Registry cleaner

dixie_dean_2

Can anyone offer anything more helpful for a beginner?

bod1467

Backup all your data that you want to save.

Reboot and keep pressing F8 until a boot menu appears. (Check the manual linked above - it might be a different key you need to press).

Check the manual for a Recovery option - this should let you reset the machine to factory default installation.

Finish the recovery then reload your data from the backup.

dixie_dean_2

bod1467 wrote: »

Backup all your data that you want to save.

Reboot and keep pressing F8 until a boot menu appears. (Check the manual linked above - it might be a different key you need to press).

Check the manual for a Recovery option - this should let you reset the machine to factory default installation.

Finish the recovery then reload your data from the backup.

I think this is beyond me. Will see how the memory goes. As someone stated earlier, what might seem basic and obvious to many isn't necessarily for others. "Backup all your data that you want to save." and then "reload your data from the backup" are not things I would no how to start doing. Thanks anyway though.

Final question - is ccleaner something that should be run regularly and if so, how often?

Cheers.

macman

If you don't already back up your data, then sooner or late you are going to lose it (probably sooner).
All it involves is making a copy of the files you want to keep to another device (DVD, flash drive, external hard drive etc). So if you know how to copy or move a file, which you presumably do, you can back up.
A lot easier and less stressful (and cheaper) than trying to recover precious files from a failed hard drive.
All drives eventually fail, it's not if but when.
Once a month is about right for CCleaner, depending on usage.

dixie_dean_2

macman wrote: »

If you don't already back up your data, then sooner or late you are going to lose it (probably sooner).
All it involves is making a copy of the files you want to keep to another device (DVD, flash drive, external hard drive etc). So if you know how to copy or move a file, which you presumably do, you can back up.
A lot easier and less stressful (and cheaper) than trying to recover precious files from a failed hard drive.
All drives eventually fail, it's not if but when.
Once a month is about right for CCleaner, depending on usage.

Brilliant, thanks. I'm not even sure I know what you mean by files?! Well, I am, but I'm not sure I have any on my computer that I would lose. Not personal ones anyway oif that's what you mean. The odd bit of work, word docs etc are all saved in email/google docs and photos we have on usb sticks. Slightly related, we are going to buy an external harddrive to save the photos on...any recomendations or are they all similar? Would just be photos i think and the odd short video (from a camera) so would 64gb be plenty?

Going back to the original issue, by files, is that what you mean or are there things that the compurter needs to work that i should be backing up too?

Thanks again.

macman

dixie_dean wrote: »

Brilliant, thanks. I'm not even sure I know what you mean by files?! Well, I am, but I'm not sure I have any on my computer that I would lose. Not personal ones anyway oif that's what you mean. The odd bit of work, word docs etc are all saved in email/google docs and photos we have on usb sticks. Slightly related, we are going to buy an external harddrive to save the photos on...any recomendations or are they all similar? Would just be photos i think and the odd short video (from a camera) so would 64gb be plenty?

Going back to the original issue, by files, is that what you mean or are there things that the compurter needs to work that i should be backing up too?

Thanks again.

No, I am talking about personal data files (Word docs, spreadsheets, emails, photos, videos etc).
The system files (operating system) can be reloaded from the original disks, but the personal data cannot.
USB sticks are not intended for long term storage, as they are subject to failure and loss.
A 64GB external drive is tiny, any modern drive should be at least 320GB or larger. Tot up the file size of all your data, then double it-that is what you need.

dixie_dean_2

TakeThis wrote: »

Whilst you may think it beyond you, at least attempting to read and then asking the relevant questions can be a great leap forward.
Not thanking me only points to you seeming ungrateful. Perhaps your injury is getting you down. Cheer up.

All of the info I have given you is what you needed.. You have the time to read about the Recovery Discs and the options for a Factory Restore.
Whilst we are happy to help, we are not your parents. So try a little and we will help you along.

Your computer has the option to restore it's software back to the point at which you originally had it when you took it out of the box.

Did you think why i had thanked everyone else and not you?

closed

meandering threads like this invariably end in a visit to pc world/local pc shop - is that likely in this case?

if you want to wipe the system and reinstall windows, read section 3.8 of the manual

dixie_dean_2

That was the point i started from but think i've had some great help, made some small improvements and hopefully ok. Will see how perfromance goes with increased memory and using ccleaner once a month. I think i actually found the right section of the manual but it didn't mean much but will give it another go if things dont improve.

Thanks again all.

robmar0se

Hi Dixie, I have sent you a private note which gives you a very simple crib sheet on how to build on the extra RAM, to get the most out of it. I follow these instructions all the time and in my opinion gives the best for the least effort (and heartache) - best speed without materially changing the system, and NO extra programs/downloads etc.

Good luck, and let me know if you think it helpful.

PS One thing I left out, and in case no one else has mentioned it, just make sure from the C drive pie chart that you have at least 15% unused/free.