Sluggish Computer need help!

[icormba]

I agree with NYT.

You have a lot of options and here are a few more...

I've worked for a Integrated circuit manufacturer for years... made cpu's for both PC and Mac. The stuff out these days is really good.

options include, but not limited:

1. Get a new hard-drive and Operating System

2. spend a little more and get something new with a SSD (Solid State Drive) with new OP-System.

Over Christmas I got a:
Intel Nuc i3, 16Gb Mem, 180GB SSD, with Win8.1 for just around $500

2.6 So many other options out there these days for a fraction of the prices we paid in 2004.

3. scrub your hard drive and re-install everything

You can always access your old data on your current hard drive if you need it as long as you don't submit to option 3.

[the86d]

You may have to run malwarebytes, or AV software in safe mode to get everything. There has been many occasions I have needed to do this for people that were plagued with more malware than I thought was possible...

While in safe mode blow out \Windows\SoftwareDistribution\*.*, \windows\system32\dllcache\*.*, \windows\temp\*.*, and %userprofile%\local settings\temp\*.*(, and if you know how to: all hidden folders named "$*.*" in the \windows\ folder too).

Once you are done, disable system restore, then re-enable it.

[the86d]

Oh, and while you are at it... you can do a "chkdsk /f" and answer y, then reboot.

That will check the disk for data errors in real mode, but if it doesn't take longer to boot (meaning it ignored the checkdisk you just set to happen) do it again until it does... Windows XP likes to ignore the checkdisk bit for some reason... quite often.

[stilly]

Thanks! stilly,

This Inspiron 9200 has been good to me. My Nephew had a newer Inspiron 9300 (?) and the screen gave out. I hooked my Newhew's box up to an old monitor and have it working again.

Do wonder if things go south if I can just switch harddrives. The downside is his laptop has twice the menory (2 to my 1).

NYT has a decent idea, and he did not even mention that stupid M-word...

Consider this though, there are a lot of cool options for laptops. I found one such sweet spot was with the Dell Lattitude E6400s. They are somewhat newer, and very nice, business class machines that can be had for around $100-$300+ Used on Evilbay. I just bought one, now I have a HD for it, but the thing cleaned up nicely, has a backlit keyboard, a slice battery, takes up to 8GB of RAM and has a NICE ultra sharp like 1400x900 or something resolution screen (14.1" I think) Along with a very nice Nvidia Quadro graphics system.

Maybe it is time to gather your data and migrate to a newer laptop. One that is still a PC of course, but just move the software too. Winblows make it easy too with the new Windows 7 Migration wizard (migwiz). It zips up all your files and drops them in a safe spot, then moves them to a new computer for you...

Of course, if you have that sense of loyalty to that machine, then at least upgrade to a new SSD. Get a nice one that is around 200GB or more.

Oh yeah, I forgot, Due to MS and this freaking tech push, You will start finding more and more websites having issues with your version of IE so you have to install another one (yuk!) OR, the solution is to go to windows 7 if your machine can handle it (theus the recco for a new machine). OR Linux since it is also free and does not cost you your first born. Windows 7 will enable you to continue updating your IE to the latest version so far. It has also been refined enough to be pretty decent now. But certainly make sure you have 2+GB of RAM.

[todd2968]

ok first go to www.filehippo.com
next down load malware bytes and install
next install ccleaner
install
ccleaner will help you uninstall unused programs, clean up the log files, and turn off the start up menu stuff.
malwarebytes do not install trial just get free version

next every time you get a new camera or external harddrive or anything with a disk throw the disk away

[todd2968]

If none of that works get a new install windows xp and reinstall xp
i got mine from a kid off craigslist for $20 i met him at starbucks