Speeding up my laptop

[Lamp]

I'd like to speed up my Compaq laptop. I've done the usual of increasing ram page size, reducing recycle bin storage space, deleted temp files, history, cookies, services, etc. Any other suggestions ?

I'd also like to quieten the machine - the fans are bloody noisy, and improve graphics - am I looking at a new machine ?

Thnx

 

[Ingafgrinn Macabre]

I'd like to speed up my Compaq laptop. I've done the usual of increasing ram page size, reducing recycle bin storage space, deleted temp files, history, cookies, services, etc. Any other suggestions ?

I'd also like to quieten the machine - the fans are bloody noisy, and improve graphics - am I looking at a new machine ?

Thnx

Ram page size usually doesn't have to be that big. 2~3 times your internal memory is more than enough. Reducing recycle bin storage space doesn't speed up your system really...
Temp files don't really make your pc slower. They just occupy harddrive space.

Defragmentation is pretty important.
Defrag your harddrive(s) properly (not with that bloody excuse for a defrag that microsoft supplied XP with). PerfectDisk is a good one. There are probably also a few others out there that are good, but this is the best one I've found so far.

Stop background programs that you don't use.
This will speed up your PC considerably. If you go to [Control Panel (classic view)] >> [Administrative Tools] >> [Services] You'll see all the processes on the PC.
**DO NOT MESS WITH THIS IF YOU'RE UNSURE WHAT YOU'RE DOING**
You can seriously cripple your PC if you disable the wrong processes but if you know what you're doing you'll speed up your PC quite a bit.

Open up a random folder on your PC and set its view to

• from the views dropdown menubutton on the toolbar.
  Go to [Tools] >> [Folder Options] and open the [view] tab. Click [Apply to all folders]. Now your puter won't start building icons anymore if you're accessing a directory with lots of movies, pictures or any other files it can make a preview off. (can be set to a different view on individual folders like "my pictures" etc if you so wish. To do so go to that specific folder you wish to change the view for and select the wanted view from the viewbutton on the toolbar.)
  Still on the views tab, check the bottom half, and deselect [automatically search for network folders and printers]
  Deselect [hide extensions for known file types] (won't speed up your pc, but it's just general safety, so you won't so quickly open a file like jenniferanistonsucking.jpg.exe )

 

[Lamp]

Thanks, Inga

 

[Boni]

I'd also like to quieten the machine - the fans are bloody noisy, and improve graphics - am I looking at a new machine ?

Yep, I doubt you can change the gfx or fans without incuring serious cost.

Only thing I would add to the previous post is to use both ad-aware and spybot s&d, they remove a lot of stuff that can slow down general speed.

After that your other best option is to re-install windows from scratch, depending on how long you have had the machine and how many programs you have installed sometimes that may sort things out.

 

[meerclar]

slap some ore ram in the machine, makes a massive difference and laptop ram isnt the massive expense it used to be.

 

[Darzil]

slap some ore ram in the machine, makes a massive difference and laptop ram isnt the massive expense it used to be.

Yeah, upped mine to 2Gb, no lag in Camelot (though still some inc lag in rvr, due to slow laptop hard drive).

Darzil

 

[GimmlyTheDorf]

I'd like to speed up my Compaq laptop. I've done the usual of increasing ram page size, reducing recycle bin storage space, deleted temp files, history, cookies, services, etc. Any other suggestions ?

I'd also like to quieten the machine - the fans are bloody noisy, and improve graphics - am I looking at a new machine ?

Thnx

You can get ram dirt cheap as already said but it isn't the most funnist thing taking apart a lappy esp Compaq’s there are about 5 million screws. If you wanting to upgrade graphics and fans etc you might as well just build a cheap desktop unless you have to have a lappy then just *shudder* buy a dell gaming laptop. Dell seems to be currently the best in the Laptop department as far as I know but I’m no Laptop expert.

 

[Ingafgrinn Macabre]

Thanks, Inga

You're welcome
and heh... you know some dutch?

 

[Mojo]

Page file should be 1.5 time ram, anything more can cause too many pages and slow down ur machine.

run msconfig go into startup and stop all the un required apps from starting with the system. This can free up lots of recources if it's something u never monitor.

edit, as has been mentioned defrag your drive, this is not as important for newer desktop systems as it used to be, but for laptops that still have 5400rpm -7200rpm drives its very important.

 

[evzy]

Handy Tool

Try this as well - comes in handy, ran it through my PC and I am sure it boots up quicker now - might be wishful thinking Cleans up some harddrive space etc as well..

 

[Mojo]

Handy Tool

Try this as well - comes in handy, ran it through my PC and I am sure it boots up quicker now - might be wishful thinking Cleans up some harddrive space etc as well..

That is a good tool indeed, I use it in work along with some others tools to spring clean the more problamatic pc's.