Quick question re laptop

AnonMous

Hello Boards,

Recently I bought my girlfriend a laptop. Nothing fancy but thought it would be OK. It has 1gb RAM. I know this isn't a lot but I find it extremely slow.

For example, if I tried to open the internet browser, it would be at least a minute before the page opens. Is that normal for a laptop with only 1gb RAM? If so, i'm very surprised.

Thanks in advance for your replies.

Anon

Kinetic^

AnonMous wrote: »

Hello Boards,

Recently I bought my girlfriend a laptop. Nothing fancy but thought it would be OK. It has 1gb RAM. I know this isn't a lot but I find it extremely slow.

For example, if I tried to open the internet browser, it would be at least a minute before the page opens. Is that normal for a laptop with only 1gb RAM? If so, i'm very surprised.

Thanks in advance for your replies.

Anon

What are the full specifications of the laptop?

You could have 4GB memory but only 1Ghz processor and it will still be slow.

AnonMous

Kinetic^ wrote: »

What are the full specifications of the laptop?

You could have 4GB memory but only 1Ghz processor and it will still be slow.

I'm not entirely sure. I'll find out in a while and post back.

Thanks for the reply ;-)

Zonda999

I cant believe they're still stocking laptops with 1gb of RAM. A celeron class chip in a 1gb laptop, loaded with bloatware would make for a very slow laptop indeed. My advice would be get another 2gb ram, which would bring it up to 3gb, and re-install the OS. That should give it a welcome boost in speed. Try Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox too, i'd be fairly sure if you're using internet explorer, it definitely isn't helping the problem!

Allyall

Hi,
Did you buy it brand new? What Operating System is on it?
If it's Windows XP 1GB is more then enough.

It also could be processor as Kinetic said.

Also it could be startup programs/programs running in background. What Antivirus program do you have on it? Some AV's are huge and take up a lot of your resources.
Download CCleaner and run it, also, click the "Tools" option on the left hand side of the program, and Choose "Startup" to see what programs are running in startup, ideally you'll have less then 10 objects in that list.
Disable/delete any programs that you don't need to start with the pc, and reboot.
If you have a big antivirus program, (e.g. Norton(Symantec), Mcafee) you might be best removing that fully and installing a lighter one. (E.g. Avast, Avira or Microsoft Security Essentials)

Make sure you have removed the original antivirus first.
There may be plenty of other programs in the uninstall list that you won't use, uninstall any that you are sure about.)

AnonMous

Op here again,

Thanks for the replies, very much appreciated.

The laptop has an 800MHz processor on it. I don't know much about computers so probably should have researched it a bit better. Still though, I can't believe how slow it is. When I click on Mozilla, it takes about a minute to open.

The security on it is Avast. Windows 7 is the operating system and I bought it brand new.

I just downloaded CCleaner there, thanks for that recommendation.

Allyall

800MHz? Are you sure?

What make and model is the laptop?

Did you put Avast on it? If so, did you remove the original one (antivirus).

When you start CCleaner, what is the info at the top? (In the black bar)

E.G. This one says
"Intel Pentium 4 CPU 3.00GHz, 2.0GB RAM etc..

AnonMous

Pretty sure it is 800 Mhz ya...Looked up the spec online and that is what it says. Might be looking at the wrong thing...please pardon my ignorance!!! It is a Toshiba Satellite C660-18C.

I installed the Avast on it when I bought it and deleted the pre-installed MacAfee.

The CCleaner says:

"CCleaner.com v3.05.1409 (64bit)
Intel Celeron CPU 925 @ 2.30GHz, 1.0GB RAM, Mobile Intel 4 Series Express Chipset Family"

Sorry, I don't know how to add the image!!!

cookie1977

The 800mhz probably pertains to the FSB (Front side bus)
Your processor is 2.3ghz

Capt'n Midnight

with 1GB on windows 7 you want to turn off all the bells an whistles - make sure all performance settings are maximum rather than eye candy



http://ie.computers.toshiba-europe.com/innovation/product/Satellite-C660-18C/1102145/toshibaShop/false/

memory is probably two sticks of 512MB if so than look into getting a 2GB stick

if it's just a single 1GB then buy another 1GB


then again
http://www.crucial.com/uk/upgrade/compatible-memory-for/Toshiba/Satellite+C660-18C/list.html - 4GB for £34.79

http://www.shop4memory.com/configurator/

Allyall

Yeah, Here's the spec - LINK

type : Intel® Celeron® Processor 925
clock speed : 2.30 GHz <-- YOUR PROCESSOR
Front Side Bus : 800 MHz
2nd level cache : 1 MB

