Help with computer tune up

[Zar]

I have an older laptop that runs Window XP and Norton 360. I have installed all the service packs and run virus and spam scans and cleaned up the hard drive but it still runs very slow compared to a year ago with the same setup. I don't know what other maintenance to do next or do I just take it to a shop and have them hose me. Has anyone had luck wth a " tune up" or clean up" program that you buy and install ? Obviously the computer is infected or choked with some back ground programs that run but don't show up on scans or the program register ( Msconfig or "add and remove programs"). I want to save $700 ( for a new laptop) and use the cash for the up coming sledding season . Any advice - and No I don't want to buy a Mac.

Cheers

 

[RETODD]

I don't know where to even start but...this is what I did and it helped a ton.

Download "WinDirStat" and clean up your hard drive:

WinDirStat - Windows Directory Statistics

Clean your drive up...get rid of chit you do not use , temp files and directories etc.

Then BACK it up.

Next get rid of Norton, MaAfee or what ever precessing pig junkie overpriced software you are using. Turn Windows Firewall BACK on and install Avast...a free Virus protection suite that is light and updates itself regularly.

avast! - Download Free Antivirus Software or Internet Security

This is a good start...

...go through your installed programs and 86 the crap you never use.


Install a free ad blocker that stops useless chit from being loaded every-time you turn on you PC.

These are just a few things I've doen to a 5 year old XP system and it has come alive to a point of being usable again.

Short of reinstalling XP your choices are limited.

Remember...Windows is a self-destructing operating system :d

I have an older laptop that runs Window XP and Norton 360. I have installed all the service packs and run virus and spam scans and cleaned up the hard drive but it still runs very slow compared to a year ago with the same setup. I don't know what other maintenance to do next or do I just take it to a shop and have them hose me. Has anyone had luck wth a " tune up" or clean up" program that you buy and install ? Obviously the computer is infected or choked with some back ground programs that run but don't show up on scans or the program register ( Msconfig or "add and remove programs"). I want to save $700 ( for a new laptop) and use the cash for the up coming sledding season . Any advice - and No I don't want to buy a Mac.

Cheers

 

[TylerG]

You could also download and run "Malwarebytes" it does a nice job of cleaning garbage up.

 

[meierjn]

Backup anything you want to keep and re-install you OS (Windows XP) from scratch. It is the only way you can be sure to completely get rid of anything that may be slowing down your system. Make a note of your system hardware in "device mangler". Re-install fresh/updated drivers for all of your hardware after the re-build. You should DL the drivers before re-stalling the OS and store them on a USB key or off of the system. Install a good AV program like Avast as mentioned above and turn the firewall on. At this point install all of your Windows updates. There will be a lot of them for XP. You may want to DL XP SP3 before the re-build and install it manually first after the re-build. This will save you some time with the Windows updates. Blowing away the system and starting fresh will save you a lot of time and frustration in the long run. I usually end up dowing this for sombodies system every couple of months. Let me know if you have any questions.

 

[scrfce]

bring it to future shop they set me up fer a hundo,,,,im sure if ur nice theyll do thesame for u

 

[Sweigh]

bring it to future shop they set me up fer a hundo,,,,im sure if ur nice theyll do thesame for u

NO! Just...... NO!

 

[meierjn]

Hell, I usually do it for a bottle of Gibby!

 

[KawisakiRider]

Sounds like malware to me, try advanced system care, you can download it for free off of Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com, it gives you the option to purchase but that is just for the toys it has. If that dosen't work, back up and reformat.

 

[Zar]

bring it to future shop they set me up fer a hundo,,,,im sure if ur nice theyll do thesame for u

I tried Best Buy Geek Squad last year on a different computer and it was a brutal experience. They hosed me for a lot of $$$$ (my bad). I thought a bunch of 40 year old virgins would do a better job but in the end they took 10 days to scan, re-format, configure and try to reload my original files that they backed up. They lost all my Itune files and pictures. I had a hunch that these guys were tools and i backed up a few things before I took it in to Geek Squad. It was a double experience - the first and last for Geek Squad (or Future shop)

 

[sumx54]

GAWD I love my Mac :d:d

 

[gildp67]

In all honesty first thing is to dump 360 it aresourcehog. and being on an older machine and if not much ram even worse. also even though not that great run defrag and disc clean. Also remove any and all software that you dont use it. just a few ideas.

 

[Cat401]

GAWD I love my Mac :d:d

What relevence does this have to the topic??

 

[Cat401]

RETODD is right with his suggestion on getting rid of Norton. Then either use Avast like he said or AVG. I have used AVG free for about 4 years on all of our computers with no issues.


Malwarebytes is also a good program to run as suggested by TylerG to clean up any junk.

 

[blar]

Try temporarily disable norton so your computer isn't being protected period. See if it speeds up. I also agree sometimes the best thing to do is clean install.

 

[ardypol]

I agree with meierjn. Reinstall the operating system and original drivers. Afterward, delete all the extra crap that installed (that you don't need.) Unless you go to some 'shady' websites, don't bother with an antivirus program. It's just more crap to have running in the background. I have four computers on the go, not one with antivirus crap. And remember; BACKUP BACKUP BACKUP!!!!

Btw, you can try TrendMicro, for 'Housecall'. Online virus scanner...

 

[any1butjj]

Backup anything you want to keep and re-install you OS (Windows XP) from scratch. It is the only way you can be sure to completely get rid of anything that may be slowing down your system. Make a note of your system hardware in "device mangler". Re-install fresh/updated drivers for all of your hardware after the re-build. You should DL the drivers before re-stalling the OS and store them on a USB key or off of the system. Install a good AV program like Avast as mentioned above and turn the firewall on. At this point install all of your Windows updates. There will be a lot of them for XP. You may want to DL XP SP3 before the re-build and install it manually first after the re-build. This will save you some time with the Windows updates. Blowing away the system and starting fresh will save you a lot of time and frustration in the long run. I usually end up dowing this for sombodies system every couple of months. Let me know if you have any questions.

ditto to this! as i have had to do this often and it is by far the best fix. a couple of other points to consider is it may be worth your while to buy a new hard drive as they all fail sooner or later (MTF). Also before you pull the drive or reload your OS back up your outlook stuff to a pst file, write down your email settings, back up a copy of your bookmarks, use a program to show what your Key codes are for your MS window and office plus make sure you have any other key codes you need and i always like to take a screen shot of my desktop to help me remember what i had. Sometimes finding drivers for your laptop video card and other devices can be a bit hard to find.

if you are looking for a big speed increase you could consider an SSD drive as they are awesome but for you to benefit from this technology you will need at least Vista and as much RAM as you can afford.