Off topic : XP is soooo sssslllloooowww

  • Thread starter Thread starter Downside Studio
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Downside Studio

Downside Studio

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This is a little off topic, but all the local computer nerds are not really helping me so before trying the damn helpdesk (aaarrgghhh) maybe somebody knows a solution here.

I myself work only on macs so I personally don't have problems regarding computers:D

It's my girlfriends laptop, a compaq pressarium 700EA with Atlon 900 Mhz and 128 ram. When it came from the store it had XP home edition installed. From scratch this system is very slow in starting programs or displaying windows. If I hit the startmenu ity takes over 5 seconds to display. If I try the search functions it takes over 20 seconds to start. If I try to start explorer it takes over 30 seconds to start. Half of the time I think I didn't hit the button right, so I push it again..nothing happends, so I push it again, and two minutes later I have the same program 3 times on screen.

What could be causing this? Once the programs are up and running they work just fine.
 
something isn't right... i have xppro.. my computer only takes 15sec to boot and once i type my password in xp, it starts with in3sec.. it moves very fast.. i just putit back on my pc a week ago from 2000.. xp is 5x faster and nuendo is working great
 
Downside Studio said:
This is a little off topic, but all the local computer nerds are not really helping me so before trying the damn helpdesk (aaarrgghhh) maybe somebody knows a solution here.

I myself work only on macs so I personally don't have problems regarding computers:D

It's my girlfriends laptop, a compaq pressarium 700EA with Atlon 900 Mhz and 128 ram. When it came from the store it had XP home edition installed. From scratch this system is very slow in starting programs or displaying windows. If I hit the startmenu ity takes over 5 seconds to display. If I try the search functions it takes over 20 seconds to start. If I try to start explorer it takes over 30 seconds to start. Half of the time I think I didn't hit the button right, so I push it again..nothing happends, so I push it again, and two minutes later I have the same program 3 times on screen.

What could be causing this? Once the programs are up and running they work just fine.
Click to expand...

no problem wit computers...i thought apples nickname was "Crashintosh" this is what i've heard from other computer programers and what i've seen going to Pro tools Mac based systems
 
There are a dozen things to try, but if it came pre-loaded this way out of the box, I'd definitely call Compaq. It very well could be defective hardware.

Thing is, they screwed it up before your girlfriend got it, so it's on them to fix it. If you're a Mac guy, you'll end up putting it through the wall before you get anywhere. (PC folk are better conditioned at putting up with completely ridiculous O/S problems, and jumping through hoops to get their computers to work) :D

I've been a PC programmer for 11 years, and Macs are positively more stable (using all 5 or 6 programs that are available for Mac) :p
 
Ok guys, let's not evolve this thread in a Mac/PC war. It was a joke ok.

lets stick to the problem. It's not the computer that gets thrown out of the window, it is probably gonna be me. I told her once to buy a pc and I even picked the model. A packard Bell that gave nothing and nothing but trouble. She managed to work with it for two years, but it was no doable(?) at last. So I told her to buy a new computer, and I picked this thing. I am intelligent, but even for me it's impossible to pick twice a crappy computer.
 
Call Compaq. They shipped you a defective product and they need to replace it. It happens to the best of us, but guessing at how to fix their mysterious problem is only going to make it worse or void your warranty. A slow bootup could be caused from a whole slew of different things, and you don't have any usage information to go on (it was like that when you got it).

If you bought it at a local computer store, you'll probably want to start there. If you gripe hard enough, they'll probably exchange it for a replacement on the spot (don't let 'em push you around).
 
Booting aint the problem. It's fast as hell regarding that part. The problems start after booting. Somebody mentioned trashing the temp files. Can I just delete anything in that folder, or should some parts stay? I'm not scared of loosing cookies though, they can be replaced.
 
It's worth a try, but it's a long shot.

Don't delete them through explorer, it's safer through control panel.

