poota probs, anyone help

[bunbag]

Mrs bunbag is having probs with her comp, can anyone help her. She got a new motherboard and has gone fron ME to XP prof. 256MB used 3.87gb. Can't install Norton System Works 2005 and the comp is going very slow. Any ideas would be useful? As she does a dog rescue she needs her comp.
Cheers
Bunbag

[Nitrowing]

minimum system should be
800MHz CPU
5gig HDD
256meg RAM

CTRL+ALT+DEL to see what is running in the background and how much CPU usage there is

[Friar Tuck]

My IT dept at work recommends turning it on and off a few times. If it don't work then go and buy a new one!

[Huw Beer Monster]

Any error messages?

[bunbag]

minimum system should be
800MHz CPU
5gig HDD
256meg RAM

CTRL+ALT+DEL to see what is running in the background and how much CPU usage there is

1347mhz
256mb unsure what HDD

[Trikerbiker]

XP uses a lot of memory. It might be better to double up by fitting another memory card or replacing your existing one with a bigger one.

That's what my lad had to do with his he had 1600MHz CPU, 40gb Hdd and 256 Meg RAM.

XP was using nearly half his total memory! - leaving not enough for other functions to run properly.

I'm sure Yoda or someone else can give better tech advice.

Regards

Mick

[Nitrowing]

System specs are ok, you're going to have to do the CTRL+ALT+DEL to see what is running in the background. Usually there around 20+ proccsses running. The offending program will show a high CPU usage.
You can see in this pic that I have a heavy CPU usage nd what is doing it...

[traficman]

delete unwaned files,defragment at least 4 times,works 4me,or try Web User,
PC.Lincs,for help forum!.

[Rogue Monkey]

Yer processors a tad slow for XP mate! HDD is your hard drive. I`d suggest a new mother board and upgrade yer processor to at least 1.5mega hertz! You will also need to boost yer memory as well! Jeez, I know it sounds a lot but You can get the bits yerself pretty cheap. Scan itnernational are good! I think yer main problem is your memory. You definatly need to go to at least 500+ but yer in luck! memory is dead cheap at the momment so snap some up! Well...that is if its a standard mother board! Some boards use a special sort of memory that never caught on and is now VERY expensive! cheaper to get a decent mother board and upgrade your memory! Unfortunatly this would need you re installing windows! :eek: I`d go for memory first and see how you go on! :(

[Huw Beer Monster]

Cough...

I've got XP running quite happily on P600s TYVM.

There are a number of things that will make a PC slow - Hard disk/Processor/RAM are just factors.

The question is "what sort of slow?" Slow to respond to keypresses, slow file access, etc?

Nitrowing has already pointed out how to identify if anything's grabbing the processor.

Other things to look for -

1) Spyware/Trojans
2) Is Fast User Switching enabled (on XP PCs with multiple logins)
3) Services and Programs loading on startup
4) Network Settings

We need a bit more info from you, bunbag.

[Rogue Monkey]

How much memory M8? :confused:

[Huw Beer Monster]

How much memory M8? :confused:

512MB. The services have been reduced to a bare minimum and it's quite happy.

[Nitrowing]

I forgot - turn off all the pretty effects and eyecandy - go to System Properties, choose Advanced, click on Settings in the Perfomance pane and select Adjust for best performance.

There are loads of tweaks for WinXP but you need to keep on top of it else it will load heaps of cack on startup which slows everything right down :rolleyes:

[devilsquest2000]

try goin to www.pcpitstop.com they r very usefull plus they have a pc test page that helps find any problems with your pc and finds spyware and virous too :D

[ollie]

if you're looking to get rid of spyware/trojans/adware or downloaders heres a couple of freeware progs
ad-aware here www.lavasoftusa.com

spybot here www.safer-networking.org

[bunbag]

Mrs bunbags comp is now running smooth. Thanks Yoda