Why is my Compaq so slow?

I have a Compaq Presario R3000 (R3210CA)

This machine is terribly slow. I note the hard drive seems to be continually 'busy'. Just opening up menu screens seems to tax it. So I'm sure something is not right.

Would anyone have any ideas as to the problem? It has been like this since I bought it a year or two ago.

Thank you,
Robert

 

256Mb RAM, I would expect it to be slow, especially online. Add at least another 256.

 

I have an old Campaq Presario, cant remember model number but its an 800 mhz machine with 384mb of RAM and its fairly quick, not screaming or anything. Some suggestions that might get you a little extra speed would be as follows.

1) Run Disk Defragmenter: its normally located in the accessories folder in the start menu somewhere probably under system tools. Keep running it until it looks better, you will know what I mean when you see it.

2) Uninstall ALL programs you dont use: Windows runs better when there is some open hard drive.

3) If you think you know what you are doing clean up any running processes that you dont use. If you dont know what you are doing hit ctrl + alt + del and look under processes. Type up the names of the processes so we can see if anything doesnt need to be running.

The other guys have very good points try them too.

 

Thanks guys: the computer is running XP and does indeed have only 256k of memory. HD is 79% free (maybe even more after the defrag) and I will also check under processes to try to see if something else is going on. But I think XPSP2 has the answer: I will take the machine out and have another 256k added. That should do a lot for it.

 

Like the racers say "There is no replacement for displacement."

 

Kudos to XPSP2 who had the correct answer to the problem! I finally got the 512 MB stick I ordered a week ago and installed it today - the speed of the machine increased dramatically. It is at least twice as fast: perhaps as much as 5 times!

By the way: I didn't need to take the machine out to have the memory installed. I found out all I needed was a small Phillips screwdriver to remove a back plate. The memory stick popped into the empty slot easily.

Thanks guys for your help!