Guest ubername Posted September 17, 2007 Posted September 17, 2007 Hi My partner has a Dell inspiron l6000 laptop 1.3GHz Intell celeron processor 248 Mb RAM (Information gleaned from 'My Computer' properties) It takes about 12 minutes to restart. These are the timings: (times are when the stated display goes from Click restart) Desktop 15 seconds 'Windows is logging off' 33 s 'Saving your settings' 43 s 'Windows is shutting down' 1m 15s Black screen, then Dell Blue bar startuo 1m 24s Windows XP rolling blue bar 3m 17s Black screen 3m 53s 'Windows is starting up' 4m 06s Welcome 3m 39s Blue screen 5m 37s Desktop loads, spybot Teatimer messages 8m 40s MSMessenger loads 9m 27s DEsktop fulluy loaded, drive nor spinning 11m 52s At startup: MSN messenger live Spybot teatimer AVG Epson printer thing Sygate personal firewall FreeRam XPpro BBC new alerter Scotty winPatrol (there's a whole new thread about whether these are good / bad /redundant / obsolete programs, let's not go there now please:) The example of the restart is indicative of a general sluggishness in the machine performance. For example it takes 35s to bring up Firefox. Is it normal for it to take this time? It seems to have gone a lot slower over time (I reckon we've had the machine about 2 years), but I can't identify any particular thing which has slowed it down. I've done the obvious stuff like defragging, making sure that windows is managing the virtual memory, even messing with the graphics options (let windows choose what's best for me) I am a bit wary about doing a reinstall as I don't know if that would fix the problem. I have backed up all the data on the PC but rteformatting just feels really scary. Any advice gratefully received TIA I have tried
Guest db ´¯`·.. > Posted September 17, 2007 Posted September 17, 2007 Re: laptop is very slow - simple - disable everything from startup except avg all else can be enabled and disabled manually and as needed. -- db ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·..><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>¸. ><)))º>·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º> .. "ubername" <ubername@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:A92D2D47-147B-41A1-86E0-3FFA45CF0C1A@microsoft.com... > Hi > > My partner has a Dell inspiron l6000 laptop > 1.3GHz Intell celeron processor > 248 Mb RAM > (Information gleaned from 'My Computer' properties) > > It takes about 12 minutes to restart. > These are the timings: > (times are when the stated display goes from Click restart) > Desktop 15 seconds > 'Windows is logging off' 33 s > 'Saving your settings' 43 s > 'Windows is shutting down' 1m 15s > Black screen, then Dell Blue bar startuo 1m 24s > Windows XP rolling blue bar 3m 17s > Black screen 3m 53s > 'Windows is starting up' 4m 06s > Welcome 3m 39s > Blue screen 5m 37s > Desktop loads, spybot Teatimer messages 8m 40s > MSMessenger loads 9m 27s > DEsktop fulluy loaded, drive nor spinning 11m 52s > > At startup: > > MSN messenger live > Spybot teatimer > AVG > Epson printer thing > Sygate personal firewall > FreeRam XPpro > BBC new alerter > Scotty winPatrol > > (there's a whole new thread about whether these are good / bad /redundant / > obsolete programs, let's not go there now please:) > > The example of the restart is indicative of a general sluggishness in the > machine performance. For example it takes 35s to bring up Firefox. > > Is it normal for it to take this time? It seems to have gone a lot slower > over time (I reckon we've had the machine about 2 years), but I can't > identify any particular thing which has slowed it down. > > I've done the obvious stuff like defragging, making sure that windows is > managing the virtual memory, even messing with the graphics options (let > windows choose what's best for me) > > > I am a bit wary about doing a reinstall as I don't know if that would fix > the problem. I have backed up all the data on the PC but rteformatting just > feels really scary. > > Any advice gratefully received > > TIA > > I have tried
Guest ubername Posted September 17, 2007 Posted September 17, 2007 Re: laptop is very slow Thanks very much for the reply. I will try this, but I am wary about not starting a firewall, and it still seems that > 5 mins is a long time for a restart, even without loading any programs. "db ´¯`·.. ><)))º>` .. ." wrote: > - simple - > > disable everything > from startup except > avg > > all else can > be enabled and > disabled manually > and as needed. > -- > > db ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·..><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>¸. > ><)))º>·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º> > > > .. > > > "ubername" <ubername@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:A92D2D47-147B-41A1-86E0-3FFA45CF0C1A@microsoft.com... > > Hi > > > > My partner has a Dell inspiron l6000 laptop > > 1.3GHz Intell celeron processor > > 248 Mb RAM > > (Information gleaned from 'My Computer' properties) > > > > It takes about 12 minutes to restart. > > These are the timings: > > (times are when the stated display goes from Click restart) > > Desktop 15 seconds > > 'Windows is logging off' 33 s > > 'Saving your settings' 43 s > > 'Windows is shutting down' 1m 15s > > Black screen, then Dell Blue bar startuo 1m 24s > > Windows XP rolling blue bar 3m 17s > > Black screen 3m 53s > > 'Windows is starting up' 4m 06s > > Welcome 3m 39s > > Blue screen 5m 37s > > Desktop loads, spybot Teatimer messages 8m 40s > > MSMessenger loads 9m 27s > > DEsktop fulluy loaded, drive nor spinning 11m 52s > > > > At startup: > > > > MSN messenger live > > Spybot teatimer > > AVG > > Epson printer thing > > Sygate personal firewall > > FreeRam XPpro > > BBC new alerter > > Scotty winPatrol > > > > (there's a whole new thread about whether these are good / bad /redundant / > > obsolete programs, let's not go there now please:) > > > > The example of the restart is indicative of a general sluggishness in the > > machine performance. For example it takes 35s to bring up Firefox. > > > > Is it normal for it to take this time? It seems to have gone a lot slower > > over time (I reckon we've had the machine about 2 years), but I can't > > identify any particular thing which has slowed it down. > > > > I've done the obvious stuff like defragging, making sure that windows is > > managing the virtual memory, even messing with the graphics options (let > > windows choose what's best for me) > > > > > > I am a bit wary about doing a reinstall as I don't know if that would fix > > the problem. I have backed up all the data on the PC but rteformatting just > > feels really scary. > > > > Any advice gratefully received > > > > TIA > > > > I have tried > >
