Really Slow Working Comp
UltimaGecko
hates endnotes Join Date: 2003-05-14 Member: 16320Members
hates endnotes Join Date: 2003-05-14 Member: 16320Members
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">...and unresponsiveness</div> First, I'll start out with my basic system specs:
AMD Athalon 2400+ 2.0ghz processor
256 MB or RAM (not sure of my bus speed; somew 133-266mhz)
...crappy Compaq motherboard
128 MB ATI Radeon 9200 (Omega 2.4.74a driver) running DirectX 9.0
Integrated Realtek AC97 Audio
Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG (...that I have no idea how to access on startup)
Windows XP (Home Edition)
Defragmented a week ago. Disk cleanup is in progress. Ad-Aware run 3 days ago.
I'm wondering if someone could help me with the following:
1-Accessing my BIOS and determining my bus speed (thought it was F2 or something, but with the screen flashing up, all I could read was Use F8 for different start up modes...all that let's me do is start in safe mod)
2-Speed up my log on time, this one is slightly complicated:
The system logs on to the 'select users' screen relatively quickly, but once you pick someone and log on, it goes incredibly slow (like, unbeliveably slow at least 2 minutes before IE will start, or steam or anything else). I have no idea what is making it so slow.
3-Speeding up my computer in general, and fixing a small problem. Everything is running slowly...it's just not starting fast...Sometimes it only responds when the mouse has been moving recently (i.e. I tried to start Steam for NS a little bit ago, and it brings up the 'Steam is logging on to Half-Life' thing, but it stalls, so I tap the mouse, then I go to do something for 2 minutes, expecting it to be done, but it's frozen there. The start menu is showing at the bottom with the picture of Gordon above it).
4-Tell me what is mandatory for startup through msconfig. There's way to much stuff on there, I know I'm not using it all. I've already disabled the ones that I know...like Quicktime and stuff. Most of them are in the WINDOWS folder or Software...do I just need the ones that are executables?
5-Any other helpful stuff you guys know of.
If you need clarification on what I'm looking for help with ...just ask, I'm the one asking for help, so I'll try to make it as clear as possible.
AMD Athalon 2400+ 2.0ghz processor
256 MB or RAM (not sure of my bus speed; somew 133-266mhz)
...crappy Compaq motherboard
128 MB ATI Radeon 9200 (Omega 2.4.74a driver) running DirectX 9.0
Integrated Realtek AC97 Audio
Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG (...that I have no idea how to access on startup)
Windows XP (Home Edition)
Defragmented a week ago. Disk cleanup is in progress. Ad-Aware run 3 days ago.
I'm wondering if someone could help me with the following:
1-Accessing my BIOS and determining my bus speed (thought it was F2 or something, but with the screen flashing up, all I could read was Use F8 for different start up modes...all that let's me do is start in safe mod)
2-Speed up my log on time, this one is slightly complicated:
The system logs on to the 'select users' screen relatively quickly, but once you pick someone and log on, it goes incredibly slow (like, unbeliveably slow at least 2 minutes before IE will start, or steam or anything else). I have no idea what is making it so slow.
3-Speeding up my computer in general, and fixing a small problem. Everything is running slowly...it's just not starting fast...Sometimes it only responds when the mouse has been moving recently (i.e. I tried to start Steam for NS a little bit ago, and it brings up the 'Steam is logging on to Half-Life' thing, but it stalls, so I tap the mouse, then I go to do something for 2 minutes, expecting it to be done, but it's frozen there. The start menu is showing at the bottom with the picture of Gordon above it).
4-Tell me what is mandatory for startup through msconfig. There's way to much stuff on there, I know I'm not using it all. I've already disabled the ones that I know...like Quicktime and stuff. Most of them are in the WINDOWS folder or Software...do I just need the ones that are executables?
5-Any other helpful stuff you guys know of.
If you need clarification on what I'm looking for help with ...just ask, I'm the one asking for help, so I'll try to make it as clear as possible.
Comments
Making Your LoGon Faster , I Had To Do This , Defrag - Format - Reinstall ... When Its Going So Slow Its Because You Have WAAAY Too Much Stuff Installed (Trust Me) Windows Xp Can Only Work Well With Less That 4GB Of Installed Programs (This Is A Fact Win98 Was Only 2GB)
I Have A 2400+ 768MB DDR 2100 , GiGaByte GA-7VRXP , A G4 Ti4800se , And A 40GB ATA100 5400rpm On IDE1 , And A 120GB Ata133 7200rpm On My Raid (Will Be 2 By Christmas) , WIndows Xp Loves Faster HDD's , My 40 Has Nothing Installed Except Windows , And My Documents + Office , Thats It , To Keep It Fast .
MSCONFIG , Under 'Startup' Nothing Is Mandatory , Unless You Have RivaTuner , Which You Can get To Startup Through Startup Folder Anyhows , Just Disable All !!
When I Had My Old 30GB As C: , It Took Over 5Mins From Clicking My Username To When I Could Actually Double Click Anything , It Was That Slow , Now It Takes Less Than 20 seconds!!
I'll Try And Think Of Some Other Stuff
Good Luck
-GiGaHerTZ
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ARG!!!! had i only known that, i would have not had to video tape my boot screen in slow-mo to see it. do you know how much time would have saved me, had i known that 4 years ago?!?!!?!
*hits self in head*
*hits self in head again*
LoL , And Video Taping Your Boot Screens , Sounds Like Something My Mad hatter Friend Would Do , His Graphics Card Bios , Flashed Amazingly Quickly On Screen , And He Tried To Record It To See What It Said , Unfortunatly , He Never Did Get A Clear Image .
-GiGaHerTZ
GET A NEW ONE!!
I made my own, top of the line, comp for $800 (no monitor)
Or, better yet, you sound like if you just up your motherbord and get more ram, you'll be smooth sailin
Fun stuff.
Okay, it was extremely helpful to know that...it only takes about 10 seconds to boot to logon and 20 seconds to open something. That is so awesome.
Going to try the pause thing....it's only there for half a second...so it might take a couple tries, lol.
[edit] With pause there's still no BIOS access...
there's only start WindowsXP Home Edition
or start Recovery System
with F8 it gives me:
Safe Mode
Safe Mode with Network Capabilities
Safe Mode with Command Prompt
Enable Boot logging
Enable VGA [something]
and then some more useless options
Where is my BIOS? what the heck? I know Windows 98 let you access it before start up, does XP require some command or something? I'd really like to know how to access it...since it is sortof important.
Thanks for the Startup Info though.
[edit]