Slow computer

Hello Williamsdm:

There are a couple of more things that make a computer painfully slow, and
are fixable. System restore may aggravate the issue of virtual memory!

It "sounds" like you have done many of the proper things:

You are running an anti virus, you are using a spyware removal software. I
agree you should use more than one anti-spyware, and you should follow Ken
Blake's recommendations!

However, most folks do not do these two things:

1. Defrag you hard disk. Do it when you have time, and do it thoroughly!
No matter what the computer says. do a defrag. You can force a thorough
defrag by changing your virtual memory to 0, then re-boot. then do a
defrag. Then do step two below.

2. Increase the size of your virtual memory. Set the minimum and maximum
the same. Make them at least as large as 2x your RAM. Experts have told me
that 4x is acceptable. I would not go any more than 4x. I personally use
3x. Do not change your virtual memory until you have defragged your hard
drive.

I personally like to see a hard drive no more than 50% full! Make certain
you have turned off automatic indexing by older Microsoft Office software!
I've seen a good computer slow to a crawl when it is being scanned by
corrupt antivirus software. (Norton and MacAfee are really bad about
getting corrupted installations. They are almost impossible to fix without
some help. I'm told that Norton has re-written their code, and the new
version runs much better. You might want to invest an a new CD. Do not
download the new Norton software. Make certain it is the newest version!)

You deserve a better running system! Good Luck!

Cordially yours,

Young



"Williamsdm" <Williamsdm.DeleteThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:5F4AD39D-48DF-4DD5-9264-6A6CD719EA82@microsoft.com...
> My computer (OS XP HOME) is painfully, and I mean painfully slow. It was
> sudden and as I see it unprovoked. I have Ad-Aware and have run no less
> than
> four full system scans on the very latest update in the last 24 hours, all
> to
> no avail. I have tried system restore with every available restore point
> (more than 30 in the last four months) and every time, it just says:
> 'Restoration was not possible' (no reason in typical microsoft style).
>
> As an example of just how how slow it is. I timed exactly how long it took
> to load my homepage after start-up. 7 minutes and 24 seconds. It took over
> 35
> minutes to reach this page. I'm not joking.
>
> If anyone out there has a single suggestion other than the following list
> of
> things I have already tried (and short of chucking it in the bin and
> buying a
> mac), please let me know a.s.a.p.
>
> Already tried:
>
> - System Restore
> - Ad-Aware full system scan (found one tracking cookie once and nothing
> since)
> - Disk cleanup (no change)
> - Defragmenter (not necessary, apparently)
> - Deleting anything and everything on the add/remove programs list
> - Deleting unnecessary startup programs as suggested by another of these
> posts
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> Williamsdm
>
>

On Mon, 18 Jun 2007 20:10:28 -0400, "Young"
<young.snodgrass RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote:


>2. Increase the size of your virtual memory. Set the minimum and maximum
>the same. Make them at least as large as 2x your RAM. Experts have told me
>that 4x is acceptable. I would not go any more than 4x. I personally use
>3x. Do not change your virtual memory until you have defragged your hard
>drive.


There is no need to set the minimum and maximum the same. You should
set the minimum low, and the maximum high, so it can expand as
necessary.

The more RAM you have, the *less* page file you need. Any amount based
on a percentage of your RAM is wrong. Read here for more information:
"Virtual Memory in Windows XP" at http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm/



>I personally like to see a hard drive no more than 50% full!


That may be your preference, but it's entirely unnecessary to limit
your usage to that. The amount of disk space you use has almost no
effect on your performance.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

Hello Williamsdm:

Humm, I just re-read your post, and maybe I did not pay enough attention.

You are complaining about a slow computer, but your wrote about a slow
internet connection.

Turn off your modem! Unplug the power to the modem. Make certain the modem
lights are off for at least 15-minutes. Then turn it back on.

Let us know if that doesn't fix the problem?

