How to improve performance on laptop?

rachaelj_2

hey, i have a Compaq Presario V5000 CTO Notebook PC and it is running really slow. i have deleted music and video files now it has roughly half of memory free on C drive and deleted all programmes i don't use. but it is still really slow

i use windows xp if that helps

any tips or advice to make it faster?

thanks
Rachael

Idiophreak

It's worth running an adware checker (spybot s+d etc), a virus scanner, scan disk and defrag the disk a couple of times - just make sure everything's neat and tidy. If that doesn't help, adding more memory to the machine will help (the Compaq Presario V5000's on ebay only have 512mb of ram, is yours the same?)

rachaelj_2

yea i think it has got 512mb of ram, how would i add more memory to my laptop?

Zoom7000

Deleting files is not usually what improves the performance. Try the following steps:

First and foremost, run a full Anti-Virus and Anti-Spyware scan. Viruses and Spyware can take up a lot of resources on your system. If you don't have Anti-Virus or Anti-Spyware tools on your laptop I would seriously recommend you download some. You can find a list of free tools here.

Once you have done this. Run a full defrag on your hard drive. This may improve speed if you have deleted a lot of files.

Once you have done this, the next step is to remove unnecessary files from your startup lists. This is a more advanced tool. If you need help you can post the list here. To see the list, go to Start > Run > type 'msconfig' (without the quotes) and then click the startup tab. Then either type up the names of all the startup items or take a screenshot and post it here.

To add more RAM you would need to open a slot on the bottom of your laptop and check if you can add more. The slot you need to open may have a diagram of a RAM memory stick.

Idiophreak

There's a tool on the Crucial website that will identify for you the ram you need...like zoom says, then you just stick it in the bottom of the lappy..it's not hard.

lilibeth

rachaelj wrote: »

yea i think it has got 512mb of ram, how would i add more memory to my laptop?

I would strongly recommend you follow the previous posters advice first.
And run the anti spyware software first.
Both ad-aware and spybot are free and widely used.
http://www.download.com/Ad-Aware-2008/3000-8022_4-10045910.html?hhTest=1

http://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-Destroy/3000-8022_4-10122137.html?hhTest=1


In addition I would defrag your hard drive.

Then if it is still to slow consider a memory upgrade. Your model should come with two slots for memory modules. One currently occupied by your 512 ram stick and one free.
Looking on crucial for your model brought up these two which are compatible for your laptop.
http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/listparts.aspx?model=Presario%20V5000%20CTO&pl=HP%20-%20Compaq&cat=RAM

You can use the system scanner on there yourself to be 100%.
The installation itself is dead easy, and there is a guide to doing this contained within the online user manual for your model here. Complete with pictures!
http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c00703046.pdf

EDIT: What they said^^^^. I was too slow again

mikegahan

(1) Once you have done the steps as recommended by our colleagues above you may wish to install a free maintenance utility - look on Download.com and you will see some good ones, and use it once or so a week. Also think about installing another browser like Firefox and Opera(also available on Dowload.com) which are a lot faster and more secure than Internet explorer.
if you google the phrase "speed up XP" you will get tips on how to speed up XP, and there are also free utilities that can be downloaded for this

rachaelj_2

on system configuration>startup it lists as follows>>
EabServr
Cpqset
RecGuard
HP Wireless Assistant
ccApp
Ghost Tray
Application Launcher
ISUSP
issch
SynTPEnh
adiras
HPWuSchd2
realsched
Reader_sl
QTTask
jusched
ctfmon
NMBgMonitor
Teatime
DSLMON
HP Digital Imaging
Norton GoBack
Google Desktop
profilewatcher
RoxWatchTray9
Google Toolbar Notifier
Google Updater

what should i disable or what should i still have enabled?

thanks

TorrestheGreat

I have 2 things that run on start up:
keyhook and ctfmon
nothing else
Contrary to most of the advice on here, getting rid of anti-virus software gives a performance boost. Makes sure you scan for viruses using online scanners. Google 'unnecessary windows processes' and folow a guide on there.