Guest Ron Badour Posted September 17, 2007 Posted September 17, 2007 Re: laptop is very slow My Dell laptop (2 GHz processor, 384 mb ram) loads to the windows sound in 1 minute and all programs are loaded in less than 1 1/2 minutes. If you cannot get down to near that time on a cold boot by following db's suggestion, than it might be time for a clean reinstallation of the system and software providing you got the system and resource CDs when you got the Dell. You have the hard part (backing up all your data) done--it is a matter of following on screen prompts, having the CDs and knowing the product key for the system disk. I assume the machine was used when you got it and personally, I would have scrubbed the drive at that time since you never know what you inherited along with the laptop. -- Regards Ron Badour MS MVP 1997 - 2007 "ubername" <ubername@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:A92D2D47-147B-41A1-86E0-3FFA45CF0C1A@microsoft.com... > Hi > > My partner has a Dell inspiron l6000 laptop > 1.3GHz Intell celeron processor > 248 Mb RAM > (Information gleaned from 'My Computer' properties) > > It takes about 12 minutes to restart. > These are the timings: > (times are when the stated display goes from Click restart) > Desktop 15 seconds > 'Windows is logging off' 33 s > 'Saving your settings' 43 s > 'Windows is shutting down' 1m 15s > Black screen, then Dell Blue bar startuo 1m 24s > Windows XP rolling blue bar 3m 17s > Black screen 3m 53s > 'Windows is starting up' 4m 06s > Welcome 3m 39s > Blue screen 5m 37s > Desktop loads, spybot Teatimer messages 8m 40s > MSMessenger loads 9m 27s > DEsktop fulluy loaded, drive nor spinning 11m 52s > > At startup: > > MSN messenger live > Spybot teatimer > AVG > Epson printer thing > Sygate personal firewall > FreeRam XPpro > BBC new alerter > Scotty winPatrol > > (there's a whole new thread about whether these are good / bad /redundant > / > obsolete programs, let's not go there now please:) > > The example of the restart is indicative of a general sluggishness in the > machine performance. For example it takes 35s to bring up Firefox. > > Is it normal for it to take this time? It seems to have gone a lot slower > over time (I reckon we've had the machine about 2 years), but I can't > identify any particular thing which has slowed it down. > > I've done the obvious stuff like defragging, making sure that windows is > managing the virtual memory, even messing with the graphics options (let > windows choose what's best for me) > > > I am a bit wary about doing a reinstall as I don't know if that would fix > the problem. I have backed up all the data on the PC but rteformatting > just > feels really scary. > > Any advice gratefully received > > TIA > > I have tried
Guest ubername Posted September 17, 2007 Posted September 17, 2007 Re: laptop is very slow Thanks Ron We got the laptop new (so I have all the disks etc.) and my first steps were to put the AV and firewall on it, so I doubt it's that I have inherited anything. Can you tell me when I do a reinstall does it require a reformat, or does it just fix the OS leaving user settings intact? (I have only backed up email and user files. I wouldn't know how to go about backing up all the user settings.) snip > My Dell laptop (2 GHz processor, 384 mb ram) loads to the windows sound in 1 > minute and all programs are loaded in less than 1 1/2 minutes. If you > cannot get down to near that time on a cold boot by following db's > suggestion, than it might be time for a clean reinstallation of the system > and software providing you got the system and resource CDs when you got the > Dell. You have the hard part (backing up all your data) done--it is a > matter of following on screen prompts, having the CDs and knowing the > product key for the system disk. I assume the machine was used when you got > it and personally, I would have scrubbed the drive at that time since you > never know what you inherited along with the laptop. > > -- > Regards > > Ron Badour > MS MVP 1997 - 2007 > > > "ubername" <ubername@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:A92D2D47-147B-41A1-86E0-3FFA45CF0C1A@microsoft.com... > > Hi > > > > My partner has a Dell inspiron l6000 laptop snip
Guest ANONYMOUS Posted September 17, 2007 Posted September 17, 2007 Re: laptop is very slow From time to time you need to do a clean install of the operating system and to download all the patches manually and install them. I can send you a spreadsheet of all the necessary patches you will need (with links to downloads from Microsoft website) to do this. Also, I have a created a batch file that automates everything! The patches in strict date order are (post SP2): Microsoft .NET Framework Version 1.1 Redistributable Package DirectX 9.0c Redistributable for Software Developers - Multilingual KB873339 KB885835 KB885836 KB886185 KB887472 KB888302 KB891781 KB890859 KB894391 KB896358 KB896428 KB898461 KB901214 KB893756 KB896423 KB899587 KB899591 Windows Installer 3.1 Redistributable (v2) KB900725 KB901017 KB902400 KB905414 KB905749 KB904706 KB910437 KB904706 KB908519 Microsoft .NET Framework Version 2.0 Redistributable Package (x86) KB911564 KB911927 KB911562 KB911562 KB900485 KB908531 KB913580 KB916595 KB918439 KB914389 KB917953 KB911280 KB914388 KB917283 KB920670 KB920683 KB920872 KB919007 KB920685 KB922582 KB922819 KB923191 KB923414 KB922770 KB920213 KB923980 KB924270 KB925720 Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 Redistributable Package KB926247 KB926255 KB918118 KB924667 KB926436 KB927779 KB927802 KB928255 KB928843 KB925902 KB930178 KB931261 KB931784 KB932168 KB930916 KB927891 windows Installer CleanUp Utility KB931906 KB929123 KB935839 KB935840 KB936357 KB917344 KB923689 KB923689 KB925398 KB928365 KB938828 KB933360 KB938127 KB921503 KB933579 KB936021 KB936181 KB936782 KB937143 KB938829 Windows Script 5.6 for Windows XP and Windows 2000 KB890830 Hope this helps. ubername wrote: > > Hi > > My partner has a Dell inspiron l6000 laptop > 1.3GHz Intell celeron processor > 248 Mb RAM > (Information gleaned from 'My Computer' properties) > > It takes about 12 minutes to restart. > These are the timings: > (times are when the stated display goes from Click restart) > Desktop 15 seconds > 'Windows is logging off' 33 s > 'Saving your settings' 43 s > 'Windows is shutting down' 1m 15s > Black screen, then Dell Blue bar startuo 1m 24s > Windows XP rolling blue bar 3m 17s > Black screen 3m 53s > 