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FrankV
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 Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 2:36 pm Post subject: Re: How to Tune-up a PC |
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I have Dell 4400 (slightly older than yours.) I was having similar problems
and the best answer was the re-install cd that came with it. Then I ran
Microsoft update to download everything after the SP1 on the cd. Speed
overall is back to the original. It didn't affect any installed programs
other than Microsoft Office which I simply re-installed.
FrankV
"Richard in Va." <reaton@aol.com> wrote in message
news:uPyZfw7AIHA.4984@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
| Quote: | 3-4 years ago, I helped a friend buy a new PC, a Dell Dimension 4550 w/
XP-home. The years have taken it's toll and it's really running slow.
We've removed a bunch of apps via Add/Remove Programs and installed Norton
360 for virus protection then defragged. This has help alot, but nothing
like when it was new out-of-the-box.
Can someone recommend a web site or utility that can go thru and fix-up
things. I realize he still has all the MS updates including SP-2 and
such, should we remove these along with other stuff from C:\ (not
un-installing)?
Thanks for any advise,
Richard in VA.
++++++++++++++++++
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Richard In Va.
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 11:22 am Post subject: Re: How to Tune-up a PC |
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Thanks FrankV,
My friend can't find his Dell restore CD..., oh well...!
Richard in VA.
+++++++++++
"FrankV" <vze32975@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:OTTs0YCCIHA.5752@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
| Quote: | I have Dell 4400 (slightly older than yours.) I was having similar problems
and the best answer was the re-install cd that came with it. Then I ran
Microsoft update to download everything after the SP1 on the cd. Speed
overall is back to the original. It didn't affect any installed programs
other than Microsoft Office which I simply re-installed.
FrankV
"Richard in Va." <reaton@aol.com> wrote in message
news:uPyZfw7AIHA.4984@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
3-4 years ago, I helped a friend buy a new PC, a Dell Dimension 4550 w/
XP-home. The years have taken it's toll and it's really running slow.
We've removed a bunch of apps via Add/Remove Programs and installed
Norton 360 for virus protection then defragged. This has help alot, but
nothing like when it was new out-of-the-box.
Can someone recommend a web site or utility that can go thru and fix-up
things. I realize he still has all the MS updates including SP-2 and
such, should we remove these along with other stuff from C:\ (not
un-installing)?
Thanks for any advise,
Richard in VA.
++++++++++++++++++
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FrankV
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Oct 08, 2007 1:28 pm Post subject: Re: How to Tune-up a PC |
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You should be able to get a new CD from Dell. Click on "My Account" at
www.dell.com and you get all the information that would be needed.
FrankV
"Richard In Va." <Reply-none@aol.com> wrote in message
news:eei%23b2ZCIHA.4308@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
| Quote: | Thanks FrankV,
My friend can't find his Dell restore CD..., oh well...!
Richard in VA.
+++++++++++
"FrankV" <vze32975@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:OTTs0YCCIHA.5752@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
I have Dell 4400 (slightly older than yours.) I was having similar
problems and the best answer was the re-install cd that came with it. Then
I ran Microsoft update to download everything after the SP1 on the cd.
Speed overall is back to the original. It didn't affect any installed
programs other than Microsoft Office which I simply re-installed.
FrankV
"Richard in Va." <reaton@aol.com> wrote in message
news:uPyZfw7AIHA.4984@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
3-4 years ago, I helped a friend buy a new PC, a Dell Dimension 4550 w/
XP-home. The years have taken it's toll and it's really running slow.
We've removed a bunch of apps via Add/Remove Programs and installed
Norton 360 for virus protection then defragged. This has help alot, but
nothing like when it was new out-of-the-box.
Can someone recommend a web site or utility that can go thru and fix-up
things. I realize he still has all the MS updates including SP-2 and
such, should we remove these along with other stuff from C:\ (not
un-installing)?
Thanks for any advise,
Richard in VA.
++++++++++++++++++
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Paul MR
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 8:22 am Post subject: Re: How to Tune-up a PC |
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Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
| Quote: | On Mon, 01 Oct 2007 11:48:19 -0500, Rick <fsholbrook@yahoo.com> wrote:
Shenan Stanley wrote:
Rick wrote:
SpyBot may be free but, it does not do a very good job of removing
all spyware. In the latest tests I have seen it was rated "poor"
A better free program is Windows Defender from MS. It was rated
much higher than SpyBot (See PC World Oct '07)
No single antispyware application removes all threats (or even identifies
all threats.) In fact - as far as prevention of infestation goes - common
sense computing would rate higher than all of the antispyware applications
combined. In any case- recommending only one Antispyware application -
especially for cleanup - will *not* work.
