Help v slow laptop

gears

I have a Dell Inspiron 6000, it's about 3 1/2 years, anchient for a laptop I know. Thing is it's been running fine but in the last few days is begun to run v slow, I've tried to run as little as possible and deleted and cleaned up things as much as I think I can, but this hasn't really helped. So apart from buying a new laptop or buying anything really is there anything more I can do which might help.

Voodu Child

The most extreme (and effective) thing to do would be a clean install. Use the discs that came with it to re-install windows. You'll lose anything on it of course, back up important stuff first. Once you've got it up and running, install a good AV suite immediately, and only install programs that you need.

If that's too extreme:
-install CCleaner and use it to clean out old junk. Especially clean up the startup programs, loads of unnecessary crap usually wiggles its way onto the startup list (programs that start automatically when you turn on the computer)
-defragment the hard-drive
-run a full disc-check on the hard-drive
-make sure you've got good anti-virus installed, and do a full scan
-upgrade ram (how much have you got?)

preddy

How much Ram is in the laptop?

Do you have Anti Virus running? Try download Malwarebytes update and run that to get rid of any spyware.

gears

Yeah the complete wipe would be a bit too extreme. What I have is a Intel Pentium M 1.86GHz with 512MB ram, also it's got a 60G hard drive which is approx half full. I know it's not exactly a massive spec by todays standards but I don't do any thing needing a lot of power and it's always been fine. Oh I use mcafee AV and it's all up to date.
Maybe an extra shot of RAM might help, if so any recomendations for some where to bring it in either the Wexford or Waterford area.

Rsaeire

gears wrote: »

Yeah the complete wipe would be a bit too extreme. What I have is a Intel Pentium M 1.86GHz with 512MB ram, also it's got a 60G hard drive which is approx half full. I know it's not exactly a massive spec by todays standards but I don't do any thing needing a lot of power and it's always been fine. Oh I use mcafee AV and it's all up to date.
Maybe an extra shot of RAM might help, if so any recomendations for some where to bring it in either the Wexford or Waterford area.

I agree with Voodu Child's recommendations. You can't beat CCleaner and a good defrag. I'd also look into upgrading the ram to 2 GB; prices are very cheap at the moment.

Overheal

for all of 30gb you can copy that to any portable drive and copy the whole thing over. No point in not giving it a wipe after that, as it would be near impossible to lose any files.

gears

I've got a 1TB ext drive so moving things across shouldn't be too much of a prob, but I think I'll look into that CCleaner first plus a defrag and the extra RAM is probably a good idea.
Any ideas on prices to have it fitted and recomendations for somewhere to have it done in the Wexfd/Waterfd area.

Voodu Child

Just buy ram online and put it in yourself. Its almost always very easily accessible and easy to change. Usually just a simple panel on the bottom, ram slots in, job done.

All you have to do is make sure to get the right type. Google says you need:
PC2-4200 DDR2-533* 200pin SDRAM SODIMM
though of course you should double-check that yourself.

*(DDR2-400 would work also)

gears

Voodu Child wrote: »

Just buy ram online and put it in yourself. Its almost always very easily accessible and easy to change. Usually just a simple panel on the bottom, ram slots in, job done.

All you have to do is make sure to get the right type. Google says you need:
PC2-4200 DDR2-533* 200pin SDRAM SODIMM
though of course you should double-check that yourself.

*(DDR2-400 would work also)

Hmmm.... Looks like changing the RAM is an easy job, I have a few questions though.
How would I check what type of RAM is needed and what the maximum that I can install is.
Is it really just a plug in job for changing the RAM or will I need to do some kind of complex start up after the upgrade

Voodu Child

gears wrote: »

Hmmm.... Looks like changing the RAM is an easy job, I have a few questions though.
How would I check what type of RAM is needed and what the maximum that I can install is.
Is it really just a plug in job for changing the RAM or will I need to do some kind of complex start up after the upgrade

How to check what ram is needed, you'd just google your model of laptop. Thats what I did in the post above, although like I say, confirm it yourself so you don't come back complaining to me :pac:

There's 2 ram slots, and the max is 2GB total (ie 1GB per slot).

If you have 512MB currently, that means youve got 2x256MB.