'Windows is starting up' 4m 06s > Welcome 3m 39s > Blue screen 5m 37s > Desktop loads, spybot Teatimer messages 8m 40s > MSMessenger loads 9m 27s > DEsktop fulluy loaded, drive nor spinning 11m 52s > > At startup: > > MSN messenger live > Spybot teatimer > AVG > Epson printer thing > Sygate personal firewall > FreeRam XPpro > BBC new alerter > Scotty winPatrol > > (there's a whole new thread about whether these are good / bad /redundant / > obsolete programs, let's not go there now please:) > > The example of the restart is indicative of a general sluggishness in the > machine performance. For example it takes 35s to bring up Firefox. > > Is it normal for it to take this time? It seems to have gone a lot slower > over time (I reckon we've had the machine about 2 years), but I can't > identify any particular thing which has slowed it down. > > I've done the obvious stuff like defragging, making sure that windows is > managing the virtual memory, even messing with the graphics options (let > windows choose what's best for me) > > I am a bit wary about doing a reinstall as I don't know if that would fix > the problem. I have backed up all the data on the PC but rteformatting just > feels really scary. > > Any advice gratefully received > > TIA > > I have tried
Guest db ´¯`·.. > Posted September 17, 2007 Posted September 17, 2007 Re: laptop is very slow you can use the windows firewall instead. -- db ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·..><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>¸. ><)))º>·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º> .. "ubername" <ubername@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:5AC983D3-1257-436F-B971-F384FC8D4ECC@microsoft.com... > Thanks very much for the reply. I will try this, but I am wary about not > starting a firewall, and it still seems that > 5 mins is a long time for a > restart, even without loading any programs. > > "db ´¯`·.. ><)))º>` .. ." wrote: > >> - simple - >> >> disable everything >> from startup except >> avg >> >> all else can >> be enabled and >> disabled manually >> and as needed. >> -- >> >> db ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·..><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>¸. >> ><)))º>·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º> >> >> >> .. >> >> >> "ubername" <ubername@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >> news:A92D2D47-147B-41A1-86E0-3FFA45CF0C1A@microsoft.com... >> > Hi >> > >> > My partner has a Dell inspiron l6000 laptop >> > 1.3GHz Intell celeron processor >> > 248 Mb RAM >> > (Information gleaned from 'My Computer' properties) >> > >> > It takes about 12 minutes to restart. >> > These are the timings: >> > (times are when the stated display goes from Click restart) >> > Desktop 15 seconds >> > 'Windows is logging off' 33 s >> > 'Saving your settings' 43 s >> > 'Windows is shutting down' 1m 15s >> > Black screen, then Dell Blue bar startuo 1m 24s >> > Windows XP rolling blue bar 3m 17s >> > Black screen 3m 53s >> > 'Windows is starting up' 4m 06s >> > Welcome 3m 39s >> > Blue screen 5m 37s >> > Desktop loads, spybot Teatimer messages 8m 40s >> > MSMessenger loads 9m 27s >> > DEsktop fulluy loaded, drive nor spinning 11m 52s >> > >> > At startup: >> > >> > MSN messenger live >> > Spybot teatimer >> > AVG >> > Epson printer thing >> > Sygate personal firewall >> > FreeRam XPpro >> > BBC new alerter >> > Scotty winPatrol >> > >> > (there's a whole new thread about whether these are good / bad /redundant / >> > obsolete programs, let's not go there now please:) >> > >> > The example of the restart is indicative of a general sluggishness in the >> > machine performance. For example it takes 35s to bring up Firefox. >> > >> > Is it normal for it to take this time? It seems to have gone a lot slower >> > over time (I reckon we've had the machine about 2 years), but I can't >> > identify any particular thing which has slowed it down. >> > >> > I've done the obvious stuff like defragging, making sure that windows is >> > managing the virtual memory, even messing with the graphics options (let >> > windows choose what's best for me) >> > >> > >> > I am a bit wary about doing a reinstall as I don't know if that would fix >> > the problem. I have backed up all the data on the PC but rteformatting just >> > feels really scary. >> > >> > Any advice gratefully received >> > >> > TIA >> > >> > I have tried >> >>
Guest Daave Posted September 17, 2007 Posted September 17, 2007 Re: laptop is very slow Yes, you should be very wary about going online without the benefit of a firewall! You could always physically disconnect your laptop from the network connection while you conduct your process of elimination experiment. ubername wrote: > Thanks very much for the reply. I will try this, but I am wary about > not starting a firewall, and it still seems that > 5 mins is a long > time for a restart, even without loading any programs. > > "db ´¯`·.. ><)))º>` .. ." wrote: > >> - simple - >> >> disable everything >> from startup except >> avg >> >> all else can >> be enabled and >> disabled manually >> and as needed. >> -- >> >> db ·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·..><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º>¸. >>> <)))º>·´¯`·.¸. , . .·´¯`·.. ><)))º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸.·´¯`·...¸><)))º> >> >> >> .. >> >> >> "ubername" <ubername@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >> news:A92D2D47-147B-41A1-86E0-3FFA45CF0C1A@microsoft.com... >>> Hi >>> >>> My partner has a Dell inspiron l6000 laptop >>> 1.3GHz Intell celeron processor >>> 248 Mb RAM >>> (Information gleaned from 'My Computer' properties) >>> >>> It takes about 12 minutes to restart. >>> These are the timings: >>> (times are when the stated display goes from Click restart) >>> Desktop 15 seconds >>> 'Windows is logging off' 33 s >>> 'Saving your settings' 43 s >>> 'Windows is shutting down' 1m 15s >>> Black screen, then Dell Blue bar startuo 1m 24s >>> Windows XP rolling blue bar 3m 17s >>> Black screen 3m 53s >>> 'Windows is starting up' 4m 06s >>> Welcome 3m 39s >>> Blue screen 5m 37s >>> Desktop loads, spybot Teatimer messages 8m 40s >>> MSMessenger loads 9m 27s >>> DEsktop fulluy loaded, drive nor spinning 11m 52s >>> >>> At startup: >>> >>> MSN messenger live >>> Spybot teatimer >>> AVG >>> Epson printer thing >>> Sygate personal firewall >>> FreeRam XPpro >>> BBC new alerter >>> Scotty winPatrol >>> >>> (there's a whole new thread about whether these are good / bad >>> /redundant / obsolete programs, let's not go there now please:) >>> >>> The example of the restart is indicative of a general sluggishness >>> in the machine performance. For example it takes 35s to bring up >>> Firefox. >>> >>> Is it normal for it to take this time? It seems to have gone a lot >>> slower over time (I reckon we've had the machine about 2 years), >>> but I can't identify any particular thing which has slowed it down. >>> >>> I've done the obvious stuff like defragging, making sure that >>> windows is managing the virtual memory, even messing with the >>> graphics options (let windows choose what's best for me) >>> >>> >>> I am a bit wary about doing a reinstall as I don't know if that >>> would fix the problem. I have backed up all the data on the PC but >>> rteformatting just feels really scary. >>> >>> Any advice gratefully received >>> >>> TIA >>> >>> I have tried
