dotTech - Topic: Need Help revamping my computer

Gioneo on Need Help revamping my computer

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 11:05:32 -0800

Almost 7yrs... Definitely time for a fresh start. Do a backup, wipe your drive clean and do a clean install.

You can even go with vista or win 7 if you want, per your specs it will handle either one of them.

Your comp has served you well all those years, you should reward it with good "make-over". No need to invest in a new one. It will be just like new.

amnesia on Need Help revamping my computer

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 20:07:33 -0800

If you haven't done it before, you should go ahead and do a fresh install. It is a hassle, but at the end of the day, well worth it.

If you did do it, here a some things to do first. Make a backup of C drive, move all your personal files onto H drive, download all the latest versions of the programs you use (put them on H drive). Depending on what programs your using you may just have to copy the installation files from C to H drive.

Here's how to install XP

Do you have a XP cd and all your drivers on cds?

There's probably more, just can't think at the moment, at least it can give you an idea of what needs doing.

otieatkins on Need Help revamping my computer

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 15:00:51 -0800

Hi Vandamme and thanks for the reply. That's a great place to start but think I will need even more due to my messed up windows. Yes, I hate to get a new computer because even though this is old, when running correctly, it's a screamer and I am very used to it.

So, I do what you suggested and then take it from there.

Thanks again....

vandamme on Need Help revamping my computer

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 07:42:19 -0800

Usually, a 7 year old computer you just replace with a new $400 one, but yours was pretty high performance for its time so it's worth saving, plus you're probably used to it.

Use the boot-speedup program that Ashraf just found (don't remember its name) to get rid of junk on startup (I saved 30 seconds!).

Run CrapCleaner and a virus checker or two (full scans).

Uninstall all the programs you don't need.

Run a registry cleaner. Or two.

Clean off all the data files you don't need; the movies you'll never watch again, the music you never really liked. Get a file-finding utility like Sequoia that shows you graphically where the big files are, then cull them.

Then defrag each partition.

If that doesn't work, ask somebody else for the procedure on moving everything and reinstalling XP, cuz I'm done. But the above is what I'd do first.

otieatkins on Need Help revamping my computer

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 03:24:04 -0800

Good Morning. Somehow I have really messed up my computer (2004 Alienware 3.6 ghz dual processor 4gb ram windows XP3). I have multiple drives - the only internal hard drive divided into 2 partitions, C - Total 86.3gb Free 7.12gb; H - Total 66.3gb Free 29gb; the 1st external is divided into 2 partitions, P - Total 473gb Free 165gb; R - Total 457gb Free 241gb; the 2nd external is divided into 2 partitions, S - Total 341gb Free 6.94gb; T - Total 1.03tb Free 44.9gb; the 3rd external is D - Total 465gb Free 109gb; the 4th external is L - Total 931gb Free 100gb.

Everything is so slow, sometimes it takes minutes to do a task. I also have lost my management disk tool so I know that my windows is messed up.

I'm thinking that I want to move everything unnessesary off the C drive and reinstall windows but I don't know what to save and what not to. Or, how to do it.

Any help/advice is deeply appreciated.