Cordially yours,

Young

"Williamsdm" <Williamsdm RemoveThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:5F4AD39D-48DF-4DD5-9264-6A6CD719EA82@microsoft.com...
> My computer (OS XP HOME) is painfully, and I mean painfully slow. It was
> sudden and as I see it unprovoked. I have Ad-Aware and have run no less
> than
> four full system scans on the very latest update in the last 24 hours, all
> to
> no avail. I have tried system restore with every available restore point
> (more than 30 in the last four months) and every time, it just says:
> 'Restoration was not possible' (no reason in typical microsoft style).
>
> As an example of just how how slow it is. I timed exactly how long it took
> to load my homepage after start-up. 7 minutes and 24 seconds. It took over
> 35
> minutes to reach this page. I'm not joking.
>
> If anyone out there has a single suggestion other than the following list
> of
> things I have already tried (and short of chucking it in the bin and
> buying a
> mac), please let me know a.s.a.p.
>
> Already tried:
>
> - System Restore
> - Ad-Aware full system scan (found one tracking cookie once and nothing
> since)
> - Disk cleanup (no change)
> - Defragmenter (not necessary, apparently)
> - Deleting anything and everything on the add/remove programs list
> - Deleting unnecessary startup programs as suggested by another of these
> posts
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> Williamsdm
>
>

Hello and thanks to both of you for your advice.

However, I still have a few problems. I do not know how to change the
virtual memory (whatever that is) and secondly, I do not have a disc backup
feature in the system tools list. Any ideas where it might be? Without, all
of the advice from Ken Blake in your first message is useless.

Thanks

Williamsdm

"Young" wrote:

> Hello Williamsdm:
>
> Humm, I just re-read your post, and maybe I did not pay enough attention.
>
> You are complaining about a slow computer, but your wrote about a slow
> internet connection.
>
> Turn off your modem! Unplug the power to the modem. Make certain the modem
> lights are off for at least 15-minutes. Then turn it back on.
>
> Let us know if that doesn't fix the problem?
>
> Cordially yours,
>
> Young
>
> "Williamsdm" <Williamsdm.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:5F4AD39D-48DF-4DD5-9264-6A6CD719EA82@microsoft.com...
> > My computer (OS XP HOME) is painfully, and I mean painfully slow. It was
> > sudden and as I see it unprovoked. I have Ad-Aware and have run no less
> > than
> > four full system scans on the very latest update in the last 24 hours, all
> > to
> > no avail. I have tried system restore with every available restore point
> > (more than 30 in the last four months) and every time, it just says:
> > 'Restoration was not possible' (no reason in typical microsoft style).
> >
> > As an example of just how how slow it is. I timed exactly how long it took
> > to load my homepage after start-up. 7 minutes and 24 seconds. It took over
> > 35
> > minutes to reach this page. I'm not joking.
> >
> > If anyone out there has a single suggestion other than the following list
> > of
> > things I have already tried (and short of chucking it in the bin and
> > buying a
> > mac), please let me know a.s.a.p.
> >
> > Already tried:
> >
> > - System Restore
> > - Ad-Aware full system scan (found one tracking cookie once and nothing
> > since)
> > - Disk cleanup (no change)
> > - Defragmenter (not necessary, apparently)
> > - Deleting anything and everything on the add/remove programs list
> > - Deleting unnecessary startup programs as suggested by another of these
> > posts
> >
> > Thanks in advance
> >
> > Williamsdm
> >
> >
>
>
>

"Williamsdm" wrote:

> My computer (OS XP HOME) is painfully, and I mean painfully slow. It was
> sudden and as I see it unprovoked.
>

Added to the good advices and notes from Ken Blake and Young, is it possible
that one - in case you have two or more RAM-chips installed - could have
failed without given other symptoms like BSOD etc? If so; then may performing
a RAM-test would be an idea. See: http://www.memtest.org/

Regards,
Ka2H

On Tue, 19 Jun 2007 03:54:00 -0700, Williamsdm
<Williamsdm RemoveThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>Hello and thanks to both of you for your advice.
>
>However, I still have a few problems. I do not know how to change the
>virtual memory (whatever that is)


Unnecessary. It's highly unlikely that it will help your problem.


>and secondly, I do not have a disc backup
>feature in the system tools list. Any ideas where it might be?


XP Home Edition? Backup is installed automatically on XP Professional,
but not on XP Home. If you have the complete XP Home CD, find backup
on the CD, in \ValueAdd\MSFT\NTBACKUP and install it yourself by
doubleclicking the file ntbackup.msi.

If you don't have an XP CD, you can download ntbackup.msi at
http://www.onecomputerguy.com/software/ntbackup.msi Also see
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=302894

However, as backup software goes, the included Windows backup program
is probably the poorest product available. I recommend investing in a
better backup solution, such as Acronis True Image.


>Without, all
>of the advice from Ken Blake in your first message is useless.
>
>Thanks
>
>Williamsdm
>
>"Young" wrote:
>
>> Hello Williamsdm:
>>
>> Humm, I just re-read your post, and maybe I did not pay enough attention.
>>
>> You are complaining about a slow computer, but your wrote about a slow
>> internet connection.
>>
>> Turn off your modem! Unplug the power to the modem. Make certain the modem
>> lights are off for at least 15-minutes. Then turn it back on.
>>
>> Let us know if that doesn't fix the problem?
>>
>> Cordially yours,
>>
>> Young
>>
>> "Williamsdm" <Williamsdm RemoveThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:5F4AD39D-48DF-4DD5-9264-6A6CD719EA82@microsoft.com...
>> > My computer (OS XP HOME) is painfully, and I mean painfully slow. It was
>> > sudden and as I see it unprovoked. I have Ad-Aware and have run no less
>> > than
>> > four full system scans on the very latest update in the last 24 hours, all
>> > to
>> > no avail. I have tried system restore with every available restore point
>> > (more than 30 in the last four months) and every time, it just says:
>> > 'Restoration was not possible' (no reason in typical microsoft style).
>> >
>> > As an example of just how how slow it is. I timed exactly how long it took
>> > to load my homepage after start-up. 7 minutes and 24 seconds. It took over
>> > 35
>> > minutes to reach this page. I'm not joking.
>> >
>> > If anyone out there has a single suggestion other than the following list
>> > of
>> > things I have already tried (and short of chucking it in the bin and
>> > buying a
>> > mac), please let me know a.s.a.p.
>> >
>> > Already tried:
>> >
>> > - System Restore
>> > - Ad-Aware full system scan (found one tracking cookie once and nothing
>> > since)
>> > - Disk cleanup (no change)
>> > - Defragmenter (not necessary, apparently)
>> > - Deleting anything and everything on the add/remove programs list
>> > - Deleting unnecessary startup programs as suggested by another of these
>> > posts
>> >
>> > Thanks in advance
>> >
>> > Williamsdm
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>>

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

On Tue, 19 Jun 2007 04:59:00 -0700, Ka2H
<Ka2H.DeleteThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>"Williamsdm" wrote:
>
>> My computer (OS XP HOME) is painfully, and I mean painfully slow. It was
>> sudden and as I see it unprovoked.
>>
>
>Added to the good advices and notes from Ken Blake and Young, is it possible
>that one - in case you have two or more RAM-chips installed - could have
>failed without given other symptoms like BSOD etc? If so; then may performing
>a RAM-test would be an idea. See: http://www.memtest.org/


Highly unlikely that that's the problem. A failed RAM chip would
almost certainly cause much more severe symptoms than a slowdown.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

"Williamsdm" <Williamsdm.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:5F4AD39D-48DF-4DD5-9264-6A6CD719EA82@microsoft.com...
> My computer (OS XP HOME) is painfully, and I mean painfully slow. It
> was
> sudden and as I see it unprovoked. I have Ad-Aware and have run no
> less than
> four full system scans on the very latest update in the last 24 hours,
> all to
> no avail. I have tried system restore with every available restore
> point
> (more than 30 in the last four months) and every time, it just says:
> 'Restoration was not possible' (no reason in typical microsoft style).
>
> As an example of just how how slow it is. I timed exactly how long it
> took
> to load my homepage after start-up. 7 minutes and 24 seconds. It took
> over 35
> minutes to reach this page. I'm not joking.

Please clarify. Is it that your PC that is slow, or is it your Internet
connection? If the latter, is it just the Web, or is it other parts of
the Internet, too?

William

Start, Control Panel, System., Advanced, Performance, Settings,
Advanced, Virtual Memory, Change. Makre the change click on Set, OK and
any Apply. restart the computer for the change to take effect.

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Backing_Up

--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Williamsdm" <Williamsdm.TakeThisOut@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:3A4CAD02-6E12-48E1-847C-AAACC09F6DCE@microsoft.com...
> Hello and thanks to both of you for your advice.
>
> However, I still have a few problems. I do not know how to change the
> virtual memory (whatever that is) and secondly, I do not have a disc
> backup
> feature in the system tools list. Any ideas where it might be?
> Without, all
> of the advice from Ken Blake in your first message is useless.
>
> Thanks
>
> Williamsdm
>
> "Young" wrote:
>
>> Hello Williamsdm:
>>
>> Humm, I just re-read your post, and maybe I did not pay enough
>> attention.
>>
>> You are complaining about a slow computer, but your wrote about a
>> slow
>> internet connection.
>>
>> Turn off your modem! Unplug the power to the modem. Make certain
>> the modem
>> lights are off for at least 15-minutes. Then turn it back on.
>>
>> Let us know if that doesn't fix the problem?
>>
>> Cordially yours,
>>
>> Young
>>
>> "Williamsdm" <Williamsdm.TakeThisOut@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:5F4AD39D-48DF-4DD5-9264-6A6CD719EA82@microsoft.com...
>> > My computer (OS XP HOME) is painfully, and I mean painfully slow.
>> > It was
>> > sudden and as I see it unprovoked. I have Ad-Aware and have run no
>> > less
>> > than
>> > four full system scans on the very latest update in the last 24
>> > hours, all
>> > to
>> > no avail. I have tried system restore with every available restore
>> > point
>> > (more than 30 in the last four months) and every time, it just
>> > says:
>> > 'Restoration was not possible' (no reason in typical microsoft
>> > style).
>> >
>> > As an example of just how how slow it is. I timed exactly how long
>> > it took
>> > to load my homepage after start-up. 7 minutes and 24 seconds. It
>> > took over
>> > 35
>> > minutes to reach this page. I'm not joking.
>> >
>> > If anyone out there has a single suggestion other than the
>> > following list
>> > of
>> > things I have already tried (and short of chucking it in the bin
>> > and
>> > buying a
>> > mac), please let me know a.s.a.p.
>> >
>> > Already tried:
>> >
>> > - System Restore
>> > - Ad-Aware full system scan (found one tracking cookie once and
>> > nothing
>> > since)
>> > - Disk cleanup (no change)
>> > - Defragmenter (not necessary, apparently)
>> > - Deleting anything and everything on the add/remove programs list
>> > - Deleting unnecessary startup programs as suggested by another of
>> > these
>> > posts
>> >
>> > Thanks in advance
>> >
>> > Williamsdm
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>>

Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to select Task Manager and click the Performance
Tab. Under Commit Charge what is the Total, the Limit and the Peak?

How large is your hard disk and how much free space. Right click on
your C drive in Windows and select Properties to get this information.

What is your CPU processor speed? How much RAM memory? Right click on
your My Computer icon on your Desktop and select Properties to get
this information.


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Williamsdm" <Williamsdm DeleteThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:3A4CAD02-6E12-48E1-847C-AAACC09F6DCE@microsoft.com...
> Hello and thanks to both of you for your advice.
>
> However, I still have a few problems. I do not know how to change the
> virtual memory (whatever that is) and secondly, I do not have a disc
> backup
> feature in the system tools list. Any ideas where it might be?
> Without, all
> of the advice from Ken Blake in your first message is useless.
>
> Thanks
>
> Williamsdm
>
> "Young" wrote:
>
>> Hello Williamsdm:
>>
>> Humm, I just re-read your post, and maybe I did not pay enough
>> attention.
>>
>> You are complaining about a slow computer, but your wrote about a
>> slow
>> internet connection.
>>
>> Turn off your modem! Unplug the power to the modem. Make certain
>> the modem
>> lights are off for at least 15-minutes. Then turn it back on.
>>
>> Let us know if that doesn't fix the problem?
>>
>> Cordially yours,
>>
>> Young
>>
>> "Williamsdm" <Williamsdm DeleteThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:5F4AD39D-48DF-4DD5-9264-6A6CD719EA82@microsoft.com...
>> > My computer (OS XP HOME) is painfully, and I mean painfully slow.
>> > It was
>> > sudden and as I see it unprovoked. I have Ad-Aware and have run no
>> > less
>> > than
>> > four full system scans on the very latest update in the last 24
>> > hours, all
>> > to
>> > no avail. I have tried system restore with every available restore
>> > point
>> > (more than 30 in the last four months) and every time, it just
>> > says:
>> > 'Restoration was not possible' (no reason in typical microsoft
>> > style).
>> >
>> > As an example of just how how slow it is. I timed exactly how long
>> > it took
>> > to load my homepage after start-up. 7 minutes and 24 seconds. It
>> > took over
>> > 35
>> > minutes to reach this page. I'm not joking.
>> >
>> > If anyone out there has a single suggestion other than the
>> > following list
>> > of
>> > things I have already tried (and short of chucking it in the bin
>> > and
>> > buying a
>> > mac), please let me know a.s.a.p.
>> >
>> > Already tried:
>> >
>> > - System Restore
>> > - Ad-Aware full system scan (found one tracking cookie once and
>> > nothing
>> > since)
>> > - Disk cleanup (no change)
>> > - Defragmenter (not necessary, apparently)
>> > - Deleting anything and everything on the add/remove programs list
>> > - Deleting unnecessary startup programs as suggested by another of
>> > these
>> > posts
>> >
>> > Thanks in advance
>> >
>> > Williamsdm
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>>

Total 277280
Limit 2500644
Peak 314136

Hard disk capacity 52.8 GB
Used space 37.8 GB

Processor speed 1.70GHz
0.99 GB of RAM

Is this bad?

"Gerry" wrote:

> Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to select Task Manager and click the Performance
> Tab. Under Commit Charge what is the Total, the Limit and the Peak?
>
> How large is your hard disk and how much free space. Right click on
> your C drive in Windows and select Properties to get this information.
>
> What is your CPU processor speed? How much RAM memory? Right click on
> your My Computer icon on your Desktop and select Properties to get
> this information.
>
>
> --
>
>
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Gerry
> ~~~~
> FCA
> Stourport, England
> Enquire, plan and execute
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> "Williamsdm" <Williamsdm.TakeThisOut@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:3A4CAD02-6E12-48E1-847C-AAACC09F6DCE@microsoft.com...
> > Hello and thanks to both of you for your advice.
> >
> > However, I still have a few problems. I do not know how to change the
> > virtual memory (whatever that is) and secondly, I do not have a disc
> > backup
> > feature in the system tools list. Any ideas where it might be?
> > Without, all
> > of the advice from Ken Blake in your first message is useless.
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Williamsdm
> >
> > "Young" wrote:
> >
> >> Hello Williamsdm:
> >>
> >> Humm, I just re-read your post, and maybe I did not pay enough
> >> attention.
> >>
> >> You are complaining about a slow computer, but your wrote about a
> >> slow
> >> internet connection.
> >>
> >> Turn off your modem! Unplug the power to the modem. Make certain
> >> the modem
> >> lights are off for at least 15-minutes. Then turn it back on.
> >>
> >> Let us know if that doesn't fix the problem?
> >>
> >> Cordially yours,
> >>
> >> Young
> >>
> >> "Williamsdm" <Williamsdm.TakeThisOut@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:5F4AD39D-48DF-4DD5-9264-6A6CD719EA82@microsoft.com...
> >> > My computer (OS XP HOME) is painfully, and I mean painfully slow.
> >> > It was
> >> > sudden and as I see it unprovoked. I have Ad-Aware and have run no
> >> > less
> >> > than
> >> > four full system scans on the very latest update in the last 24
> >> > hours, all
> >> > to
> >> > no avail. I have tried system restore with every available restore
> >> > point
> >> > (more than 30 in the last four months) and every time, it just
> >> > says:
> >> > 'Restoration was not possible' (no reason in typical microsoft
> >> > style).
> >> >
> >> > As an example of just how how slow it is. I timed exactly how long
> >> > it took
> >> > to load my homepage after start-up. 7 minutes and 24 seconds. It
> >> > took over
> >> > 35
> >> > minutes to reach this page. I'm not joking.
> >> >
> >> > If anyone out there has a single suggestion other than the
> >> > following list
> >> > of
> >> > things I have already tried (and short of chucking it in the bin
> >> > and
> >> > buying a
> >> > mac), please let me know a.s.a.p.
> >> >
> >> > Already tried:
> >> >
> >> > - System Restore
> >> > - Ad-Aware full system scan (found one tracking cookie once and
> >> > nothing
> >> > since)
> >> > - Disk cleanup (no change)
> >> > - Defragmenter (not necessary, apparently)
> >> > - Deleting anything and everything on the add/remove programs list
> >> > - Deleting unnecessary startup programs as suggested by another of
> >> > these
> >> > posts
> >> >
> >> > Thanks in advance
> >> >
> >> > Williamsdm
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>

