Sloooow Computer
Here I am, staying with my in-laws in Houston for Christmas. Their computer is verrrry slow. Specs: Pentium 4 CPU, 2.4 GH, 256mh RAM. 37Gb storage, 28Gb used. It’s a Dell, about 4 years old, not used all that often. It’s got AOL as their internet service provider, with MacAfee as the Anti Virus programme. There are no signs of Virus activity. I’ve given it a thorough going over with Adaware, Spybot, and Hijack This- no rogue activity found. I’ve checked the Registry, seems fine.
Two things spring to mind. Firstly, the RAM should be increased- normal activity in the Task Manager seems to be in the 400- 600 Mb range. I don't know how much this is slowing the machine down, but it must help. What would you go for 512Mb or 1024Mb?
Also, the Startup Menu seems to have a lot of programmes on it. I would like to know whether I can take off from the Startup, links such as those for AOL and MacAfee, Skype, MSN Messenger, and Microsoft Webcam. My questions are-
a) do these startup components only slow down the start process, or do they drag down the computer whilst it is working afterwards? and
b) if I delete the Skype and Messenger from startup, will the in-laws be able to pick up incoming messages, without switching the programmes back on beforehand?
Is there anything else that I may be missing?
Any thoughts gratefully received.
Tosh