[UK-CONTEST] Windows PC's slow down Why?

[Mark Marsden]

Hi Ian & Alex

Yet another reason why a machine might appear slower, as time goes by,
is that newer programs and OS updates mean more RAM is needed (to avoid
excessive disk access).

A PC bought a few years ago might have 500MB of RAM, but today will need
2GB with today's programs.

73, Mark, G4AXX


-----Original Message-----
From: uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com
[mailto:uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Ian Maude
Sent: 26 November 2009 13:24
To: uk-contest at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [UK-CONTEST] Windows PC's slow down Why?

There are lots of reasons why a machine might slow down.  Assuming no
hardware faults and speed perception some of the common issues are...

Fragmentation (easily solved with either the built in defrag tool or
defraggler)
Registry issues (CCleaner is excellent)
Spyware/Malware (Malwarebytes and Spybot(without teatimer!)
Temporary files etc (These can be cleaned out with the inbuilt tool or
with
CCleaner)
Some security tools (Norton and the one from Talk Talk spring to mind!)

You can also get issues the the prefetch catalogue getting corrupted but
this is more of an advanced fix :)

In order then

Malwarebytes (quick scan)
Spybot
CCleaner (registry and disc clean)
Defrag

Restart your machine and hopefully you should see an improvement in
speed.

If you have Nortons on, you will need the Norton Removal Tool from
Symantec
to remove it successfully.

I suggest AVG as a good replacement.

I hope this helps

73 Ian

-- 
Ian J Maude, G0VGS
SysOp GB7MBC & HB9DRV-9 DX Clusters
Member RSGB, GQRP 9838, FISTS 14077 | K3 #455
http://www.amateurradiotraining.org



2009/11/26 Mark Marsden <mm at plextek.co.uk>

> Hi Alex
>
> I can recommend CCleaner < http://www.ccleaner.com/> to tidy up the
> registry and a whole lot of other useful housekeeping functions.
>
> 73 Mark G4AXX
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com
> [mailto:uk-contest-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Alex GM3ZBE
> Sent: 26 November 2009 12:43
> To: uk-contest at contesting.com
> Subject: [UK-CONTEST] Windows PC's slow down Why?
>
> Hi,
> I use a Dell Inspiron laptop as my shack and contest computer.
> I've always noticed with my various Windows PC's in the past, that
over
> a period of time (2 or 3 years) they slow down.  My Dell Inspiron is
> beginning to show the same symptoms.  Usually I resort to wiping the
> disk and starting again which solves the problem.  I am talking about
a
> real slow down here not just a perception due to my icreasing
> expectations with the passage of time.  For example, a PC which was
> taking 4.5 mins to boot up reduced to 1.5 mins after redoing the disk
> and reloading all the software.  I'm told, by a non ham PC person,
this
> is to do with the "Windows Registry becoming clogged".  I don't even
> really know what that means but is there any software around which can
> do something about the problem without resorting to re formatting
disks
> and reloading software?
>
> Thanks
> Alex, GM3ZBE
>
> I run antivirus and anti malware s/ware and no virus or software
> problems are reported. Current O.S. is Windows XP Home.
>
> --
>
> --
>
> Alex, GM3ZBE ~~~~~Kingdom of Fife~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Member of:
> De Montfort University ARS,
> Kingdom Amateur Radio Society (KARS)
> GMDX Group, CDXC, Aberdeen ARS
> Previous callsigns G3ZBE, GM8BYG,
> holder of GM4BRN club call.
> Cushcraft MA5B review http://www.sonikblue.co.uk/g3zbe/Ma5b.htm
>
> Remember..............It's only a hobby!
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> _______________________________________________
> UK-Contest mailing list
> UK-Contest at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/uk-contest
> ========================================================
> Plextek Limited
> Registered Address: London Road, Great Chesterford, Essex, CB10 1NY,
UK
> Company Registration No. 2305889
> VAT Registration No. GB 918 4425 15
> Tel: +44 1799 533 200. Fax: +44 1799 533 201 Web:
http://www.plextek.com
> Electronics Design and Consultancy
> ========================================================
>
> _______________________________________________
> UK-Contest mailing list
> UK-Contest at contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/uk-contest
>
_______________________________________________
UK-Contest mailing list
UK-Contest at contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/uk-contest
======================================================== 
Plextek Limited 
Registered Address: London Road, Great Chesterford, Essex, CB10 1NY, UK 
Company Registration No. 2305889 
VAT Registration No. GB 918 4425 15
Tel: +44 1799 533 200. Fax: +44 1799 533 201 Web: http://www.plextek.com 
Electronics Design and Consultancy 
========================================================