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    2 newb questions

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by C E Jones, Feb 16, 2009.

  1. C E Jones

    C E Jones Notebook Consultant

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    Why does Windows XP get slower over time?

    Is there a way I can improve speeds without reinstalling the OS?

    -cej
     
    C E Jones, Feb 16, 2009
    #1
  2. eney

    eney Notebook Consultant

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    Mainly its because of installed software, a lot of registry entries and data defragmentation.
    so try removing unnecessary software, clean registry and temporary files with ccleaner, defragment your drive (for example wiht jkdefrag). also you can disable unnecessary processes. here is tweaking xp performance thread http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=305223
     
    eney, Feb 16, 2009
    #2
  3. qhn

    qhn Notebook User

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    ^^ yes, yes and yes.

    And it will happen with any OSs over time.

    cheers ...
     
    qhn, Feb 16, 2009
    #3
  4. Andromeda

    Andromeda Notebook Consultant

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    Windows gets slower with time mainly when there are badly coded programs installed/running, when fragmentation increases, when you're running out of disk space and when you get hit by a malware/virus attack.

    My PCs don't slow down because I take good care of them, but I usually fix my friends' system in this way (briefly)

    - uninstall unwanted programs, clean up the startup entries to improve boot-times.

    -run disk cleanup using the in-built utility or ccleaner.

    -run full security scans with AVG or Avast, and with malwarebytes.

    - run chkdsk once to clear up any file system corruption.

    - run a full disk defrag with Diskeeper 2009 pro (free trial version) and also a boot-time defrag with it if necessary. This restores and improves disk performance.

    -apply all microsoft updates and if necessary, update drivers too.

    Usually, this fixes the performance problems.
     
    Andromeda, Feb 17, 2009
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  5. Carrot Muncher

    Carrot Muncher Notebook Evangelist

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    What chkdsk do you run, chkdsk /r or /f?
     
    Carrot Muncher, Feb 17, 2009
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  6. swarmer

    swarmer beep beep

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    Any difference between defrag programs will be minor. (This includes the built-in defrag program.) But the difference between defragging and not defragging at all can be really big. So... just defrag it with something.

    As for the other stuff... I like Andromeda's list.
     
    swarmer, Feb 17, 2009
    #6
  7. Andromeda

    Andromeda Notebook Consultant

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    chkdsk /r is more comprehensive AFAIK.
    Instructions here
    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265

    Mind you, it can take a long time if your drive is large.
     
    Andromeda, Feb 18, 2009
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  8. jisaac

    jisaac Notebook Deity

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    check out the xp tips and tweaks guide in my sig.
     
    jisaac, Feb 18, 2009
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  9. Carrot Muncher

    Carrot Muncher Notebook Evangelist

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    Thanks for that, I did run chkdsk /r the other day, although I still don't really understand the differences between /r and /f, I'll have to google some more me thinks.
     
    Carrot Muncher, Feb 18, 2009
    #9