Guest ubername Posted September 17, 2007 Posted September 17, 2007 Re: laptop is very slow Hi Thanks for this. I think this is the bit I don't fully understand. Does a clean install of the OS trash all your user settings etc? If so, so be it, because the machine is so slow now that it's hard to use and I will just have to note all the settings and reinstall them or find a way of copying e.g outlook express settings. I am also keen to understand what it is that happens which means you need to do this clean reinstall from time to time. On my other boxes I mess with lots of stuff so accept I might fill the registry with stuff from poorly written programs which I install and then discard, but I have deliberately kept (been told to!) my hands of this machine which is why I am surprised its performance has degraded so much. "ANONYMOUS" wrote: > > From time to time you need to do a clean install of the operating system > and to download all the patches manually and install them. snip
Guest Ken Blake, MVP Posted September 17, 2007 Posted September 17, 2007 Re: laptop is very slow On Mon, 17 Sep 2007 22:25:22 +0100, ANONYMOUS <ANONYMOUS@NEWSGROUPS.COM> wrote: > From time to time you need to do a clean install of the operating system Not at all true! With a modicum of care, it should never be necessary to reinstall Windows (XP or any other version). I've run Windows 3.0, 3.1, WFWG 3.11, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Vista, each for the period of time before the next version came out, and each on at least two machines (more recently three machines) here. I never reinstalled any of them, and I have never had anything more than an occasional minor problem. -- Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User Please Reply to the Newsgroup
Guest Ron Badour Posted September 17, 2007 Posted September 17, 2007 Re: laptop is very slow You can do a repair installation; however, I seldom see any improvement by doing one. Formatting the partition and doing a clean installation does take longer but in my opinion, the work is worth it. Before doing this, you need to try db's suggestion to see if it helps. I suspect it will not but you should try because it could save a lot of time/trouble if it does. I don't think something minor would cause the laptop to boot so slowly. Maybe someone else will jump in with other thoughts. -- Regards Ron Badour MS MVP 1997 - 2007 "ubername" <ubername@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:8B5C5A67-EB75-4ECD-8704-172B1DBD2483@microsoft.com... > Thanks Ron > > We got the laptop new (so I have all the disks etc.) and my first steps > were > to put the AV and firewall on it, so I doubt it's that I have inherited > anything. > > Can you tell me when I do a reinstall does it require a reformat, or does > it > just fix the OS leaving user settings intact? (I have only backed up email > and user files. I wouldn't know how to go about backing up all the user > settings.) > > snip >> My Dell laptop (2 GHz processor, 384 mb ram) loads to the windows sound >> in 1 >> minute and all programs are loaded in less than 1 1/2 minutes. If you >> cannot get down to near that time on a cold boot by following db's >> suggestion, than it might be time for a clean reinstallation of the >> system >> and software providing you got the system and resource CDs when you got >> the >> Dell. You have the hard part (backing up all your data) done--it is a >> matter of following on screen prompts, having the CDs and knowing the >> product key for the system disk. I assume the machine was used when you >> got >> it and personally, I would have scrubbed the drive at that time since you >> never know what you inherited along with the laptop. >> >> -- >> Regards >> >> Ron Badour >> MS MVP 1997 - 2007 >> >> >> "ubername" <ubername@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >> news:A92D2D47-147B-41A1-86E0-3FFA45CF0C1A@microsoft.com... >> > Hi >> > >> > My partner has a Dell inspiron l6000 laptop > snip
Guest ubername Posted September 18, 2007 Posted September 18, 2007 Re: laptop is very slow Thanks Ken I have also had 95, 98 and XP boxes. Each of them seemed to get slower as time went on (I admit 'seemed to get slower' is hardly scientific, but I think a 12 minute restart is such that I would have contacted Dell straight away if it had been there in the first place) Can I ask a couple of questions: If I do a format / reinstall, what is the 'modicum of care' you recommend to maintain the system thereafter? I do regular defrags and try to clean the registry (but I won't pay for software to do either, on principle). AFAIK these are the key ways of cleaning a Windows install (assuming you have left Windows to sort swap space and hardware acceleration etc.) Have your machines degraded in performance until upgrade / what do you do to keep your machines running well? Without doubting your word for a moment, it is constantly a source of amazement to me that two people with apparently similar set-ups can have such differing experiences. "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote: > On Mon, 17 Sep 2007 22:25:22 +0100, ANONYMOUS > <ANONYMOUS@NEWSGROUPS.COM> wrote: > > > > From time to time you need to do a clean install of the operating system > > > > Not at all true! With a modicum of care, it should never be necessary > to reinstall Windows (XP or any other version). I've run Windows 3.0, > 3.1, WFWG 3.11, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and > Windows Vista, each for the period of time before the next version > came out, and each on at least two machines (more recently three > machines) here. I never reinstalled any of them, and I have never had > anything more than an occasional minor problem. > > -- > Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User > Please Reply to the Newsgroup >
