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Thread ID: 77775 2007-03-21 19:34:00 Upgrade computer arko (9074) Press F1
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534971 2007-03-21 19:34:00 Hi team. I have a Acer PC about 3 years old with windows XP SP2, with 256 RAM and and Intel celeron 266GHZ CPU. We have Windows 2000 and have Itunes installed running 5 ipods. Since getting Itunes, the computer is really slow to start up -seems to take an age to get to a point where you can do anything. I wonder if there is any upgrading I can do -maybe a larger CPU, and if so what, would putting Itunes on an external hard drive make a difference -any thoughts that might help me here would be appreciated:( arko (9074)
534972 2007-03-21 19:36:00 Upgrading the RAM and CPU would be a good start. winmacguy (3367)
534973 2007-03-21 19:40:00 Thanks -any idea what size CPU I should be looking for? arko (9074)
534974 2007-03-21 19:52:00 Do you mean 2 . 66 GHz for your CPU ?

The trouble with upgrading the CPU is that in most cases you will need a new motherboard and then probably entirely new sticks of RAM . The total cost may be too high and you would be better off getting an upgrade box, keeping your monitor keyboard and mouse .

Do you have the Win2000 installation disk?

How much do you want to pay?

In the first instance, run thorough spy and virus checks:
. net . nz/index . php?title=Spyware%2C_Adware_%26_Viruses" target="_blank">faqf1 . net . nz
If this does not speed up the PC, do a reformat of the hard drive and reinstall Win2000 . Then you will have a fast new system .

Adding more RAM will help . 512 minimum .

It would help us if you can find what motherboard it is .
Open the case and find the numbers/letters printed on the mb .
Strommer (42)
534975 2007-03-21 20:05:00 When did you last defrag your computer?

If you are only using your PC for general web surfing, word processing and listening to music, a better CPU is not going to help. A 2.66 G Celeron will do OK. Save yourself money and do a thorough clean up: defragment, spy and virus sweeps (use more than one program for each).
Strommer (42)
534976 2007-03-21 20:10:00 Sounds like a new box -What would be a minimum size CPU/RAM that I should be looking for,ideally, if the reformat doesnt do the trick. arko (9074)
534977 2007-03-21 20:12:00 Just seems to take forever at startup -kids joke that they can go and make dinner while waiting -defragged about 6 months ago, have Nortons 2007 anti virus software and run anti spyware sweeps weekly. Will re-do the defrag and see what happens -Thanks arko (9074)
534978 2007-03-21 20:14:00 Sounds like a new box -What would be a minimum size CPU/RAM that I should be looking for,ideally, if the reformat doesnt do the trick.

Do not get a new box until you have cleaned up your PC !

Print and read this page. Its as I pointed out above but with nice graphics and clear instructions:
www.wikihow.com

See also:
www.toptechnews.com
Strommer (42)
534979 2007-03-21 20:16:00 If the Ipods are plugged in while youre booting up, remove from if theyre in the Ipod dock.

Thats if you have 5 docks.

This will be why its slow on bootup, coz it has to detect each and every one.

Altho Celerons arent exactly the fastest CPU's around.

And having Nortons is another reason why its slow.

Especially with 256mb.
Speedy Gonzales (78)
534980 2007-03-21 20:21:00 Just seems to take forever at startup -kids joke that they can go and make dinner while waiting -defragged about 6 months ago, have Nortons 2007 anti virus software and run anti spyware sweeps weekly. Will re-do the defrag and see what happens -Thanks

Defrag every month at least. If you use your computer a lot, especially adding new files, every week is not an overkill. Forget Windows' built in defragger. Use AusLogic's free defragger:
www.auslogics.com
it is very quick and efficient.

Norton's antivirus is not the best and in fact it may be the cause of slowing your PC. This has been discussed many times here on PF1. Norton's is cr*p but many people get hooked by the marketing/adverts. But it is better than not having any antivirus at all...! When you have your system cleaned up and running fast again, come back here and we will tell you how to remove Norton's (you will need the free Norton Removal Tool), and install the free Avast antivirus, or AVG as a second suggestion.

Use Spybot and AdAware for spyware sweeps. Also see Speedy's links (in his post above) for getting rid of stubborn trojans, etc.
Strommer (42)
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