There are several things you can consider before looking to upgrade. One
thing is to run a program that comes with Windows called MSCONFIG and
look at all the programs that start running when Windows does. By
turning off some of those, you can speed up the computer. Your son can
assist with MSCONFIG, as that program involves a bit of geek speak to
properly use. Another couple steps to take are to clean up your computer
using a program I use called CCleaner. It makes a big difference on my
system, and I have a 6-month-old computer with very fast hardware. The
other step that I recommend is to use a program that comes with Windows
called Disk Defragmenter to organize the files on your hard disk so
Windows can look through them faster to find what it needs. Using
CCleaner and Disk Defragmenter back to back, once a week or every other
week, can make a big difference in how fast and smooth your computer is.
You can go to www.ccleaner.com to download and install CCleaner, and
Disk Defragmenter is already in your Start Menu under All Programs,
Accessories, and System Tools. The one thing I could recommend as a
hardware upgrade for your computer would be to add more RAM. 1 GB is
usually oodles for Windows XP, but more may help it run smoother with
more programs open at one time. I also might recommend a change in your
antivirus program from Live OneCare (which Microsoft is no longer
making) to one like AVG Antivirus. My computer has run both, and it's
just a little faster with AVG instead of OneCare. You can get AVG for
free at free.avg.com. There are other good antivirus programs out there
for free like Avast. Other group members can recommend more. Best of
luck to you. :)
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [PCBUILD] novice level questions re upgrading 5 year old vaio
desktop
From: Cynthia Kammann <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tue, January 19, 2010 5:38 pm
To: [log in to unmask]
Let me say right up front that I don't claim to know much about
computers, but I do have a 19 year old son, who perhaps thinks he knows
more than he does, but is very helpful. ;-)
My computer is running slower and slower and I think it may be because
it needs to be upgraded, or perhaps I just need to scrap it for a new
one (?). So I'm looking for advice. If its worth upgrading, how would I
go about doing that?
Its a Vaio Pentium 4, 3.40 GHz, 1 GB RAM, and 225 GB HDD (with about 50
GB free), and a RADEON X300 series graphics card. Windows XP Media
Center, 2002 edition, service pack 3. It has a nice, Sony large flat
screen monitor that came with it, so is also 5 years old.
I use it mostly for email (Outlook), internet (Firefox), creating
documents (WORD), EXCEL for spreadsheets, photo storage and some photo
manipulation with a Nikon program, watching my library of knitting
instructional videos (using ImgBurn to rip them and daemontools lite to
watch them), watching tv through Comcast (sometimes recording a program
to watch later), and watching the occasional movie online at Netflix. Oh
yeah, and backing up my PALM phone and downloading podcasts from radio
(Creative Central) and syncing them to my Creative Zen.
I use Windows Live OneCare for virus protection.
I remember when it responded to commands faster than I could snap my
fingers. It no longer does that, which is why I'm thinking it may need a
faster processor or more active memory. I don't even know it its
advisable or even possible to do this, so that's my question.
Any and all advice would be appreciated. Just please use novice-speak,
or I won't get it.
Cynthia
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