Guest Ken Blake, MVP Posted September 18, 2007 Posted September 18, 2007 Re: laptop is very slow On Tue, 18 Sep 2007 11:02:01 -0700, ubername <ubername@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote: > Thanks Ken > > I have also had 95, 98 and XP boxes. Each of them seemed to get slower as > time went on (I admit 'seemed to get slower' is hardly scientific, but I > think a 12 minute restart is such that I would have contacted Dell straight > away if it had been there in the first place) I think you need to distinguish between the speed of the computer while running and the time it takes to boot. They are two very different things, and neither implies the other. The time it takes to boot is largely a result of what programs you have starting automatically. Since many programs insert themselves into your list of autostarting programs without asking, it's not unexpected that the time gets longer as time goes on, *unless* you are diligent about not allowing this and periodically checking to see what's there. > Can I ask a couple of questions: > If I do a format / reinstall, what is the 'modicum of care' you recommend to > maintain the system thereafter? Here's a quick list that comes to mind: 1. Run a good antivirus program (not Norton or McAfee) regularly and keep it up to date. 2. Run at least two good anti-spyware programs (not Norton or McAfee) and keep them up to date. 3. Be sure you are always behind a firewall. 4. Stay away from porno sites and those that provide pirated copies of software. 5. Avoid clicking on every link someone sends you or you read in a newsgroup. 6. Be extremely careful what attachments you open. Even if your best friend sends you a file, if he's infected, he could be passing the infection on. Best practice, if your job doesn't require otherwise) is not to open attachments at all. 7. Avoid downloading and running any of the many various programs that provide snake oil remedies for non-existent problems. These include registry cleaners, download accelerators, memory managers, etc. 8. Avoid running dubious programs of any kind. There's lots of junk software out there, and downloading everything you hear about and trying it out can get you into trouble. 9. AsI said above, watch out for what starts automatically. There's undoubtedly more, but those are what I think of at the moment. > I do regular defrags That can't hurt, but its importance with Windows XP and NTFS is much less than it used to be. > and try to clean the > registry But that *can* hurt, and severely. See point 7, above. I strongly suggest you avoid using any registry cleaning program. Cleaning of the registry isn't needed and is dangerous. Leave the registry alone and don't use any registry cleaner. Despite what many people think, and what vendors of registry cleaning software try to convince you of, having unused registry entries doesn't really hurt you. The risk of a serious problem caused by a registry cleaner erroneously removing an entry you need is far greater than any potential benefit it may have. >(but I won't pay for software to do either, on principle). Your choice, of course. That's lots of good free software available, and there's also lots of good paid-for software available. I don't think much of the principle of not paying for software. I make my choices of software based on how good it is in conjunction with how much it costs. Sometimes I choose freeware; sometimes I choose shareware; sometimes I choose commercial ware. > AFAIK > these are the key ways of cleaning a Windows install (assuming you have left > Windows to sort swap space and hardware acceleration etc.) I disagree, as I said above. > Have your machines degraded in performance until upgrade No. If they had, I would have addressed the issue, even to the extent of reinstalling cleanly if I can't find any other solution. > what do you do to > keep your machines running well? I think it's much more what I don't do than what I do do. See the above. > Without doubting your word for a moment, it > is constantly a source of amazement to me that two people with apparently > similar set-ups can have such differing experiences. > > > > "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote: > > > On Mon, 17 Sep 2007 22:25:22 +0100, ANONYMOUS > > <ANONYMOUS@NEWSGROUPS.COM> wrote: > > > > > > > From time to time you need to do a clean install of the operating system > > > > > > > > Not at all true! With a modicum of care, it should never be necessary > > to reinstall Windows (XP or any other version). I've run Windows 3.0, > > 3.1, WFWG 3.11, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and > > Windows Vista, each for the period of time before the next version > > came out, and each on at least two machines (more recently three > > machines) here. I never reinstalled any of them, and I have never had > > anything more than an occasional minor problem. > > > > -- > > Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User > > Please Reply to the Newsgroup > > -- Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User Please Reply to the Newsgroup
Guest ANONYMOUS Posted September 18, 2007 Posted September 18, 2007 Re: laptop is very slow "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote: > > On Mon, 17 Sep 2007 22:25:22 +0100, ANONYMOUS > <ANONYMOUS@NEWSGROUPS.COM> wrote: > > > > From time to time you need to do a clean install of the operating system > > > Not at all true! With a modicum of care, it should never be necessary > to reinstall Windows (XP or any other version). I've run Windows 3.0, > 3.1, WFWG 3.11, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and > Windows Vista, each for the period of time before the next version > came out, and each on at least two machines (more recently three > machines) here. I never reinstalled any of them, and I have never had > anything more than an occasional minor problem. > You are a seasoned computer user while the majority of people asking questions here aren't. In any case, What is your solution to this current problem? Don't tell us to to delete all tmp files and internet cache because this has never worked on 99% of the cases posted here. I had the same argument with you few months ago and we agreed to disagree on this!. do a search on this if you want to. Instead of messing around with the system and wasting days for a proper solution, a clean install is the fastest way to resolve the problems. Are you telling us that you have used W3.1 and all subsequent versions on your current system? are you sure about it?
