Need some computer help

[nickm001]

Here is what I would do:
1. Scan for trojans. Trojans track whenever you access any site and upload info to "home office". If you haven't done so, download Spybot and scan for them.
2. Your HD may be fragmented. Defrag the drve using XP util... Much better one is "Perfect Disk" application. After running perfect disk, I have noticed quantum leap in performance.
3. If none of the above help, I would reload OS...
4. If you still have problem, then most likely is HW issue,and may not be worth your time to fix it, considering the cost of repair vs new system ..

[AbeSmith]

Hey.

Here is a tip for improving your performance. I did this a few days ago and it had a dramatic effect on my computer's performance. What I suggest is to disable the unnecessary startup programs that launch automatically every time you start you computer. You might think that software companies would not do anything to slow down you computer unnecessarily, but I don't think that is true. Many times after I install a new program it adds an unnecessary startup program that slows down startup and also slows down performance after startup. For example, my video card has an alternative video setting software that would startup automatically. But windows already has this and it is sufficient for me, so I disabled the video card setting software from starting up, but only after I researched to see if it would be safe to do so.

Here is how I did it:

1. Go to start, run, and type in msconfig press enter.
2. Select the Startup tab. There you will see a list of startup items that have a check box next to them. Some of them are important, but many of them in my computer were not necessary. How do you know what is important and what is not. One way to check is to type in the name of the program found under the startup items column in Google. Then there should be several links about this startup program, what it is and whether it is vital. You may also find links to forum discussions about it from people who are doing the same thing. If you conclude that the program is not necessary then you can simply uncheck it from the startup items. It will require a restart for it to take effect. I'm attaching a screenshot of my startup items. You can see that only 5 items are checked out of the many potential startup items.
3. Another thing you can do if is to go to an expert computer site where there are people who might help you out with this. You give them a list of your startup items and they might tell you which ones to keep and which ones to remove. But I recommend you figure out how to do it yourself.

Another thing you should do to keep your computer from getting bogged down with unnecessary processes is to be careful when installing new programs. First, you can do the custom install as opposed to typical install and uncheck unnecessary bundles from being installed. And afterwards you should check back with msconfig to make sure that there are no unnecessary startup programs initiated from the installation. I suggest to keep you computer with the minimum number of programs necessary.

[darthtrader]

msconfig is a good idea. junk will start up over time, its pretty hard to avoid that.

I always just reinstall windows every 6 months though. If you have never done it, you guys should get partition magic and cut up your hard drive into sections. I always make my c drive about 20 gigs then store any data I wouldn't want to lose on the other drives/partitions. Then its no problem if you have to reinstall windows, 2 hours and your back to a fresh install without losing anything. Just have to reinstall your software.

[brownsfan019]

For anyone using Acronis True Image 11 Home - if you could provide a few steps on how to use this thing, that would be great. All I need right now is a way to back up a computer and then use that when need be. The manual is a tad intimidating at first, so any help is appreciated.

[nickm001]

If your PCs are networked, Use Acronis True Image bootable CD and back partition or whole disk over the network ( that is how it works in version 7.0 )

[Reaver]

God I hate Vista.

[MC]

	Quote:	Reaver
	God I hate Vista.

I'm about to format for the 3rd time and go back to xp pro.
I bought a notebook the night vista came out with vista on it and within a week went to xp pro.

Few weeks later I said, hey maybe the 3rd party software has been patched for vista and went to vista again. Lasted a few weeks before I got sick of issues and went back to xp.

Fast forward a few months and back to vista for what reason I don't know. I've been on vista for a few months now and am very near going back to xp for good.

[Reaver]

I feel your pain brother...do I ever. Things just go haywire for no reason randomly on my computer. I am about to deep six it into Pensacola Pay/Gulf of Mexico if they don't come up with an update soon.

[Sparrow]

I don't see a reason yet to switch to vista. Sure it has the nicer user interface but i am not a bells and whistles guy, i just want it to work.
Heard enough bad things about it that makes me hesitate a great deal. Someday i'll have to switch, like with win95, which i said i'd never use . Alternatives are linux and apple but i'd rather go for linux.
XP runs nice'n smooth, never had to reformat anything and i still wonder what i bought that virus scanner for.

[Reaver]

	Quote:	Sparrow
	I don't see a reason yet to switch to vista. Sure it has the nicer user interface but i am not a bells and whistles guy, i just want it to work. Heard enough bad things about it that makes me hesitate a great deal. Someday i'll have to switch, like with win95, which i said i'd never use . Alternatives are linux and apple but i'd rather go for linux. XP runs nice'n smooth, never had to reformat anything and i still wonder what i bought that virus scanner for.

My prpblem is that I bought a computer fairly recently and it came with Vista preinstalled....bad move. Too many bugs..it may be good once they get the kinks worked out..but until then..XP is good enough.