Speeding up laptops?

weedave · #1 12-06-2009

My laptop is starting to become quite slow on starting up and in general really.

So far I've;

Defragmented it.
Used the program 'CCleaner' to clean up broken registry files, cookies, temporary internet files etc. and also to stop some un-important programs starting up with windows.
Put basically all of my photos, music, videos onto an external hard drive.
Uninstalled programs I don't use anymore.

I've got 59.4GB/70.5GB free.

Any other tips or ideas on how to speed the thing up? I know the best option would to be buy more ram but bit skint at the minute so trying to look at other options first!

The laptop is 3 years old so its possibly just fading out.

Cheers!

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Mysticmak · #2 12-06-2009

What OS are you running?

Cerberus · #3 12-06-2009

Do a fresh windows wipe, After a while I tend to find things slow up anyway, I tend to do a fresh install about once every year

weedave · #4 12-06-2009

Running on XP.

Is it a nightmare to do chris? I don't think i've ever done it on any of my computers.

Richie · #5 12-06-2009

I do a fresh wipe of my computers about once a year also. It makes a big difference. Stuff just builds up over time, old programs etc and slows it down.

Its not bad to do buy can take an hour or two. Make sure and back every thing up and and have your driver files at hand.

Rob · #6 12-06-2009

It's a little drastic but simple to do if you have your install disks. Be sure to back up data.

Try this stuff first - You're done some of it already:
Slow Windows? Tips to Fix Slow XP / Slow System-Kill Unwanted Process

ironclaw · #7 12-06-2009

Upgrade your RAM to the max, given your laptop is three years old the RAM will probably be quite cheap.

And if you really want to go as fast as possible, swap out the CPU for the fastest you can. Pretty tricky in a laptop but it is possible.(Be it very drastic)

What laptop and model is it?

Rob · #8 12-06-2009

Said he wants to try to do as much as he can without any hardware upgrades.

Rico · #9 12-06-2009

one great way of speeding up any computer is running linux instead of windows... but yeah windows wipe once every so often is a must. If you belive its malware or spyware related also do a wipe and get spybot and run that atleast once a week

Bez · #10 12-06-2009

yeah the new Ubuntu 9.04 is cool theres even a new webbook remix with i mainly use.

ironclaw · #11 13-06-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob

Said he wants to try to do as much as he can without any hardware upgrades.

Oh, my bad!

Just giving the other side of the coin. Linux is definitely the way to go if you want super quick. However, you'll be without most Windows programs e.g. iTunes etc.

Or install a cut down version of Windows (nLite) which you can remove things you'll never use. Handy if your using a netbook.

DaveJ · #12 13-06-2009

Get a Mac

Doc_Savage · #13 13-06-2009

Quote:

but simple to do if you have your install disks

If it's a Dell burn the install disks that came with it!

Quote:

Get a Mac

PAH.... boo to your mac rubbish!
Although they are easy to use and very pretty....

ahem i direct you here to one of my favourite sites!: One thing PC users can do that Mac users can't...

DaveJ · #14 13-06-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doc_Savage

ahem i direct you here to one of my favourite sites!...

Have you read his book? It's pretty good but not as funny as his rants.

You're hard drive isn't massive so you could probably pick up a cheap external hard drive and use it to store a lot of stuff that you don't need at all times, like photo's and stuff like that. I know you said you don't want to spend money but you can pick up a decent sized external hard drive for very little. Also, go through all your programs with a fine tooth comb and delete all the crap that you never use, that should free up loooads of space and let it run faster.

weedave · #15 13-06-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveJ

Get a Mac

Exactly what I want! Too much dollar though

I'm jobless at the minute.

CruelCoin · #16 13-06-2009

a good program to use is "advanced system care"

does junk file clean-up, reg clean-up, spyware, hijacked settings, and a privacy sweep among others. pretty nifty now.

if you have quicktime, or itunes, or msn messenger, or other programs, they often have a file preloaded in ram to make booting them up quicker. go to their options pages and tell them not to load on start-up. this will free up a good bit of ram for you. when it comes to computer speed, ram is king!

Rico · #17 13-06-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by CruelCoin

a good program to use is "advanced system care"

does junk file clean-up, reg clean-up, spyware, hijacked settings, and a privacy sweep among others. pretty nifty now.

if you have quicktime, or itunes, or msn messenger, or other programs, they often have a file preloaded in ram to make booting them up quicker. go to their options pages and tell them not to load on start-up. this will free up a good bit of ram for you. when it comes to computer speed, ram is king!

umm you dont need a program to set what things run on boot, if you go to:
run -> msconfig -> startup you can set that

things like that are built in :P

Mysticmak · #18 13-06-2009

a Mac, don't be tempted by the dark side...........

MACtic · #19 13-06-2009

I would reinstall windows, install all drivers and basic stuff that is a must and then use Ghost to make a copy of the new install. Then after a year or a half you can just use Ghost to override existing copy of windows to exactly what you had when you used Ghost (takes like 10min).

Rico · #20 13-06-2009

only thing is you gotta pay for ghost >.>

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