Guest ANONYMOUS Posted September 18, 2007 Posted September 18, 2007 Re: laptop is very slow You have received good responses here and the over whelming view is to do a clean installation of the OS. You will save time and unnecessary grief. KEN (MVP) hasn't given you any solution except that he is quite efficient in attacking people who are willing to advice you here. It all very well what you should do to look after your system but in your case the system takes 12 minutes to start and no mater what you do, I challenge you that when you do a clean install of the OS, your system will be very faster and then you can read Ken's email for the general maintenance of the system. In fact you should also consider doing a hard disk clone of the system when it is running properly so that in the future, life becomes very much easier to restore the system to what it was subject to any hotfixes and anti-virus updates. ubername wrote: > > I have also had 95, 98 and XP boxes. Each of them seemed to get slower as > time went on (I admit 'seemed to get slower' is hardly scientific, but I > think a 12 minute restart is such that I would have contacted Dell straight > away if it had been there in the first place) > > Can I ask a couple of questions: > If I do a format / reinstall, what is the 'modicum of care' you recommend to > maintain the system thereafter? I do regular defrags and try to clean the > registry (but I won't pay for software to do either, on principle). AFAIK > these are the key ways of cleaning a Windows install (assuming you have left > Windows to sort swap space and hardware acceleration etc.) > > Have your machines degraded in performance until upgrade / what do you do to > keep your machines running well? Without doubting your word for a moment, it > is constantly a source of amazement to me that two people with apparently > similar set-ups can have such differing experiences. >
Guest Ken Blake, MVP Posted September 18, 2007 Posted September 18, 2007 Re: laptop is very slow On Tue, 18 Sep 2007 22:49:44 +0100, ANONYMOUS <ANONYMOUS@NEWSGROUPS.COM> wrote: > > > "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote: > > > > On Mon, 17 Sep 2007 22:25:22 +0100, ANONYMOUS > > <ANONYMOUS@NEWSGROUPS.COM> wrote: > > > > > > > From time to time you need to do a clean install of the operating system > > > > > > Not at all true! With a modicum of care, it should never be necessary > > to reinstall Windows (XP or any other version). I've run Windows 3.0, > > 3.1, WFWG 3.11, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and > > Windows Vista, each for the period of time before the next version > > came out, and each on at least two machines (more recently three > > machines) here. I never reinstalled any of them, and I have never had > > anything more than an occasional minor problem. > > > > > You are a seasoned computer user while the majority of people asking > questions here aren't. > > In any case, What is your solution to this current problem? Don't tell > us to to delete all tmp files and internet cache because this has never > worked on 99% of the cases posted here. I had the same argument with > you few months ago and we agreed to disagree on this!. do a search on > this if you want to. > > Instead of messing around with the system and wasting days for a proper > solution, a clean install is the fastest way to resolve the problems. That's your view, and you are welcome to it. My view is that it's very seldom true. > Are you telling us that you have used W3.1 and all subsequent versions > on your current system? No, not on my current system. I've changed computers several times since 3.1. And I've never had Windows Me installed on any of my machines. > are you sure about it? Yes, I'm quite sure. And you can change Windows 3.1 to Windows 3.0, and I'm still quite sure (except for Me, as I said). I also ran no Windows NT versions before Windows 2000. -- Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User Please Reply to the Newsgroup
Guest ubername Posted September 19, 2007 Posted September 19, 2007 Re: laptop is very slow "ANONYMOUS" wrote: > > > "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote: > > > > On Mon, 17 Sep 2007 22:25:22 +0100, ANONYMOUS > > <ANONYMOUS@NEWSGROUPS.COM> wrote: > > > > > > > From time to time you need to do a clean install of the operating system > > > > > > Not at all true! With a modicum of care, it should never be necessary > > to reinstall Windows (XP or any other version). I've run Windows 3.0, > > 3.1, WFWG 3.11, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and > > Windows Vista, each for the period of time before the next version > > came out, and each on at least two machines (more recently three > > machines) here. I never reinstalled any of them, and I have never had > > anything more than an occasional minor problem. > > > > > You are a seasoned computer user while the majority of people asking > questions here aren't. > > In any case, What is your solution to this current problem? Don't tell > us to to delete all tmp files and internet cache because this has never > worked on 99% of the cases posted here. I had the same argument with > you few months ago and we agreed to disagree on this!. do a search on > this if you want to. > > Instead of messing around with the system and wasting days for a proper > solution, a clean install is the fastest way to resolve the problems. > > Are you telling us that you have used W3.1 and all subsequent versions > on your current system? are you sure about it? > Hi Anonymous and Ken I thank you both for taking the time to help me. Please don't let this ignite a previous dispute. It is great that you both contribute to boards and give people the chance to see different opinions. That said, I feel as though I am going to have to follow the re-install route. Ken's 9 points for careful maintenance have been followed, certainly with regard to the presence of firewall (Sygate), AV (AVG) and anti-spyware (Spybot S&D and Winpatrol) from the first possible moment. As far as the execution of dodgy programs, be they from email links or wherever, I doubt the user of this computer would do it at all, a: because I have explained what the risk are and b: because they use this computer for their work and don't have time / inclination to (Also it is scanned regularly by the aforementioned products). I take Ken's point about the lesser requirement for defrag with the NTFS file system, but still thought it worth mentioning that I had done so. It struck me as likely that if I didn't mention it someone would say 'Have you defragged your drive?' So bearing in mind I will continue to follow Ken's advice which I will follow when I re-install, can I ask the following: Do I have to format the existing partition and therefore lose all the user settings and non-windows programs (AVG, SPybot, Firewall) (I think I already know that I will) During the re installation can I partition the drive such that I can allocate some space to user files and settings so that if / when I have to do this again I don't need to worry so much about the user stuff and just freshen up the OS? TIA everyone who might care to answer.
Guest Ken Blake, MVP Posted September 19, 2007 Posted September 19, 2007 Re: laptop is very slow On Tue, 18 Sep 2007 17:06:02 -0700, ubername <ubername@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote: > > > "ANONYMOUS" wrote: > > > > > > > "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote: > > > > > > On Mon, 17 Sep 2007 22:25:22 +0100, ANONYMOUS > > > <ANONYMOUS@NEWSGROUPS.COM> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > From time to time you need to do a clean install of the operating system > > > > > > > > > Not at all true! With a modicum of care, it should never be necessary > > > to reinstall Windows (XP or any other version). I've run Windows 3.0, > > > 3.1, WFWG 3.11, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and > > > Windows Vista, each for the period of time before the next version > > > came out, and each on at least two machines (more recently three > > > machines) here. I never reinstalled any of them, and I have never had > > > anything more than an occasional minor problem. > > > > > > > > > You are a seasoned computer user while the majority of people asking > > questions here aren't. > > > > In any case, What is your solution to this current problem? Don't tell > > us to to delete all tmp files and internet cache because this has never > > worked on 99% of the cases posted here. I had the same argument with > > you few months ago and we agreed to disagree on this!. do a search on > > this if you want to. > > > > Instead of messing around with the system and wasting days for a proper > > solution, a clean install is the fastest way to resolve the problems. > > > > Are you telling us that you have used W3.1 and all subsequent versions > > on your current system? are you sure about it? > > > > > Hi Anonymous and Ken > > I thank you both for taking the time to help me. Please don't let this > ignite a previous dispute. It is great that you both contribute to boards and > give people the chance to see different opinions. > That said, I feel as though I am going to have to follow the re-install > route. Ken's 9 points for careful maintenance have been followed, certainly > with regard to the presence of firewall (Sygate), AV (AVG) and anti-spyware > (Spybot S&D and Winpatrol) from the first possible moment. As far as the > execution of dodgy programs, be they from email links or wherever, I doubt > the user of this computer would do it at all, a: because I have explained > what the risk are and b: because they use this computer for their work and > don't have time / inclination to (Also it is scanned regularly by the > aforementioned products). I take Ken's point about the lesser requirement for > defrag with the NTFS file system, but still thought it worth mentioning that > I had done so. It struck me as likely that if I didn't mention it someone > would say 'Have you defragged your drive?' > > So bearing in mind I will continue to follow Ken's advice which I will > follow when I re-install, can I ask the following: > > Do I have to format the existing partition and therefore lose all the user > settings and non-windows programs (AVG, SPybot, Firewall) (I think I already > know that I will) It depends. If you want to do a clean installation, yes that's what a clean installation means. You can also do a repair installation (I wish they had just called this a "repair" instead of a "repair installation"; it would be less likely to confuse people). A repair installation sometimes fixes things, but it's very different from a full, clean installation. It also often fails to fix what's wrong, since it is not a real installation. So the answer to your question is that it depends on what problem(s) need correction. > During the re installation can I partition the drive such that I can > allocate some space to user files and settings If you do a clean reinstallation, yes, you can decide how to partition your drive. You can create as many logical drives as you want. > so that if / when I have to do > this again I don't need to worry so much about the user stuff and just > freshen up the OS? Yes, but whenever I see someone say this, I fear that you are relying on your data being in a second partition to protect it against loss. In fact that is the weakest possible protection. The only real protection is backup. If you institute a program of regular backup, the justification for doing what you propose largely vanishes. -- Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User Please Reply to the Newsgroup
Guest ubername Posted September 19, 2007 Posted September 19, 2007 Re: laptop is very slow "Ken Blake, MVP" wrote: <big snip> > > Do I have to format the existing partition and therefore lose all the user > > settings and non-windows programs (AVG, SPybot, Firewall) (I think I already > > know that I will) > > > It depends. If you want to do a clean installation, yes that's what a > clean installation means. You can also do a repair installation (I > wish they had just called this a "repair" ins> > >tead of a "repair > installation"; it would be less likely to confuse people). A repair > installation sometimes fixes things, but it's very different from a > full, clean installation. It also often fails to fix what's wrong, > since it is not a real installation. > > So the answer to your question is that it depends on what problem(s) > need correction. The thing is, I don't know what the problem(s) with the laptop is / are. That's why I posted in the first place. If I can fix it without doing any sort of install that would be my preference. I tried to give as much info as possible in the first post to describe my situation and the problem. If there is more that I can provide which will allow a solution to be proposed, I will try to provide it. I also genuinely believe that I have followed all 9 points Ken made about keeping an install clean. Nevertheless, I now have this slow system. my situat So without wishing to step on any toes: If, for whatever reason, my system is now hosed, is there anything I can do to sort it out or should I go for the install? > > > > During the re installation can I partition the drive such that I can > > allocate some space to user files and settings > > > If you do a clean reinstallation, yes, you can decide how to partition > your drive. You can create as many logical drives as you want. > > > > so that if / when I have to do > > this again I don't need to worry so much about the user stuff and just > > freshen up the OS? > > > > Yes, but whenever I see someone say this, I fear that you are relying > on your data being in a second partition to protect it against loss. > In fact that is the weakest possible protection. The only real > protection is backup. If you institute a program of regular backup, > the justification for doing what you propose largely vanishes. Ken's fears are unfounded in my case (it would have been better grammar to follow the 'someone' with a 'he or she is' rather than a 'you are' and certainly less provocative.). Backup is king. However I don't see that having 2 layers of data security in place, with increasing layers of difficulty / complexity to restore, is a weaker solution than just having backups; > > -- > Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User > Please Reply to the Newsgroup >
Guest sammysweet18@gmail.com Posted September 20, 2007 Posted September 20, 2007 Re: laptop is very slow On Sep 18, 3:50 am, ubername <ubern...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote: > Hi > > My partner has a Dell inspiron l6000 laptop > 1.3GHz Intell celeron processor > 248 Mb RAM > (Information gleaned from 'MyComputer' properties) > > It takes about 12 minutes to restart. > These are the timings: > (times are when the stated display goes from Click restart) > Desktop 15 seconds > 'Windows is logging off' 33 s > 'Saving your settings' 43 s > 'Windows is shutting down' 1m 15s > Black screen, then Dell Blue bar startuo 1m 24s > Windows XP rolling blue bar 3m 17s > Black screen 3m 53s > 'Windows is starting up' 4m 06s > Welcome 3m 39s > Blue screen 5m 37s > Desktop loads, spybot Teatimer messages 8m 40s > MSMessenger loads 9m 27s > DEsktop fulluy loaded, drive nor spinning 11m 52s > > At startup: > > MSN messenger live > Spybot teatimer > AVG > Epson printer thing > Sygate personal firewall > FreeRam XPpro > BBC new alerter > Scotty winPatrol > > (there's a whole new thread about whether these are good / bad /redundant / > obsolete programs, let's not go there now please:) > > The example of the restart is indicative of a general sluggishness in the > machine performance. For example it takes 35s to bring up Firefox. > > Is it normal for it to take this time? It seems to have gone a lot slower > over time (I reckon we've had the machine about 2 years), but I can't > identify any particular thing which has slowed it down. > > I've done the obvious stuff like defragging, making sure that windows is > managing the virtual memory, even messing with the graphics options (let > windows choose what's best for me) > > I am a bit wary about doing a reinstall as I don't know if that wouldfix > the problem. I have backed up all the data on the PC but rteformatting just > feels really scary. > > Any advice gratefully received > > TIA > > I have tried Maybe you should fix unneccessary thing on your PC. Try using Chris MEthod to work at http://www.clickaudit.com/goto/?71493
