MY PC is slow!

I own a 2.00 GB P4 with 1024MB RAM PC that works reasonable well... it does need more RAM for some tasks but for simple Web browsing it only slows down and even locks up when I have more than 6-8 tabs open... If I stay under that, browsing speed is moderate... I wouldn't consider it slow... even though both RAM sticks are not paired.


I use this method to keep my System working at optimal speed:

1. Disable startup programs as follows:
Go to Start \ Run \ type "msconfig" (no quotes) and press Enter... in the Startup tab, uncheck all programs except for the antivirus and any you may need to start with Windows, press Apply and next click on the Sevices tab, check the box where it says: Hide all Microsoft Services, and uncheck all but the Antivirus process, to disable them... Press Apply and OK.

2. Delete Temp files that may accumulate in the thousands if you never delete them, and cause slow and erratic system behaviour:
Go to Start \ Run \ and type: %Temp%, press Enter and Delete all files contained in the folder that opens. Next again in the Run command, type Temp and press Enter and also delete all files.

3. Scan the System with a fully updated Antivirus and again with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware.

4. In My Computer, go to System drive Properties C:\right click\Properties\Tools tab\and click on Defragment Now\Defragment...

5. Run the Windows Disk Checker application to verify for bad disk sectors and correct file system errors:
Start \ Run \ type; CMD and press Enter... next type CHKDSK C: /R . A message will appear stating that the volume is in use and prompting you to schedule the disk check for the next startup, press Y and follow with Enter. The system drive will be checked during the next start.

6. Install Glary Utilities or Tune Up Utilities to clean the registry and delete system junk so your Windows runs a bit better... most of the times noticeably faster and stable. CCleaner also does some good cleanup but Tune Up Utilities is much more efficient, and Glary Utilities is a free similar to Tune Up Utilities which can be used for up to a month for free with all the functions enabled.

7. If you use the Sleep Mode regularly, make a habit of disabling Hibernation on a regular basis: Find Hibernation in the Control Panel \ Power Options \ Hibernate. This feature causes problems because the Hiberfil.sys file (C:\Hiberfil.sys) saves the Stand-by and Sleep Mode/Hibernation information, and tends to corrupt after a while of continuous use... this causes long startups, no startups, and when working normally even causes system freezes, frozen mouse pointer, lags and slowness. This is so common that in my case it causes some or most of these problems almost everytime I use the XP Hibernation, so I usually keep Hibernation disabled and only enable it when I really need to put the system in Hibernation.

8. Run the System File Checker to replace corrupted or missing system files:
• Insert the Windows Installation CD\DVD in the Optical Drive.
• Click Start Button / type CMD and press Enter / type: SFC /SCANNOW in the Command Prompt Window, and press Enter, SFC may take a while but it will replace any corrupted or missing system files fresh from the Windows CD\DVD

9. Delete old Prefetch files:
One other point I forgot to mention, is occasionally deleting the files in C:\Windows\Prefetch folder. Prefetch files are supposed to help applications load faster during startup but at the expense of slower system startups.. Prefetch files also tend to accumulate over time and should be regularly deleted because like temp files, only the most recent prefetch files are usefull. I may be oversimplifying this part (click links & read about it) but it's safe doing it, 1st based on the amount of articles about it on the web, and 2nd because I occasionally delete these files w/o a problem. I use Unlocker to delete them as they can't be deleted directly via mouse context menu.

Most of the times and unless the system has a major problem, these tasks are enough to make any system recover normal speed. Apply every one of these steps and you will notice a marked difference... how much depends on how bad the problem is, so the worse, the greater the difference you may notice. I should mention that I have done all these tricks for years without a single resulting problem so doing all of them is proven safe. I have brought back systems that apparently needed formatting and a new installation... Another point is how well your system's speed can be restored depends on how long it has been since the System was installed because older installations tend to suffer system file corruption and to get the Registry cluttered up from everyday activity that adds data to the registry. Older installations also tend to get slow and unstable from unknown causes since nothing but a reinstall can make them recover normal speed. So short of a reinstall older installations tend to recover to maybe 80 - 85% of the original speed maybe less if the hardware isn't in top condition. So, if you want to recover an older computer with an old installation up close to the original speed, a format and new installation may be part of the solution.

Prefetcher
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prefetcher

Gaining Speed: Empty Prefetch on your Windows XP System
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles-tutorials/windows-xp/Gaining-Speed-Empty-Prefetch-XP.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prefetcher

Tweak Prefetcher for faster Windows startups
http://lifehacker.com/201453/tweak-windows-prefetch-for-a-faster-startup