from L&S Puter repair. The OS would be the problem, less you have one you'd like to use. Activation is the only "trouble" but you can git round that easy enuff as well.

Heck - put Linux on it and learn how to use it. Linux is far better than Windows. And, I just found out you can get a slew of educational software for Linux that's scot-free. Just download it. Also, with Linux, upgrading isn't really an issue.

But, it's harder to learn to use. And adding peripherals (read: extra stuff like a video upgrade) isn't pretty.

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agree with linux....


Who could also find a "questionable" copy of W2KP.



Or use the XP licence you have now.

Sad thing is took me three times reading that to realize that you had switched letters around... dyslexia....

Wally World (AKA Walmart....) Got a decent Laptop for $550

They often have desktops sans monitor for about 250 to 300
especially if they have leftover stock from a sale that didn't go as planned.

They sometimes have full systems with monitors and speakers for little over 250

Nothing great but it'll get online and work as a decent PC for a college student....

L&S Puter repair? Louis and Sarah?

What was that about no shameless plugs???? Wait the shameless plug section was taken down so we need to shamelessly plug ourselves....

My folks just bought an eMachine to replace a perfectly fine HP for 325. Here are the specs:

3.8GHz :yikes:
512MB
80GB
1MB L2
64MB Vidram! :eek:

All this for a woman that only uses the stoopid thing to play Yahoo games all day long. :screwy:

Almost good enought o play Warcraft on...
Tweak the mem just a smidge and it'll rock... it'd be choppy as is....

That wasn't shameless.

'Course it wasn't shameful... :huh:



Now, that's a shameful plug... :gotcha:

Dagnabit! What happened to my butt-cork pic? :bored:

I don't actually have a clue whatchya talkin bout. L & S Puter repair has been in operation under that name for 6 years er so. Same wit L & S Truckin, an L & S Tractor repair. I jes don't have enough buisness to keep it goin, an I cain't compete wit included flat panel monitor hp specials etc.

THAT is a funny pic! :rolf: