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New Computer or Upgrade?

245

Comments

  • Let's find out then ;) I love a challenge! if we find out what mobo is in the beastie
  • centrino isn't a type of cpu, do you mean celeron? If yes, ditch it otherwise it may be worth keeping for a cheap memory upgrade and clear out of all the junk that's probably on it and it'll then run alot better.
  • Depends what the computer is used for? if its only used for surfing and the writeing of the odd letter then it should be fine with just some extra memory (xp needs 256mb of ram to just about tick over) and as one of the above posters mentioned download crap cleaner to remove some of the junk files along with avg anti virus and avg antispyware (both free) and run both to make sure nothing is running that shouldnt be, also open the task manager and check how many processes are running you may be able to switch off quite a few and save some system rescorces (sp) (you can switch them off by doing an msconfig but dont switch off any windows files!)
  • motorguy
    motorguy Posts: 22,618 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Yeah, in hindsight, i'd run ccleaner first and have a bit of a un-install, and add the extra ram. Then do the re-install if needs be. There are some programs out there to extract out the xp licence code, then you only need the cd for the reinstall. Unless its a Dell?

    People - whats the big fuss with a TFT screen? If the CRT is doing its job why replace it?
  • epz_2
    epz_2 Posts: 1,859 Forumite
    ram is dirt cheap and likely whats happening is it is running out so swapping to disk.

    if its a celleron then its never going to win any speed records but ok, frankly i would still consider something like a vostro 1700 laptop they start at £350 and gives you a lot of extra benifits.

    one thing that free and will improve performance is to go into the bios (usually just press F2 after powering up) and change the video card memory from 64meg to the lowest possible.
  • Amba_Gambla
    Amba_Gambla Posts: 12,107 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    ok, it is Celeron, that was just me mixing up my terms...


    in reply to questions:.......
    my brother and I avoid this computer like the plague because it's so slow/crap - we have our own laptops (but I left my charger at my flat when I came home for christmas :doh: )

    she uses it for photos, letters, internet and skype (brother with brand new baby lives abroad) -she's just got a new 8mp camera for christmas, so we realised that if she wants to open the photos on here, we're going to have to do something

    She also has a digital video camera, which she doesn't use becuase the computer isn't up to it

    She bough Norton 360 (as a download) and regularly runs crapcleaner.

  • She bough Norton 360

    :eek:
    Norton is a major resource hog as well as a lousy peice of software, tbh you would be better off with avg
  • RAM RAM and more RAM,

    hmmm, did I mention RAM?:rolleyes:

    There is no need to spend on a new system, and I am with STS on the Norton...
    People - whats the big fuss with a TFT screen? If the CRT is doing its job why replace it?
    , I see where you're coming from, but on purely a eyesaver basis, it is a big yes. However, these are the other reasons why I would recommend replacing a CRT (he is far more eloquent than I!)
  • f1charlie
    f1charlie Posts: 1,228 Forumite
    Presumably this computer ran fine when it was new, thus pointing to spyware, adware, virus, etc slowing down the system. Try checking for these then defragging the disk. If that doesn't help, then reinstall Windows. When it's running smoothly again then invest in some more RAM.
    There seems little point in splashing out on a whole new system, because that may also get to the same state if the OP's Mum is unaware of the need to perform some regular maintenance.
    Charlie
  • ormus
    ormus Posts: 42,714 Forumite
    nowt wrong with the system.
    more ram. 1gb? reinstall the OS. get rid of norton.
    and she dont need a flat panel monitor. (how is that gonna improve things?)
    30 quid and its done.
    this is a money saving site, remember!
    Get some gorm.
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