Author Topic: How To Speed Up A PC (Read 21459 times)

Centro · « **Reply #100 on:** July 02, 2013, 06:33:02 PM »

Quote from: DH Data Recovery on July 01, 2013, 12:24:04 PM

What are the specs?

Quote from: centro on July 01, 2013, 12:41:14 PM

3rd gen Intel Core i5-3230M Processor (2.6GHz, 3M cache)

4.0GB, DDR3-1600MHz SDRAM, 1 DIMM

500GB 7200rpm Hard Drive

Windows 7 Professional, 64-bit

elikay · « **Reply #101 on:** July 02, 2013, 08:29:02 PM »

Quote from: centro on July 02, 2013, 06:33:02 PM

The guy has a FT job off DDF

Centro · « **Reply #102 on:** July 02, 2013, 08:38:00 PM »

I know, that's why I didn't pm him,
I posted my question in public and take advice from whoever offers ( and knows what he's talking about ),

I just bumped up a discussion that wasn't answered from a day ago.

And if I'm already on it, I really wanna thank DH DR for all his answers, I think a lot of ppl here solved their tech problem thanks to DH, השם ישלם פעלך.

DH Data Recovery · « **Reply #103 on:** July 03, 2013, 03:16:43 PM »

That isn't a slow configuration... Try running Dell Diagnostics to determine the hardware is ok

yudamaan · « **Reply #104 on:** June 17, 2014, 11:01:48 AM »

Quote from: DH Data Recovery on August 17, 2012, 01:45:11 PM

I've been Asked to start a thread on how to speed up a Computer. I'm Approaching this topic with a Technicians view and what I do daily on multiple machines. Feel free to contribute your practices and what you've seen work.

I'm working on the assumption that you have enough time to check the computer thouroughly (If you are a technician and you're at a client you obviously dont have enough time to run a 2-3 hour hard drive test). I'm also discussing a home or small business environment - not a computer thats part of a domain (too many dif variables there). Ok here goes:

Feel Free to skip any step you feel is extra or too complicated for you.

IF YOU DONT HAVE MANY PROGRAMS - BEST SOLUTION IS ALWAYS A FRESH INSTALL OF WINDOWS (After Running Step #1 IMO)
- Especially If you're running any versions of windows other than XP or Win 7

1) RUN HARD DRIVE DIAGNOSTICS
- This is a leading cause of a computer slowing drastically, especially when it happens suddenly. I have saved hundreds of systems by detecting a bad hard drive before it completely failed, its inexpesive to replace and you can save 99% of the data when you detect it early. I riun this test first for 2 reasons. 1- If the drive is failing it can go from working slowly to failing completely without any warning (actually slowing down usually is a warning). 2- If the drive is bad you are wasting all your tim,e trying to detect viruses etc when the cause of your problem is still there.

You can also run memory tests but 90% of the time if the memory is bad you would see a problem i.e. BlueScreen etc

2) Install CCleaner and remove all Temp files I also Use this to disable or deleted any unwanted startup Items (I prefer this over manipulating the MSCONFIG)
- I usually start the computer in safe mode with networking - works faster and doesn't load most viruses

3) Install and Run Malwarebytes
- I do this after running ccleaner that way you don't have to scan thousands of temp files.

4) If you find any Viruses Run Combofix
- It's the most powerful virus removal tool out there.

5) Clean Internet Browsers
- Lose the Add-Ons and Toolbars

6) Install and Run a Defrag utility
- YES Defragmenting Isn't just a myth It makes a real diff many times.

7) Delete ALL Registry Cleaners and Boosters and Tune-up utilities, Also make sure you're running 1 (ONLY 1) Anti-virus
- The more the "messier"

8 ) Check Ram Upgradeability
- Ram in some RAM

To be continued>>>

I see you wrote here to use combo fix if your computer has any viruses on it. Are there any risks that I'm taking by using combo fix, as I have been told here by dd user DanH that it should only be used as a last resort , thank you

DH Data Recovery · « **Reply #105 on:** June 17, 2014, 11:46:01 AM »

We used to use it all the time as it was one of the only really powerful tools out there for many viruses. Now they have some new tools like JRT etc that help for many of the common pop ups and viruses.

yudamaan · « **Reply #106 on:** June 17, 2014, 01:44:01 PM »

Quote from: DH Data Recovery on June 17, 2014, 11:46:01 AM

We used to use it all the time as it was one of the only really powerful tools out there for many viruses. Now they have some new tools like JRT etc that help for many of the common pop ups and viruses.

I originally had viruses and pc did not recognize any Wi-Fi connection so I ran mwb and combo fix and my computer got rid of the viruses and was pretty quick, but the Wi-Fi issue was still not fixed so I did system restore to when I last had a Wi-Fi connection. Then I ran mwb and for some reason this time around it fixed my Wi-Fi issue but the pc is very slow, so I ran ccleaner and jrt, but it's still slow. Now I want to run combo fix, what risks an I taking?

notanonymous · « **Reply #107 on:** June 17, 2014, 02:45:39 PM »

Quote from: yudamaan on June 17, 2014, 01:44:01 PM

I originally had viruses and pc did not recognize any Wi-Fi connection so I ran mwb and combo fix and my computer got rid of the viruses and was pretty quick, but the Wi-Fi issue was still not fixed so I did system restore to when I last had a Wi-Fi connection. Then I ran mwb and for some reason this time around it fixed my Wi-Fi issue but the pc is very slow, so I ran ccleaner and jrt, but it's still slow. Now I want to run combo fix, what risks an I taking?

