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Thread: Boosting PC Performance

  1. #1
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    Boosting PC Performance

    Anyone pleased with the results of this type of software? I'd prefer FREE WARE of course, but would consider retail.

    My 3 ghz, dual core, 4GB RAM, XP machine is steadily getting a bit slower and slower -- thought the braintrust can help me!

    I use Malwarebytes and Adware, but the machine is just getting a bit sluggish.

    I'm not afraid to get into XP (Control Panel) and use these utilities either, just don't know what to do?

    Thanks for any suggestions!

  2. #2
    I stay away from those things.

    IMHO, the best advice is to keep your machine light.

    Get a decent imaging program that'll take a complete snapshot of yr machine in its pristine state. Then you can restore to that point every time you're feeling sluggish.

  3. #3
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    go to www.finallyfast.com!

    Just kidding. Don't do that.

    Do you know how to identify the processes that are eating the CPU and RAM?

  4. #4
    I'd also highly discourage the use of any "program" to speed up your computer. Your hardware is plenty fast - the problem is likely you just have too much "stuff" running that you don't even know about.

    While having anti-spyware software is good, it also needs to load up every time you start the computer, and is probably constantly running, taking up resources. I'd recommend removing one or the other of the programs you're using - just use one.

    Then, go into the Add/Remove program in the control panel, and remove anything you don't use.

    Look down at the space next to the clock (lower right corner). All those icons are programs - do they all need to be running? Close/disable as many as you can.

    The best thing to do is press "Ctrl-Alt-Del", click the "Processes" tab, and Google the name of everything on that list. Ask: What is this? And: Why is it running?

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dan Friedrichs View Post
    The best thing to do is press "Ctrl-Alt-Del", click the "Processes" tab, and Google the name of everything on that list. Ask: What is this? And: Why is it running?
    After you track those things down that you can shut down, you may want to run msconfig from a cmd prompt and see if you can locate the entries that start those programs and disable them...

  6. #6
    None of that is going to help you. Its really a scam. The only way to get your computers speed back is to do a backup of your data (which you should be doing already) reformat and reinstall your OS. I would recommend even an upgrade to Windows 7. Its a lighter faster and more secure than XP.

    I reinstall my OS every year just to get that new computer smell back.
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  7. #7
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    Great advice guys......... I thank you!

    Dan, you and others hit the nail on the head I think. I have all kinds of PROCESSES......some seemingly in triplicate.

    My FIREFOX is burning between 20-50% of my CPU......this seem VERY HIGH. I noticed all of this happening AFTER DOWNLOADING a newer VERSION of FF. That's when things began to "hang up", "slow up".....etc.

    Outlook hangs -- Nero hangs---

    FF version 3.6.3 -- Funnelcake July 2009

    I'll begin to REMOVE unused programs via CONTROL PANEL as a start. Should I be leary of removing certain 'processes'???

  8. #8
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    Dont forget to use the "disk defragment" tool once in a while, takes awhile for it to run its course, but it always seems to speed up my hard drive.

  9. #9
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    A free tool that i use quite a bit is CCleaner. It will clean up lots of uneeded files thus freeing up disk space. It also has a registry cleaner. Regularly cleaning the regisitry is a good way to keep the pc performing. Be sure to take the backup when the registry cleaner asks if you want a backup. Just a safe gaurd. I have never had to recover to a registry backup.

    Run malwarebytes as well. This will clean up any resource consuming processes that do not show up as installed products and are basically a malware or virus.

    jim

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Podsedly View Post
    A free tool that i use quite a bit is CCleaner. It will clean up lots of uneeded files thus freeing up disk space. It also has a registry cleaner. Regularly cleaning the regisitry is a good way to keep the pc performing. Be sure to take the backup when the registry cleaner asks if you want a backup. Just a safe gaurd. I have never had to recover to a registry backup.

    Run malwarebytes as well. This will clean up any resource consuming processes that do not show up as installed products and are basically a malware or virus.

    jim
    CCleaner can do some wild stuff to your registry and can cause some serious problems with various programs. Usually nothing a re-install can't fix, but be cautious.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Roy Wall View Post
    Great advice guys......... I thank you!

    Dan, you and others hit the nail on the head I think. I have all kinds of PROCESSES......some seemingly in triplicate.

    My FIREFOX is burning between 20-50% of my CPU......this seem VERY HIGH. I noticed all of this happening AFTER DOWNLOADING a newer VERSION of FF. That's when things began to "hang up", "slow up".....etc.

    Outlook hangs -- Nero hangs---

    FF version 3.6.3 -- Funnelcake July 2009

    I'll begin to REMOVE unused programs via CONTROL PANEL as a start. Should I be leary of removing certain 'processes'???
    Get rid of Nero... a huge piece of bloatware that uses a lot of the computers resources....I use ImgBurn....much lighter and works better IMO.

  12. #12
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    Another thing you can do is stop going to all of those porn sites... they are loaded with spyware and malware
    A flute without holes, is not a flute. A donut without a hole, is a Danish.

  13. Quote Originally Posted by Roy Wall View Post
    Anyone pleased with the results of this type of software? I'd prefer FREE WARE of course, but would consider retail.
    PC tools has a tune up program that is pretty good.
    I prefer to enter regedit to eliminate un-used key entries.
    I used to do it manually, but since I have picked up a $20.00 utility called "Registry Trash Keys Finder" RTKF you can google it . It is a powerfully useful little program that eliminates all sorts of garbage and crap you didn't know was there. Registry Keys (hundreds and hundreds hundreds of them) that the programmers who put 'em there made invisible to you so you can't eliminate them manually. It finds 'em and eliminates 'em.

    I'm not afraid to get into XP (Control Panel) and use these utilities either, just don't know what to do?
    That won't do you much good. Control Panel is like XP has allowed you to adjust the shutters on your house when you really need to pull the plumbing out and work on it.

  14. #14
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    I've done a few things that help speed things up.
    Uninstall stuff you don't need. Then,
    Download a free program called CCleaner. This will clean out your registry.
    Lately me Firefox has been slow and freezes so I changed my browser to Chrome. Much faster.
    I've also switched from AVG to Avast for my anti virus. The jury is still out on this one.
    The one thing that made the biggest difference was changing to Chrome.
    My money talks to me... It says Good Bye.

  15. #15
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    you would see a large improvement going to windows 7. it made a new computer out of my last one. the speed difference between it and xp on the same machine was pretty incredible.
    Steve knight
    cnc routing

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