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Thread ID: 23783 2002-08-25 10:29:00 start up question backstage (1081) Press F1
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73789 2002-08-25 10:29:00 My computer is 4 years old and i have run a cleanup on my hard drive and all is well and have regained some space. But it takes a long time to fully boot up (about 4-5 minutes) i have windows me with 98 backed up. Do i open windows explorer and click on the start up folder to see what can be discarded; not deleted. I am reluctant to be ruthless and am ignorant of what i can do safely. I would click on remove?
Should i give it a go or as it is not broken leave well alone. Hate to mess it up because i am impatient
backstage (1081)
73790 2002-08-25 10:33:00 better advise what the specs are (cpu, ram)

do you have a network card fitted?
godfather (25)
73791 2002-08-25 10:55:00 There you go baffling me with science ! cpu is the chip? and ram is temporary memory? I don't think i have a net work card as it is just me and my computer alone.
i reckon i should just leave it alone and have a drink while i wait lol
Thank you for your time.
i have chickened out I think I would have an 'unfortunate' if i did any more
backstage (1081)
73792 2002-08-25 12:38:00 CPU is processor (Central Processing Unit), and will be Pentium or AMD, but without knowing the speed its hard to say if you have a problem.

If your PC is 4+ years old, it could even be a Pentium 166, with 32 Meg of RAM (Random Access Memory). If so then its a wonder ME even runs, but then again it could be a Celeron 333 Mhz with 256 Meg Ram, in which case it should boot in under a minute.

So, with only a crystal ball at this end, its a hard call....
godfather (25)
73793 2002-08-25 15:38:00 If you want to trim up or find out what is starting up on your computer then I suggest trying this site called Pacs_Portal (www.pacs-portal.co.uk) which is a brilliant and easy to understand site dedicated to start up on computers. With startup you are fairly safe disabling things that start as you can always change it back again.

To control your startup menu click on your START button and then RUN, a new window will pop up, type msconfig and hit your enter button.
On the new window that opens you need the tab at the top called STARTUP ( leave the others alone ) click on that tab and there is a list of all the programs that start when your computer does. Pacs_Portal has a very good list for deciphering what all the programs are in there and whether you need them or not. Once finished click on the OK and then you will prompted to restart. restart and see what a difference there is.

Don't give up when we ask for more information on your computer, just ask how to find that out. We don't think any more or less of beginners or people that don't know things about their computers, we were all like that at some stage and without people helping us the same way we would still be at that stage.

You can also try Basic Computer Stuff (http://dipstick01.hostnz.co.nz) for some more help on computer basics
dipstick01 (445)
73794 2002-08-25 21:27:00 The items in your Startup folder in Windows Explorer are only shortcuts to run the programs, they are not the programs themselves and whatever you delete out of can always be put back again.

By all means, do have a look in there to see what you don't want running when you switch on your computer and just delete whatever you don't need.

The programs in the msconfig menu often run without having shortcuts in the Startup menu in Windows Explorer, so follow Dipstick's advice and learn what each entry is before deciding whether to keep it or not.
Susan B (19)
73795 2002-08-26 05:57:00 my cpu is 347 MHz =MHz this cpu supports the mmx instruction set Pentium class cpu genuineintel.
memory
total physical 67.108.864 bytes
available physical memory 303.104 bytes
total virtual memory 2.080.952.320.bytes.
The above was copied from book.
I have not a clue what it all means but there you are.
Does it help?
I understand that it is important to have as much memory as possible along with a chip that lets all the 'traffic' through. Should i buy an other computer with a faster chip Pentium 4 and as much memory as possible. My computer suits me fine and does what i want it to do ok. It was i was curious about the time it took to boot up.
kind regards for your suggestions and help
backstage (1081)
73796 2002-08-26 06:07:00 If it does what you want, you don't have to go out and spend a couple of thousand on a new one .

The boot time does seem a bit long, but that just gives you some time to think about what you are going to do . Thinking before you touch the computer is always a good idea . ;-)
Graham L (2)
73797 2002-08-26 06:11:00 I agree with Graham - no need for a new machine if yours does all you want it to do.

Noting that you say it has Windows ME with Win98 "backed up", how did this come about? Did you upgrade to Win ME and install it over the top of Win98? Did you do this yourself or did someone else do it for you?

I'm thinking a reformat and reinstall of just WinME would be in order if the machine hasn't been reformatted in four years. That isn't a job for someone without a reasonable amount of PC knowledge though.
Susan B (19)
73798 2002-08-26 08:24:00 Did myself. The programme said to back up 98 (recommended)
I Defraged and scanned straight after i did it and all went well.
it boots up with 'wins me' on the desk top then changes to 98. I did change the '98 desk top' but it sort of coughed so i set it back the way it was.
Yes i reckon i will keep using this one it would be silly to upgrade for upgrade sake. I will wait until all the new exciting technological stuff comes on to the market.
Thank you all for your advice and help
backstage (1081)
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