Guest Unknown Posted September 20, 2007 Posted September 20, 2007 Re: laptop is very slow Have you run Disk Cleanup? control panel---accessories---system tools. <sammysweet18@gmail.com> wrote in message news:1190267109.234465.262470@t8g2000prg.googlegroups.com... > On Sep 18, 3:50 am, ubername <ubern...@discussions.microsoft.com> > wrote: >> Hi >> >> My partner has a Dell inspiron l6000 laptop >> 1.3GHz Intell celeron processor >> 248 Mb RAM >> (Information gleaned from 'MyComputer' properties) >> >> It takes about 12 minutes to restart. >> These are the timings: >> (times are when the stated display goes from Click restart) >> Desktop 15 seconds >> 'Windows is logging off' 33 s >> 'Saving your settings' 43 s >> 'Windows is shutting down' 1m 15s >> Black screen, then Dell Blue bar startuo 1m 24s >> Windows XP rolling blue bar 3m 17s >> Black screen 3m 53s >> 'Windows is starting up' 4m 06s >> Welcome 3m 39s >> Blue screen 5m 37s >> Desktop loads, spybot Teatimer messages 8m 40s >> MSMessenger loads 9m 27s >> DEsktop fulluy loaded, drive nor spinning 11m 52s >> >> At startup: >> >> MSN messenger live >> Spybot teatimer >> AVG >> Epson printer thing >> Sygate personal firewall >> FreeRam XPpro >> BBC new alerter >> Scotty winPatrol >> >> (there's a whole new thread about whether these are good / bad /redundant >> / >> obsolete programs, let's not go there now please:) >> >> The example of the restart is indicative of a general sluggishness in the >> machine performance. For example it takes 35s to bring up Firefox. >> >> Is it normal for it to take this time? It seems to have gone a lot slower >> over time (I reckon we've had the machine about 2 years), but I can't >> identify any particular thing which has slowed it down. >> >> I've done the obvious stuff like defragging, making sure that windows is >> managing the virtual memory, even messing with the graphics options (let >> windows choose what's best for me) >> >> I am a bit wary about doing a reinstall as I don't know if that wouldfix >> the problem. I have backed up all the data on the PC but rteformatting >> just >> feels really scary. >> >> Any advice gratefully received >> >> TIA >> >> I have tried > > Maybe you should fix unneccessary thing on your PC. Try using Chris > MEthod to work at http://www.clickaudit.com/goto/?71493 >
Guest ubername Posted September 20, 2007 Posted September 20, 2007 Re: laptop is very slow I think that I have enough info from this thread now. I found myself writing the below, and realised I had become more involved with the thread than the problem! Thanks for all your help Reinstall scheduled for Sat 22 Sep. "Unknown" wrote: > Have you run Disk Cleanup? contrrol panel---accessories---system tools. <snip> > <sammysweet18@gmail.com> wrote in message > > > Maybe you should fix unneccessary thing on your PC. Try using Chris > > MEthod to work at http://www.clickaudit.com/goto/?71493 > > Doh! I should have realized that Microsoft kept things secret and only by paying bucks to someone else would help. I have defragged and tried to tidy up the registry, I am probably savvy enough to know that I shouldn't have a ton of .tmp files etc. hanging about. Thanks for the help though. (BTW, 'accessories' is not available from my control panel, I get to it from 'All Programs') (Sammysweet: it's 'unnecessary', not 'unneccesary')
Guest Unknown Posted September 20, 2007 Posted September 20, 2007 Re: laptop is very slow "All programs" is correct. My brain was in first gear when I typed that. "ubername" <ubername@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:85FCE844-4040-4BC3-A79D-0631DEF444BF@microsoft.com... >I think that I have enough info from this thread now. I found myself >writing > the below, and realised I had become more involved with the thread than > the > problem! > > Thanks for all your help > > Reinstall scheduled for Sat 22 Sep. > > > > "Unknown" wrote: > >> Have you run Disk Cleanup? contrrol panel---accessories---system tools. > <snip> >> <sammysweet18@gmail.com> wrote in message > >> > Maybe you should fix unneccessary thing on your PC. Try using Chris >> > MEthod to work at http://www.clickaudit.com/goto/?71493 >> > > Doh! I should have realized that Microsoft kept things secret and only by > paying bucks to someone else would help. > I have defragged and tried to tidy up the registry, I am probably savvy > enough to know that I shouldn't have a ton of .tmp files etc. hanging > about. > Thanks for the help though. (BTW, 'accessories' is not available from my > control panel, I get to it from 'All Programs') > (Sammysweet: it's 'unnecessary', not 'unneccesary') >
Guest bbunny Posted September 22, 2007 Posted September 22, 2007 Re: laptop is very slow "ubername" <ubername@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:A92D2D47-147B-41A1-86E0-3FFA45CF0C1A@microsoft.com... > Hi > > My partner has a Dell inspiron l6000 laptop > 1.3GHz Intell celeron processor > 248 Mb RAM > (Information gleaned from 'My Computer' properties) > > It takes about 12 minutes to restart. > These are the timings: > (times are when the stated display goes from Click restart) > Desktop 15 seconds > 'Windows is logging off' 33 s > 'Saving your settings' 43 s > 'Windows is shutting down' 1m 15s > Black screen, then Dell Blue bar startuo 1m 24s > Windows XP rolling blue bar 3m 17s > Black screen 3m 53s > 'Windows is starting up' 4m 06s > Welcome 3m 39s > Blue screen 5m 37s > Desktop loads, spybot Teatimer messages 8m 40s > MSMessenger loads 9m 27s > DEsktop fulluy loaded, drive nor spinning 11m 52s > > At startup: > > MSN messenger live > Spybot teatimer > AVG > Epson printer thing > Sygate personal firewall > FreeRam XPpro > BBC new alerter > Scotty winPatrol > > (there's a whole new thread about whether these are good / bad /redundant > / > obsolete programs, let's not go there now please:) > > The example of the restart is indicative of a general sluggishness in the > machine performance. For example it takes 35s to bring up Firefox. > > Is it normal for it to take this time? It seems to have gone a lot slower > over time (I reckon we've had the machine about 2 years), but I can't > identify any particular thing which has slowed it down. > > I've done the obvious stuff like defragging, making sure that windows is > managing the virtual memory, even messing with the graphics options (let > windows choose what's best for me) > > > I am a bit wary about doing a reinstall as I don't know if that would fix > the problem. I have backed up all the data on the PC but rteformatting > just > feels really scary. a) Not enough RAM. b) Start these applications when you use them not on start up. > MSN messenger live > Spybot teatimer > AVG > Epson printer thing > Sygate personal firewall > FreeRam XPpro > BBC new alerter > Scotty winPatrol
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