And i'd say this is the source of your problems

Bundled software
Toshiba Disc Creator
Toshiba User's Manual
Supervisor Password Utility
Toshiba Assist
Toshiba Value Added Package (Toshiba Power Saver, Toshiba Zooming Utility, Toshiba PC Diagnostic Tool, Toshiba Flash Cards, Toshiba Components Common Driver, Toshiba Accessibility, Toshiba Button Support)
McAfee® Internet Security (includes free Internet updates for 30 days)
WildTangent Games Console
Toshiba Photo Service
Toshiba Recovery Media Creator
Nero 9 Essentials
Nero BackItUp & Burn Autobackup Essentials
Bing Toolbar and Bing Search
Windows Live Essentials
eBay
Amazon
This PC includes limited functionality versions of Microsoft ® Word and Excel with advertising. Purchase Microsoft ® Office 2010 to activate a full-featured suite preloaded on this PC.
Connectivity Doctor
ConfigFree™
Toshiba utilities and drivers
Toshiba EasyMedia
Easy Connectivity
Multi-Card Reader
Toshiba ConfigFree™

Easy Usability
Toshiba Media Controller & Toshiba Media Controller Plug-in
McAfee® Internet Security (includes free Internet updates for 30 days)
Nero Software
Display with LED backlighting
Toshiba LifeSpace
Toshiba TEMPRO Performance Tuning Service
Smart Display Support
Touchpad with multi-touch control
Microsoft® Office Starter 2010

Toshiba have a tendency to load their laptops up with a load of junk (bloatware), that is unnecessary.
Incidentally - The laptop itself is perfect, nothing wrong with it at all (It could do with a little extra RAM, but not vital), It's just a lot of the crap that comes with them all now, is so big, and average user doesn't want or need any of it.

You can delete a lot of the shareware/trial software that came with the laptop, using PC Decrapifier

Then you might want to run CCleaner again, and do a registry scan, and "Fix Selected issues".


Would also uninstall a lot of the Toshiba software, but don't know if you use any of it.

When you start task manager, and go to the 'Processes' tab, how many processes are running?

vibrant

They are selling the Toshiba c660 laptop in Tesco for €329

amd dual core processor, 2gb ram, 320gb hard drive, windows 7 home premium, 15.6" display

I forgot to note the number of usb ports and to confirm if it has a cd/dvd drive

Is this a good price for that spec?

I am looking for a laptop for work. I need it for a mainly for word documents, ability to open/print PDF files, I would generally have a few documents in Word opened at the same time, as well as maybe 1-2 pdf's and for the fun of it let's just say a few pictures as well.

I like to run Mozilla or Google Chrome. I also would like to import my iTunes library and a lot of photos.

I would love any feedback that can be offered! I know tesco isn't anyone's first stop for buying a computer, I just noticed it on sale there today. If you can point me towards a better computer/spec at a similar price, feel free!

cookie1977

Then it's fine for what you say you need. It's a decent price.

HTB

Just done a quick google on that laptop

this is worth a read
http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/laptops/toshiba-satellite-pro-c660-review-50003696/

vibrant

HTB wrote: »

Just done a quick google on that laptop

this is worth a read
http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/laptops/toshiba-satellite-pro-c660-review-50003696/

Thanks for the reply! I have decided against it based on that review. FWIW I did google the laptop but didn't come up with that website, I think I will be bookmarking it for future queries!


Thanks again to both who replied

ED E

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

with 1GB on windows 7 you want to turn off all the bells an whistles - make sure all performance settings are maximum rather than eye candy

When you add the SP and updates and any kind of software, 1GB really just isnt enough.


1. Upgrade your ram

or

2. Change to XP

The laptop will always be a nightmare otherwise.

Recently I bought my girlfriend a laptop. Nothing fancy but thought it would be OK. It has 1gb RAM.

If you bought it in a local store I'd return it tbh. Items sold are meant to be fit for their purpose and thats not what I'd call the above.

Capt'n Midnight

Lethal_Bullet wrote: »

When you add the SP and updates and any kind of software, 1GB really just isnt enough.
...

If you bought it in a local store I'd return it tbh. Items sold are meant to be fit for their purpose and thats not what I'd call the above.

many people just want a browser, maybe openoffice or something similar and watch a few movies, 1GB is plenty for that as long as you understant it won't respond as fast as a machine costing FIVE times the price

it would be slow to startup, but most people will be using suspend / hibernate so not that big of an issue

horses for courses really

and yes more than a few netbooks have sold with windows 7 and 1 gb


also fitting ram is relatively cheap and easy - in the case of companies like Dell it's usually a LOT cheaper to add the extra ram yourself

ED E

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

and yes more than a few netbooks have sold with windows 7 and 1 gb

The vast majority of them are Starter though, not HB or w/e.