Slow laptop

purplecow1977

I posted about this before but someone was asking about the stats/memory on the computer and I didn't have them to hand back then.

I can't find the original post but basically my parents laptop is REALLY slow. I only bought this maybe 2 years ago, maybe even less, and it's always been the same.

It's a Fujitsu, Windows 7 Home presmium, 2GB RAM and 55GB used with 200+GB Free.

I did just notice that it's Service Pack 1 that is installed, there's at least a service pack 2, so should I install that?

Any other suggestions?

Mightydrumming

purplecow1977 wrote: »

I posted about this before but someone was asking about the stats/memory on the computer and I didn't have them to hand back then.

I can't find the original post but basically my parents laptop is REALLY slow. I only bought this maybe 2 years ago, maybe even less, and it's always been the same.

It's a Fujitsu, Windows 7 Home presmium, 2GB RAM and 55GB used with 200+GB Free.

I did just notice that it's Service Pack 1 that is installed, there's at least a service pack 2, so should I install that?

Any other suggestions?

Hi there I recommend you download these two programmes and run them.

The first is CCleaner, I have it on my computer and it is brilliant for getting rid of Cookies, cache etc... all the stuff you won't need. All you have to do is download and install - and run the cleaner.

Here it is : https://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download

The second is Adwcleaner. Again, it's easy to install and run. It searches for any hidden toolbars, malware etc... If anything pops up, you will have to check the boxes and the software will remove them. It does require a reboot after cleaning.
Here it is : https://toolslib.net/downloads/viewdownload/1-adwcleaner/



Keep us updated and best of luck

purplecow1977

I think they've run those already, but maybe not recently. I will do that, but internet is fairly rubbish here in the sticks so hope they're not large files!

Checked my own laptop, and it has 4GB RAM. What is the 'norm'? How can RAM be installed in their laptop & might that solve a few issues?

Thanks. Will run those 2 now!

(Also going to run them on my own!!!!!!)

TerrorFirmer

If you have a few tabs open in firefox it would be a pretty bad experience with 2GB of ram.

For stuff like office 2GB should be OK.

purplecow1977

They use Google Chrome but sometimes find it unresponsive so may have changed to IE, don't remember Firefox being mentioned!
Even start up etc an be extremely slow.
Should 2GB be enough? Have run the CC cleaner, installed ESET anti virus, defrag etc and it's not much better.
If installing RAM would help, I'd do that. But can you do that yourself?! I haven't a clue.

Mightydrumming

purplecow1977 wrote: »

I think they've run those already, but maybe not recently. I will do that, but internet is fairly rubbish here in the sticks so hope they're not large files!

Checked my own laptop, and it has 4GB RAM. What is the 'norm'? How can RAM be installed in their laptop & might that solve a few issues?

Thanks. Will run those 2 now!

(Also going to run them on my own!!!!!!)

Yeah give them a run anyhow, ya never know

The file size for Adwcleaner is very small, about a MB or so. The same for CCleaner, roughly 6/7 MB's.

4GB would be the standard amount for a laptop, I have a computer with 2GB RAM and it works smoothly with Firefox.

You can of course install RAM. Just get a hold of a 4GB stick and it's pretty easy to install. Just remember that all laptops won't have the same layout.

Just found a video that might be of use to you. It's a Fujitsu Lifebook!

the_syco

Download and install malwarebytes.org

Update it.

Reboot into SafeMode, and run it. Quarantine everything it suggests. Reboot when it's finished.

Less shiny, but faster;

On reboot, click Start, right-click Computer, and Properties. Click Advanced System Settings, and click Settings under Performance, and set it to Adjust for Best Performance.

purplecow1977

Computer in use at the moment so will try that when it's free, thanks.

TerrorFirmer

It's not a RAM issue if the computer is very slow to even boot.

Click on the start button and type in 'msconfig'. When that window opens, click on the 'startup' tab. That will show how many things are opening everytime you turn the computer on - could be a lot of stuff starting up that doesn't need to be there.

purplecow1977

Will have a look at that also.
What things should I look out for?!
How do I switch things off, if they're running, and don't need to be?

TerrorFirmer

Take a screenshot of the startup tab, someone here will be able to tell you what should or shouldn't be starting up with the PC.

purplecow1977

Okay looks like a fair few things alright. Will post up a pic now! Had to actually take 2!

the_syco

The Fujitsu stuff is probably all legit, but unless you're using it all, disable them.

You could also probably disable GrooveMonitor if you're not sharing or syncing MS Office documents.

ozmo

Yeah - Id untick them all to start with - maybe keep the realtek one or the audio might go - you can easily turn them on if something is working anymore.

then disable the "Microsoft Customer Experience Improvement Program" if enabled:

(link)
Ive often seen it tie up one core of a cpu permanently.

manually Defragging can help a little also especially if the hdd is very full - "ultimate defrag" I found better than the windows one.

purplecow1977

Okay so I think the only option is to buy more RAM

Are these the correct instructions for installing it?
http://www.mrmemory.co.uk/support/installation#!topic=t98-laptop-memory-installation-guide

Anything else I need to be aware of?

Also found this tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnF4zsfVIlM

Where would I buy RAM?

Thanks.

ozmo

Open it up to make sure there is a free slot.

Theres software that can tell you but good to verify its physically empty.

purplecow1977

Okay will do this tomorrow! If there IS a free slot, what then?

Do you 'add' more memory or is it that you remove what's already there & put in more?

ozmo

If you wish to upgrade - Download the program from

https://www.crucial.com/

it will tell you the exact type of memory to buy - there are quite a few types.
There is usually two slots with one free and very easy to access (the populated slot might be inaccessable under the keyboard - might not) - If you have a free slot - buy another 2G.
Most likely you have 32bit windows and it wont see any more than 3G to 3.5G in total of the 4G installed no matter how much you add - thats normal so no point in buying more than that.

could cost as low as a tenner depending on where you buy it - twenty max.
Should find something suitable on amazon.co.uk
or adverts.ie if you are feeling brave.

purplecow1977

I haven't ordered any extra ram yet.

One Google Chrome page open and these are the stats.

Cant upload photo on app.

Physical memory is 95% under Performance when I start task manager

Is this definitely a RAM issue??

ozmo

purplecow1977 wrote: »

One Google Chrome page open and these are the stats.

Cant upload photo on app.

Is this definitely a RAM issue??

I think you may be missing an attachment? - but no its not definitely a Ram issue. 2G is not a lot these days but should be usable on 32bit Win 7.

You definitely have scanned for malware? And you have disabled from loading all the junk in the screen shots above?

purplecow1977

Yeah I have. Not much 'junk' actually compared to what my own is running!!!
Have eset and scanned it. Nothing turned up.
Bit of a mystery to me to be honest. I don't have the brain or knowledge to figure it out!

bonzodog2

One of my laptops is also a Fujitsu, also with 2GB RAM, the max it will take. Runs Win7Ulltimate. Most of the time its fine, but sometimes it slows to a crawl and the disk access light is constantly on. Memory usage similar to yours.

Click Show processes from all users on Taskmanager when the memory usage is high, and see if there's an instance of svchost.exe using shedloads of memory. Today on mine at one point svchost was using 800MB. I just leave it for 10 mins and it gets back to being usable.

You might consider using a USB stick for Readyboost, should help a bit. You need a fast one.