As for the reviews of PC World... *shrug* I would still recommend people
use the following applications to cleanup an infestation (and some of these
would prevent some future infestations..) - in no order...
- Lavasoft Ad-Aware
- Spybot Search & Destroy
- SuperAntiSpyware
- CWShredder
- SpywareBlaster
- IESpyAd2
- HijackThis!
Ad-Aware, Spybot S&D and SuperAntiSpyware should get most infestations
cleaned up on their own. Sometimes you will need CWShredder and HijackThis
as well. Spybot S&D, IESpyAd2 and SpywareBlaster can help 'common sense
computing' by eliminating the possibility of visiting certain infested
pages/etc.
I would say that in general you are correct; However, head to head tests
are a good indication about the effectiveness of almost anything.
That depends entirely on who runs the tests, and what their levels of
skill and discernment are, as well as how free of bias they are. In
general, I have very little respect for reviews in magazines like PC
World, PC Magazine, etc.
It would be helpful to know which reviews you do respect. |
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Poprivet`
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 4:55 pm Post subject: Re: How to Tune-up a PC |
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Paul MR wrote:
| Quote: | Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
On Mon, 01 Oct 2007 11:48:19 -0500, Rick
fsholbrook@yahoo.com
wrote:
Shenan Stanley wrote:
Rick wrote:
SpyBot may be free but, it does not do a very
good job of removing
all spyware. In the latest tests I have seen it
was rated "poor"
A better free program is Windows Defender from
MS. It was rated
much higher than SpyBot (See PC World Oct '07)
No single antispyware application removes all
threats (or even
identifies all threats.) In fact - as far as
prevention of
infestation goes - common sense computing would
rate higher than
all of the antispyware applications combined. In
any case-
recommending only one Antispyware application -
especially for
cleanup - will *not* work. As for the reviews of
PC World... *shrug* I would still
recommend people use the following applications to
cleanup an
infestation (and some of these would prevent some
future
infestations..) - in no order... - Lavasoft
Ad-Aware
- Spybot Search & Destroy
- SuperAntiSpyware
- CWShredder
- SpywareBlaster
- IESpyAd2
- HijackThis!
Ad-Aware, Spybot S&D and SuperAntiSpyware should
get most
infestations cleaned up on their own. Sometimes
you will need
CWShredder and HijackThis as well. Spybot S&D,
IESpyAd2 and
SpywareBlaster can help 'common sense computing'
by eliminating
the possibility of visiting certain infested
pages/etc.
I would say that in general you are correct;
However, head to head
tests are a good indication about the
effectiveness of almost
anything.
That depends entirely on who runs the tests, and
what their levels of
skill and discernment are, as well as how free of
bias they are. In
general, I have very little respect for reviews in
magazines like PC
World, PC Magazine, etc.
It would be helpful to know which reviews you do
respect.
|
When I have the personal experience to rely on, I
respect my own reviews over anyone else's. Mags aren't
useless, in general aren't biased, but sometimes are
poorly tested so results may vary widely, but you do
get an overall feeling for at least the reliability and
user-friendliness from them even if you disagree with
them.
All that said, I agree 100% with Shenan except I've
never used SuperAntiSpyware and IE DpyAd2, and I like
the protections offered by WinPatol. Since I *do*
respect Shenan's opinions for the most part, in this
case I'd be willing to try those others too, if I
thought I had any need; I'm pretty sure they can't
hurt, and I may do that someday.
IMO it's irrelevant what another user "respects" based
on an opinion of one or two. So, that's my 2 ¢ for
what it's worth.
Pop` |
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Ken Blake, MVP
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 5:54 pm Post subject: Re: How to Tune-up a PC |
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On Tue, 11 Dec 2007 11:55:55 -0500, "Poprivet`"
<poprivet@devnull.spamcop.net> wrote:
| Quote: | That depends entirely on who runs the tests, and
what their levels of
skill and discernment are, as well as how free of
bias they are. In
general, I have very little respect for reviews in
magazines like PC
World, PC Magazine, etc.
It would be helpful to know which reviews you do
respect.
