Lots of hard drive activity on desktop PC

Inky Pete · Post by **Inky Pete** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 10:13 pm

My desktop system seems to have slowed down quite a lot over the 3 years or so I've had it.

Quite often I'm sat there waiting for it to do something fairly straightforward like opening a new tab in Internet Explorer or switching active windows for 20 or 30 seconds while the hard drive is constantly chattering away.

I'm sure it also takes longer to boot up than it used to.

It's a Dell Dimension 3000, 2.8GHz processor with 2 x 256MB of DDR333 RAM. I've just finally managed to get XP service pack 3 to install by resetting all the registry keys (scary!!) Worth upgrading the RAM do you think?

I'm wondering if I simply don't have enough memory to run some of the modern, bloated versions of applications without the machine constantly having to go back and forth to the hard drive.

I've also read something to the effect that I've got to run 2 identical DIMMs in the machine - so I couldn't put in just 1 x 1GB and leave the other slot empty for a future further 1 GB upgrade if necessary. Is this likely to be the case? where's the best place to be buying memory these days, and how much should I be looking at paying?

thescruff · Post by **thescruff** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 10:20 pm

When did you last defrag it

Inky Pete · Post by **Inky Pete** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 10:37 pm

Couple of times in the last month or so, it wasn't badly fragmented and is only about half full (even though it's only an 80GB).

I keep most of my photos, music etc on a 500GB network drive so I can access them from my PS3 or my laptop, and all my BBC iPlayer downloads and TV progs are on the laptop so I can watch them on night shifts at work

Defraging it didn't seem to make much difference.

gasspark · Post by **gasspark** » Sun Jun 14, 2009 10:46 pm

dave.m would sort this, not know till tomorrow I think

dave.m · Post by **dave.m** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 5:12 pm

Pete,
The first thing to do is clean out all the dross/temp files and folders that accumulate over the years.
Download, install and setup Ccleaner.
I have just posted setup instructions for it here

One thing to do extra, in the Cleaner section, scroll down to 'Advanced' and put a tick in 'Hotfix Uninstallers' then proceed with running the cleaner.

Once you have it setup, run the Registry Cleaner and then the Cleaner as instructed.
After cleaning, go back and remove the tick from the Hotfix Uninstallers.

Download and install Defraggler
It is a much better defrag than Windows, once installed, run it.

Once you have done that, use the Start Menu option in Ccleaner to check what is starting up when you boot up.
Open Ccleaner -> Tools -> Startup.
Have a look in that list, leave all your security programs enabled and most of the other stuff can be disabled. Don't worry if you later need something at startup, you can always go back to the list and enable it again.
All the items that you donb't know what the hell theyb are, make a note and check each one out here:
http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php
Most of the items will be listed and info will say if you need it at boot up or not.

As for your RAM, 512MB is plenty to run Windows XP but adding more will obviously hyelp speed up the processing.
Go to Crucial and run their memory scanner:
http://www.crucial.com/uk/index.aspx?cpe=CHAWKuk
It will tell you exactly what you have already installed and what you can fit. You do not need matching pairs of DIMM, depending on the munber of slots, you could fit a 1GB stick in slot 1 and your 2 x 256MB sticks in slots 3 & 4. Or for the price that Crucial charge, just buy 2 x 1GB sticks and install in 1 & 2, and leave your smaller sticks out.
Buy from Crucial because they are not much dearer than other RAM suppliers but they guarantee the ones they suggest will work on your PC and delivery is usually 2 days max.

A bit of a long one but get the cleaning done first and sort out your startup list then post back.

dave

Inky Pete · Post by **Inky Pete** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 5:25 pm

Cheers Dave.

I'd already run Ccleaner, but not with the hotfixes thing ticked.

I'd also run Startup Inspector - but to be honest I wasn't impressed. Most of the items in the list it generated it didn't know what they were, and was unable to advise whether I needed them or not.

I'll run through your instructions step by step one evening this week and let you know how I get on.

Thanks again.

scot-canuck · Post by **scot-canuck** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 12:27 am

do you run spyware checks pete?
if not then give spybot S&D a try : www.safer-networking.org

also click start, run, msconfig and get rid of some of the programs loading at start-up, frightening how much junk decides to load itself into memory at any one time

I'll second crucial as a good choice

hope that helps

Inky Pete · Post by **Inky Pete** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:00 pm

Yes, I run both Spybot S+D and Adaware every so often, and also have the fulll Norton Security suite with auto updates turned on (I've never begrudged paying for security software).

Not had chance to run through the steps Dave recommended yet, maybe I'll get home from work at a decent time tomorrow and have a chance!!

thescruff · Post by **thescruff** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:44 pm

Inky Pete wrote:Yes, I run both Spybot S+D and Adaware every so often, and also have the fulll Norton Security suite with auto updates turned on (I've never begrudged paying for security software).

Not had chance to run through the steps Dave recommended yet, maybe I'll get home from work at a decent time tomorrow and have a chance!!

Problem solved.

Norton Security suite. get rid off it when it comes up for money changing hands. your computer will be 10 x faster.

mikew1972 · Post by **mikew1972** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:49 pm

Second that. I just swapped from Norton to AVG and the computer is noticably faster.

dave.m · Post by **dave.m** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 4:58 pm

Pete,
Have to agree with them about getting rid of Norton, but firstly, which version is it?

Secondly, how did you pay for the last edition, because if it was with any card, they will automatically just take the next subscription before the present one expires unless you notify them and also instruct your card company NOT to pay Symantic anymore payments.

Thirdly, when you decide what software to use, (IMO AVG 8 is sh*te ), download the installers and save to your desktop ready to install when you have removed Norton. Some good selections here

Fourthly, download the Norton Removal Tool from:
http://tinyurl.com/6oq8f
and use it to remove Norton because just using the Add/Remove in Windows Control Panel will not shift it.

Have you sorted your startup list out yet and run the Ccleaner?
If so is there any improvement?
dave

Inky Pete · Post by **Inky Pete** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 6:29 pm

It's Norton Internet Security 2009 version 15.5.0.23.

Not had chance to go through the list of stuff you recommended yet, Dave. Pub keeps getting in the way!!!

Will do that lot before anything else and report back.

Thanks for all the help guys.

RichieP · Post by **RichieP** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 7:23 pm

Another thing that can make the hard drive seem like it's constantly doing is indexing. It does this by default to keep track of files to makes searches a little bit faster.

Turn it off by going to My Computer.

Right-click the C: drive > Properties.

Remove the tick next to "Index files...." and click OK.

Make sure you select to do all sub-folders if asked.

popeye67 · Post by **popeye67** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 5:07 am

Norton and messenger are the two main causes for computers running slow, i wouldnt wait for the license to run out get rid soon as, but use the norton removal tool like dave.m said or its a nightmare, as for memory 512mb should be fine for xp, ive run vista and windows7 on that much without probs and they need a lot more than xp, and running in dual channel doesnt make that much differece.

bigjohnuk · Post by **bigjohnuk** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 9:27 pm

One thing to also be aware of is your swapper memo area on your drive. If you are running a few applications or one application with a large document. Or watching a film. Then your RAM may be too small, thus the system will swap the what it needs between your RM and your Hard Drive. Conisder upgrade your RAM. Note XP will only support 3.3GB RAM