IMO, I would not run combofix just because it is slow. Do you have enough RAM? HD? Slow all of the time, only on internet? Pop-ups? Did you blow out the computer? Depending on the answer to thise questions, I would do more troubleshooting before combofix (or other scans).

yudamaan · « **Reply #108 on:** June 17, 2014, 03:05:26 PM »

Quote from: notanonymous on June 17, 2014, 02:45:39 PM

IMO, I would not run combofix just because it is slow. Do you have enough RAM? HD? Slow all of the time, only on internet? Pop-ups? Did you blow out the computer? Depending on the answer to thise questions, I would do more troubleshooting before combofix (or other scans).

Thanks, I have 4 gb of ram, and got rid of all the pop ups, and it's only slow on the internet, and it isn't my router cause I have other devices that work just fine.also what do mean by "blow out the computer"

notanonymous · « **Reply #109 on:** June 17, 2014, 07:18:28 PM »

Quote from: yudamaan on June 17, 2014, 03:05:26 PM

Thanks, I have 4 gb of ram, and got rid of all the pop ups, and it's only slow on the internet, and it isn't my router cause I have other devices that work just fine.also what do mean by "blow out the computer"

Dust on the fans of the computer can prevent the cooling from working, thereby slowing your computer. But if it only slow on the internet, nevermind. Have you tried different browsers? Is this wired or wireless? Whichever one, try the other way. Try reinstalling drivers.

YG · « **Reply #110 on:** July 27, 2015, 09:05:49 AM »

My laptop suddenly got much slower, =to the point that it is quite frustrating.

It is a couple of years old, but has been well maintained and treated kindly.
HP Envy, core i7
1 GB HDD -- 733 GB free
25 GB SSD for OS
8 GB RAM
Win 8.1

checked both HDDs (using the check button in the properties>tools for each drive) and scan reported all clear for both.
ran CCleaner (which I do relatively regularly)
defrag - reported 0% fragmented on both HDDs
checked with MWB - all clear
did avast boot time scan, all clear

Still painfully slow.

This has happened once before and I did a total restore and it helped, but I really do not want to have to reinstall everything again (files were not erased but programs were). that is hours and houirs of work that Id rather avoid if I can.

Any suggestions?

DanH · « **Reply #111 on:** July 27, 2015, 12:00:24 PM »

What's going on in task manager? Send snapshot (use process explorer -- https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx )
Autoruns? Send full list -- https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx

YG · « **Reply #112 on:** July 28, 2015, 06:36:59 PM »

Firstly, thank you for responding and for your preparedness to help!!

I have attached a screenshot of the list of processes using the first link you provided.
Should I expand all the expandable items to show the most complete version of the list?

I ran the autoruns one aswell, but the list was about 5 schreenshots long :-/
Should I post them all?

I deselected most of the options in the startup in CCleaner, only left four selected.
I guess autoruns are something else.

DanH · « **Reply #113 on:** July 28, 2015, 06:51:00 PM »

Don't do screenshots. Go to File - Save or export.

YG · « **Reply #114 on:** July 28, 2015, 08:22:03 PM »

I am attaching the .txt version of the autoruns file, because the .arm was 7.2 MB and wouldn't upload to the forum.

YG · « **Reply #115 on:** August 10, 2015, 07:25:49 PM »

Guess I'll just refresh and reinstall all the programs.
Thanks for trying. Appreciate the time you put in.

Shmiels · « **Reply #116 on:** May 05, 2025, 02:50:46 PM »

hi,
is any of those tips mentioned here still relevant?

Jojo202 · « **Reply #117 on:** May 05, 2025, 03:57:28 PM »

Quote from: Shmiels on May 05, 2025, 02:50:46 PM

hi,
is any of those tips mentioned here still relevant?

Start with background/startup processes

What type of issues are you having?

Shmiels · « **Reply #118 on:** May 05, 2025, 04:05:01 PM »

am using an old laptop that's still running windows 7 and very slow. I installed Avast free AV and it supposedly cleaned out some viruses but it's still slow. i guess I'll see which programs run at startup - just wanted to make sure the process didn't change in the last 10 years.
Thanks

Yo ssi · « **Reply #119 on:** May 05, 2025, 04:25:09 PM »

Quote from: Shmiels on May 05, 2025, 04:05:01 PM

am using an old laptop that's still running windows 7 and very slow. I installed Avast free AV and it supposedly cleaned out some viruses but it's still slow. i guess I'll see which programs run at startup - just wanted to make sure the process didn't change in the last 10 years.
Thanks

Avast should slow it down significantly. Time for an upgrade?