When I have the personal experience to rely on, I
respect my own reviews over anyone else's.
|
I'm the one he asked (although I missed his original question), so
I'll throw in my two cents. Me too; personal experience is always
best. Second to that are opinions of other individuals who I know and
respect.
| Quote: | Mags aren't
useless,
|
As reviews, they are close to useless, in my opinion (except for the
point below).
| Quote: | in general aren't biased,
|
I strongly disagree. Any magazine that derives a large percentage of
its income from advertising *has* to be biased.
| Quote: | but sometimes are
poorly tested
|
That is also true.
| Quote: | so results may vary widely, but you do
get an overall feeling for at least the reliability and
user-friendliness from them even if you disagree with
them.
|
My view is that the only real value of a magazine review is its
description of a product. For example, if a review tells me what
features a product has and what features are missing, I get to
immediately make some sort of a judgment based on what features I
personally would be likely to use and find important.
--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup |
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Paul MR
Guest
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 7:19 pm Post subject: Re: How to Tune-up a PC |
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Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
| Quote: | On Tue, 11 Dec 2007 11:55:55 -0500, "Poprivet`"
poprivet@devnull.spamcop.net> wrote:
That depends entirely on who runs the tests, and
what their levels of
skill and discernment are, as well as how free of
bias they are. In
general, I have very little respect for reviews in
magazines like PC
World, PC Magazine, etc.
It would be helpful to know which reviews you do
respect.
When I have the personal experience to rely on, I
respect my own reviews over anyone else's.
I'm the one he asked (although I missed his original question), so
I'll throw in my two cents. Me too; personal experience is always
best. Second to that are opinions of other individuals who I know and
respect.
Mags aren't
useless,
As reviews, they are close to useless, in my opinion (except for the
point below).
in general aren't biased,
I strongly disagree. Any magazine that derives a large percentage of
its income from advertising *has* to be biased.
but sometimes are
poorly tested
That is also true.
so results may vary widely, but you do
get an overall feeling for at least the reliability and
user-friendliness from them even if you disagree with
them.
My view is that the only real value of a magazine review is its
description of a product. For example, if a review tells me what
features a product has and what features are missing, I get to
immediately make some sort of a judgment based on what features I
personally would be likely to use and find important.
Thanks for your response, Ken. And also poprivet. As someone who is |
not in the computer biz, I am always on the look-out for trustworthy
authorities. I lack sufficient knowledge or spare time to distinguish
valuable writings from the garbage, so I thought I'd ask.
Paul in San Francisco |
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Ken Blake, MVP
Guest
|
| Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 7:30 pm Post subject: Re: How to Tune-up a PC |
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On Tue, 11 Dec 2007 11:19:40 -0800, Paul MR <mbm701@yahoo.com> wrote:
| Quote: | Ken Blake, MVP wrote:
On Tue, 11 Dec 2007 11:55:55 -0500, "Poprivet`"
poprivet@devnull.spamcop.net> wrote:
That depends entirely on who runs the tests, and
what their levels of
skill and discernment are, as well as how free of
bias they are. In
general, I have very little respect for reviews in
magazines like PC
World, PC Magazine, etc.
It would be helpful to know which reviews you do
respect.
When I have the personal experience to rely on, I
respect my own reviews over anyone else's.
I'm the one he asked (although I missed his original question), so
I'll throw in my two cents. Me too; personal experience is always
best. Second to that are opinions of other individuals who I know and
respect.
Mags aren't
useless,
As reviews, they are close to useless, in my opinion (except for the
point below).
in general aren't biased,
I strongly disagree. Any magazine that derives a large percentage of
its income from advertising *has* to be biased.
but sometimes are
poorly tested
That is also true.
so results may vary widely, but you do
get an overall feeling for at least the reliability and
user-friendliness from them even if you disagree with
them.
My view is that the only real value of a magazine review is its
description of a product. For example, if a review tells me what
features a product has and what features are missing, I get to
immediately make some sort of a judgment based on what features I
personally would be likely to use and find important.
Thanks for your response, Ken. And also poprivet. As someone who is
not in the computer biz, I am always on the look-out for trustworthy
authorities. I lack sufficient knowledge or spare time to distinguish
valuable writings from the garbage, so I thought I'd ask.
|
You're welcome. There's no question that it can be very hard to
separate the wheat from the chaff, and the less knowledge you have in
the subject, the harder it is.
--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup |
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