William

No but this figure "0.99 GB of RAM" is an odd way to describe RAM
memory!
RAM is measured in mb. Are you saying you have 990 mb or thereabouts?

Have you looked at Error Reports in Event Viewer?

Please post copies of all Error and Warning Reports appearing in the
System and Application logs in Event Viewer for the last boot. No
Information Reports please.

You can access Event Viewer by selecting Start, Control Panel,
Administrative Tools, and Event Viewer. When researching the meaning
of the error, information regarding Event ID, Source and Description
are important.

HOW TO: View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308427/en-us

Part of the Description of the error will include a link, which you
should double click for further information. You can copy using copy
and paste. Often the link will, however, say there is no further
information.
http://go.microsoft.com/fw.link/events.asp
(Please note the hyperlink above is for illustration purposes only)

A tip for posting copies of Error Reports! Run Event Viewer and double
click on the error you want to copy. In the window, which appears is a
button resembling two pages. Click the button and close Event
Viewer.Now start your message (email) and do a paste into the body of
the message. Make sure this is the first paste after exiting from
Event Viewer.

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


"Williamsdm" <Williamsdm.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:362077DC-FCE1-4E03-B3C2-85967673C915@microsoft.com...
> Total 277280
> Limit 2500644
> Peak 314136
>
> Hard disk capacity 52.8 GB
> Used space 37.8 GB
>
> Processor speed 1.70GHz
> 0.99 GB of RAM
>
> Is this bad?
>
> "Gerry" wrote:
>
>> Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to select Task Manager and click the Performance
>> Tab. Under Commit Charge what is the Total, the Limit and the Peak?
>>
>> How large is your hard disk and how much free space. Right click on
>> your C drive in Windows and select Properties to get this
>> information.
>>
>> What is your CPU processor speed? How much RAM memory? Right click on
>> your My Computer icon on your Desktop and select Properties to get
>> this information.
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>>
>>
>> Hope this helps.
>>
>> Gerry
>> ~~~~
>> FCA
>> Stourport, England
>> Enquire, plan and execute
>> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>>
>> "Williamsdm" <Williamsdm.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:3A4CAD02-6E12-48E1-847C-AAACC09F6DCE@microsoft.com...
>> > Hello and thanks to both of you for your advice.
>> >
>> > However, I still have a few problems. I do not know how to change
>> > the
>> > virtual memory (whatever that is) and secondly, I do not have a
>> > disc
>> > backup
>> > feature in the system tools list. Any ideas where it might be?
>> > Without, all
>> > of the advice from Ken Blake in your first message is useless.
>> >
>> > Thanks
>> >
>> > Williamsdm
>> >
>> > "Young" wrote:
>> >
>> >> Hello Williamsdm:
>> >>
>> >> Humm, I just re-read your post, and maybe I did not pay enough
>> >> attention.
>> >>
>> >> You are complaining about a slow computer, but your wrote about a
>> >> slow
>> >> internet connection.
>> >>
>> >> Turn off your modem! Unplug the power to the modem. Make certain
>> >> the modem
>> >> lights are off for at least 15-minutes. Then turn it back on.
>> >>
>> >> Let us know if that doesn't fix the problem?
>> >>
>> >> Cordially yours,
>> >>
>> >> Young
>> >>