So your best upgrade options would be 1GB (2x512MB) or 2GB (2x1GB). You can mix and match (keep an existing 256MB and put in 1x1GB) but its not recommended. Best to get two brand new modules, the exact same type and size.

1GB would be fine for XP to be honest, although you may just decide to go for 2GB anyway depending on price.

And it is just a plug-in job, very easy. Nothing else needs to be considered, apart from making sure you are earthed before doing it so you don't have any static in you.

Rsaeire

gears wrote: »

Hmmm.... Looks like changing the RAM is an easy job, I have a few questions though.
How would I check what type of RAM is needed and what the maximum that I can install is.
Is it really just a plug in job for changing the RAM or will I need to do some kind of complex start up after the upgrade

While the owner's manual states that you need to use 1.8v DDR2 SO-DIMM ram, but doesn't mention what speed, both speeds mentioned by Voodu Child are supported as seen here and here.

The service manual also shows, with pictures, how easy it is to swap out the ram on your laptop.

gears

Rsaeire wrote: »

While the owner's manual states that you need to use 1.8v DDR2 SO-DIMM ram, but doesn't mention what speed, both speeds mentioned by Voodu Child are supported as seen here and here.

The service manual also shows, with pictures, how easy it is to swap out the ram on your laptop.

Voodu Child wrote: »

How to check what ram is needed, you'd just google your model of laptop. Thats what I did in the post above, although like I say, confirm it yourself so you don't come back complaining to me :pac:

There's 2 ram slots, and the max is 2GB total (ie 1GB per slot).

If you have 512MB currently, that means youve got 2x256MB.

So your best upgrade options would be 1GB (2x512MB) or 2GB (2x1GB). You can mix and match (keep an existing 256MB and put in 1x1GB) but its not recommended. Best to get two brand new modules, the exact same type and size.

1GB would be fine for XP to be honest, although you may just decide to go for 2GB anyway depending on price.

And it is just a plug-in job, very easy. Nothing else needs to be considered, apart from making sure you are earthed before doing it so you don't have any static in you.

Big thanks guys. I'm definately going to do it and after a quick google it looks like it would cost about €40 for a 2GB kit, seems very cheap.

gears

Voodu Child wrote: »

How to check what ram is needed, you'd just google your model of laptop. Thats what I did in the post above, although like I say, confirm it yourself so you don't come back complaining to me :pac:

Ah no I would't be blaming anyone, but I did google my model and came up with something slightly different

2GB kit (1GBx2), 200-pin SODIMM, DDR2 PC2-5300 memory module
CT540955
Module Size: 2GB kit (1GBx2)
Package: 200-pin SODIMM
Feature: DDR2 PC2-5300
Specs: DDR2 PC2-5300 • CL=5 • Unbuffered • NON-ECC • DDR2-667 • 1.8V • 128Meg x 64 •

Would this work?

monkeypants

Take a look at www.crucial.com as they have a memory scanner that'll make recommendations.

gears

Hi Guys, just wanted to say thanks for the advice. I installed ccleaner and removed almost 1GB of rubbish which helped and yesterday I installed 2 X 1GB of new ram and the machine if flying. Thanks

Rsaeire

gears wrote: »

Hi Guys, just wanted to say thanks for the advice. I installed ccleaner and remover almost 1GB of rubbish which helped and yesterday I installed 2 X 1GB of new ram and the machine if flying. Thanks again.

Glad to hear your laptop's running faster now.

Jay Dee

I downloaded CCleaner, from the comments above.
It downloaded, but I now have
PC Optimiser Pro ?

Is this correct ?
To register it wants my mane and e-mail, but says it won't pass them on to anyone !!

I just want to verify that this is correct and not a hi-jacked site.

Jay

.

Voodu Child

Jay Dee wrote: »

I downloaded CCleaner, from the comments above.
It downloaded, but I now have
PC Optimiser Pro ?

Is this correct ?
To register it wants my mane and e-mail, but says it won't pass them on to anyone !!

I just want to verify that this is correct and not a hi-jacked site.

Jay

.

No, you don't want that. Uninstall it.

Here's the official CCleaner site:

http://www.ccleaner.com/

Don't download it from anywhere else, and if it asks you do you want to install anything else (toolbars, other software) click no.