Start, Control Panel, Internet Options. The clear out temp files, temp internet files, cookies, and history.

here's another couple of long-shots you could try (I guess I'd be stressin' if I was in your shoes too)

- Do a virus scan. Sounds like she does a bit of surfing and/or downloading, so it's worth a try. You should have some sort of pre-loaded virus software (McAffee or Norton Antivirus are the 2 common ones). If you've got the option, do a virus definition update first.

- After you've done that, DISABLE your virus software (probably right click and exit from your tool tray). Virus software is notorious for dragging a system down if it's not working properly.

- There are other things to try, but here's a last resort: They should've shipped you a System Restore CD (or 2). Backup any files she's created and needs (probably just documents), and go through the Restore process. Follow the instructions exactly.
 
That virus software could be worth a shot. It has Norton on it, and that sucker keeps freakin us out.

Mousepad was touched....this could be a potential virus.
Somebody justed moved within 20 yards from the computer....this could be a potential intruder.
Toilet was flushed...this could be somebody trying to invade the system tru a backdoor.

No virus though.
 
I think you're on the right track looking at the anti-virus software. Major PC manufacturers have been known to load down brand new systems with tons of useless crap running on startup, as evidenced by the huge pile of icons in the taskbar tray. I'd do a clean install of XP (NOT a "system restore", which would reload all of the useless crap) and that should solve the problem, unless there really is something defective in there.
 
I'd second the fresh install, but, you probably don't have that luxury. You probably have a Compaq'd out XP image on cd, which means there's a good chance you'll end up where you started.

Go to the control panel, and then add/remove programs and start uninstalling stuff that you don't need/want. Reboot and then open the Task Manager (ctrl-shift-esc) and look for any processes listed under your user name (it, not system or network processes). You basically need to give your XP installation an enema.
 
Well I deactivated Norton, and removed the temp files, and it seems to be indeed faster now. Will it be, or is it just faking...time will tell.

I have two more questions though.

1. What do I need from Norton, and what can I trash. this computer is a couple of times a day on the internet using a ADSL modem, and has some rather important financial and management information on it that hass to be secure. It is used for the administration of one of our companies.

2. I tried to install WinonCD, but that didn't work great so I removed it using the Uninstall winoncd file that came with the program. XP keeps bugging me at startup with this message:
device or program disabled. Windows might become instable from CD recording software. de drivers are not loaded into memory. Klik for more information
If I click it gives me the name of Roxio, but I don't have the software on the computer anymore. How can I get rid of this message? Man I wish it was a Mac, than i knew myself.
 
1. What do I need from Norton, and what can I trash
Click to expand...
Two options:
a) Disable automatic virus detection and enable it only when going online or ...
b) Chuck Norton altogether and get a different package. I've seen unexplained problems on some workstations that went away when Norton was replaced.

device or program disabled. Windows might become instable from CD recording software. de drivers are not loaded into memory. Klik for more information
Click to expand...
I believe WinonCD is no longer supported, and it looks like the uninstall left some crumbs behind. Check your startup folder for a shortcut you might need to remove. Doesn't sound like you'd be real comfortable with registry mods, so if that doesn't work, you might seriously think about a clean install/restore (removing Norton again after it's done).
 
Downside Studio said:

2. I tried to install WinonCD, but that didn't work great so I removed it using the Uninstall winoncd file that came with the program. XP keeps bugging me at startup with this message:
device or program disabled. Windows might become instable from CD recording software. de drivers are not loaded into memory. Klik for more information
If I click it gives me the name of Roxio, but I don't have the software on the computer anymore. How can I get rid of this message? Man I wish it was a Mac, than i knew myself.
Click to expand...

I HAVE THAT PROBLEM TOOOO!!!

I also run XP and tried installing WinOnCD. So......

only reinstalling Wi(n)dows helps???

F#CK!
 
double F#CK, I'm gonna get my butt kicked again from my girlfriend for screwing up her computer.:(
 
Either you can convince her into making her PC "all new and improved" !! :)

Or you can neem her "out eten ! " ;)
 
She's smart, like Roel. Either way I'm gonna get my but kicked.

The eating thing we did the other day. And making a pc brand new....well I've just that line too many times before.
 
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