>> >> "Williamsdm" <Williamsdm.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
>> >> message
>> >> news:5F4AD39D-48DF-4DD5-9264-6A6CD719EA82@microsoft.com...
>> >> > My computer (OS XP HOME) is painfully, and I mean painfully
>> >> > slow.
>> >> > It was
>> >> > sudden and as I see it unprovoked. I have Ad-Aware and have run
>> >> > no
>> >> > less
>> >> > than
>> >> > four full system scans on the very latest update in the last 24
>> >> > hours, all
>> >> > to
>> >> > no avail. I have tried system restore with every available
>> >> > restore
>> >> > point
>> >> > (more than 30 in the last four months) and every time, it just
>> >> > says:
>> >> > 'Restoration was not possible' (no reason in typical microsoft
>> >> > style).
>> >> >
>> >> > As an example of just how how slow it is. I timed exactly how
>> >> > long
>> >> > it took
>> >> > to load my homepage after start-up. 7 minutes and 24 seconds. It
>> >> > took over
>> >> > 35
>> >> > minutes to reach this page. I'm not joking.
>> >> >
>> >> > If anyone out there has a single suggestion other than the
>> >> > following list
>> >> > of
>> >> > things I have already tried (and short of chucking it in the bin
>> >> > and
>> >> > buying a
>> >> > mac), please let me know a.s.a.p.
>> >> >
>> >> > Already tried:
>> >> >
>> >> > - System Restore
>> >> > - Ad-Aware full system scan (found one tracking cookie once and
>> >> > nothing
>> >> > since)
>> >> > - Disk cleanup (no change)
>> >> > - Defragmenter (not necessary, apparently)
>> >> > - Deleting anything and everything on the add/remove programs
>> >> > list
>> >> > - Deleting unnecessary startup programs as suggested by another
>> >> > of
>> >> > these
>> >> > posts
>> >> >
>> >> > Thanks in advance
>> >> >
>> >> > Williamsdm
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>
>>

Hello Ken:

Thank-you for the fine work you do helping folks with their computer
performance issues!

I attempted to go to your referenced site and the address was confused.
Here is how I got there:

http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.php


The site has a lot of excellent information about virtual memory, and is
very helpful!

Cordially yours,

Young


"Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake.TakeThisOut@this.is.am.invalid.domain> wrote in message
news:p8ce739ktj6rnvsok6cl9kstsh09ld3mkj@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 18 Jun 2007 20:10:28 -0400, "Young"
> <young.snodgrass.TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>>2. Increase the size of your virtual memory. Set the minimum and maximum
>>the same. Make them at least as large as 2x your RAM. Experts have told
>>me
>>that 4x is acceptable. I would not go any more than 4x. I personally use
>>3x. Do not change your virtual memory until you have defragged your hard
>>drive.
>
>
> There is no need to set the minimum and maximum the same. You should
> set the minimum low, and the maximum high, so it can expand as
> necessary.
>
> The more RAM you have, the *less* page file you need. Any amount based
> on a percentage of your RAM is wrong. Read here for more information:
> "Virtual Memory in Windows XP" at http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm/
>
>
>
>>I personally like to see a hard drive no more than 50% full!
>
>
> That may be your preference, but it's entirely unnecessary to limit
> your usage to that. The amount of disk space you use has almost no
> effect on your performance.
>
> --
> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
> Please Reply to the Newsgroup