[dreamer62]

I need help ..my computer is running sluggish, its slow to start up...slow on just about everything...I am pretty much a beginner and wanted to by a program that I could run that would diagnose and hopefully correct any problems...any good ones out there..my pc is a pentium 4, 1.8 GHz , 512 ram. Also how do I get local c out of start up..

Thanks

[1002richards]

Hi dreamer62,
Hi,
The benefits or otherwise of using registry cleaners / registry fixers elicits mixed views. Hopefully these links will illustrate this:

http://forums.techguy.org/all-other-...-programs.html

http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000643.html

However, everyone is agreed that before going down this route - should one choose to - a full back-up beforehand is vital.

I'm sure others will also post their views but I hope my contribution has helped you?

Richard.

[WhitPhil]

There really is not any one program that can detect and fix performance issues, no matter what the advertising states.

The best way to start is to Download, install and run HiJackThis

After the scan is completed a LOG file is created.

Come back here, go to the appropriate forum (98/XP), open a new thread with an appropriate title, explain what your problems are and then Copy the contents of the LOG file and PASTE them into the new thread for review.

[Spider111]

Disk CleanUp.

[RoBe]

go to run in the start menu and type in "msconfig" then go to the startup tab and you can select what programs/services start up with your pc. Be careful not to uncheck any ones that the system need to run though

[ferrija1]

Originally Posted by 1002richards

Hi dreamer62,
Hi,
The benefits or otherwise of using registry cleaners / registry fixers elicits mixed views. Hopefully these links will illustrate this:

http://forums.techguy.org/all-other-...-programs.html

http://www.edbott.com/weblog/archives/000643.html

However, everyone is agreed that before going down this route - should one choose to - a full back-up beforehand is vital.

I'm sure others will also post their views but I hope my contribution has helped you?

Richard.

I don't understand why you always post that and yet you agree it is not good to use registry cleaners.

[1002richards]

Hi ferrija1,
I just want to alert people to the possible problems of using such progs. I don't want to force my views on anyone, I'm just trying to show a bit of balance I hope. Some people may have less experience than me but may have the confidence or the curiosity to want to go ahead and give it a try, but hopefully having read my few lines, perhaps with a bit more caution?
I hope that makes sense and you see what I'm trying to offer in my post?

Richard.

[Fidelista]

Regarding "start-up items" and msconfig.
What to disable?
Here is site that will tell you what each item is --and if you need it.
Its alpha list --easy to use . Just click on the item and description will pop-up.
http://www.lafn.org/webconnect/mento...p/PENINDEX.HTM

[ferrija1]

Originally Posted by 1002richards

Hi ferrija1,
I just want to alert people to the possible problems of using such progs. I don't want to force my views on anyone, I'm just trying to show a bit of balance I hope. Some people may have less experience than me but may have the confidence or the curiosity to want to go ahead and give it a try, but hopefully having read my few lines, perhaps with a bit more caution?
I hope that makes sense and you see what I'm trying to offer in my post?

Richard.

I was just thinking that you don't need to educate someone on something that is possibly bad and does no good.


The best way to speed up your computer is to upgrade the hardware, specifically RAM, though there are some things you can do on the OS side to make it a little faster.


-You should not use msconfig for long-term use. You should use services.msc instead.
1. Click Start > Run
2. Type services.msc
3. To disable an entry, Right-click it, click Properties, and change the Start-up Type to Disabled


-Browse to %systemroot%\prefetch, select everything, and delete it. This will empty your prefetch folder.


-Use a utility like CCleaner to delete unneeded files (like temp. files, cache, etc.).


-Make sure you have all updates for your OS.


Turn off animations:
1. Click Start > Control Panel
2. Double-click System
3. Click the Advanced tab and click Settings, under the Performance area.
4. Click Custom.
5. Uncheck animations you do not use/care about.
6. Click Apply then OK.


-Ensure you have no spyware or viruses on you system by posting a HijackThis log in the Security forum and waiting to have someone check it.

[1002richards]

Hi ferrija1,

I don't have the expertise to advise on hardware matters so I won't even think of going there to advise others.

I hope though that my comments that you remarked upon are balanced?

Some people are happy to use registry progs, some are happy to experiment and can rescue themselves if needs be.

I hope that I'm just mentioning to the undecided that there are pros & cons but the choice is their's to make. Hopefully the links I use will help in making an informed choice.

Does this come across in my original post, or do I need to work on the phraseology?

Any contributions appreciated,
thanks

Richard

[WhitPhil]

"Browse to %systemroot%\prefetch, select everything, and delete it. This will empty your prefetch folder"

There is no benefit to be gained by deleting prefetch files. In fact, it will slow the system "slightly" as the files are rebuilt and re-updated during boot up and as applications are run again.

"You should not use msconfig for long-term use. You should use services.msc instead"

The items that appear under Msconfig Startup are not the same as those under Services. There are no "nasty" side affects of using Msconfig for long term use.

[ferrija1]

Originally Posted by WhitPhil

"Browse to %systemroot%\prefetch, select everything, and delete it. This will empty your prefetch folder"

There is no benefit to be gained by deleting prefetch files. In fact, it will slow the system "slightly" as the files are rebuilt and re-updated during boot up and as applications are run again.

After a while, though, it still has unused (but prefetched) things in there that slow it down when your computer starts.

Originally Posted by WhitPhil

"You should not use msconfig for long-term use. You should use services.msc instead"

The items that appear under Msconfig Startup are not the same as those under Services. There are no "nasty" side affects of using Msconfig for long term use.

Within msconfig, you can disable important things. In services.msc, you cannot, and it gives you more information about the service/item.

[WhitPhil]

Originally Posted by ferrija1

After a while, though, it still has unused (but prefetched) things in there that slow it down when your computer starts.

The files in this folder are only used when that particular app is run, or when the PC is booted. Having an "old" set of files there does nothing more than consume a small amount of disk, until you run enough new apps that these old files are deleted. There is nothing being "pre fetched" until the app is actually started.

Within msconfig, you can disable important things. In services.msc, you cannot, and it gives you more information about the service/item.

I don't see any difference between "important" items and "unimportant" items.

Services.msc allows you to control "services". Msconfig allows you to control apps that initiate at boot time. There is no commonality.

[kogatheninja]

I like Regscub and CCclean along with AVG and Adaware.

[dr911]

Running 98SE.

You should not use msconfig for long-term use. You should use services.msc instead.
1. Click Start > Run
2. Type services.msc
3. To disable an entry, Right-click it, click Properties, and change the Start-up Type to Disabled

I've tried to run services.msc. A little window pops up say....." Cannot find file 'services.msc' or( one of its compote(s)).

Is this for XP or what ??