To defrag or not to defrag??
04-20-2009, 12:35 PM
#11
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 1,981
Originally Posted by littlehud
Originally Posted by Patty44
My son in law told me about a little device,right at the moment I have forgot what it is called.I wrote it down but can't find it now. that you can put your pictures on it is small and you can carry it on your key chain. That way it cleans off your computer.I as the guy at the pc store he had one I t hink a little over $20 I alos need to add more space to mine. Just can't get any money ahead to do it with.
04-20-2009, 12:40 PM
#12
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Southeast Georgia, USA
Posts: 9,093
this is a summary, really, of what you've read above. to speed up your computer:
1. buy as much RAM (memory) for it as the motherboard and your budget allow. everyone who's suggested that is absolutely correct. before you plunk down the dough for RAM, though, compare that cost to the price of a new computer. sometimes you're better off buying the new one. after four years, a new computer will be bazillions times faster than an old one with the maximum RAM. (obviously, a decision best made by you and your wallet. :wink: )
2. definitely run Disk Cleanup and then defrag the drive at least once a month.
if you accidentally delete a critical file, such as a .dll, you don't need to replace the computer. if you don't have that file somewhere on a backup disc, you can either reinstall the program that depends on it or run the Windows repair utility. (to do this, run the Windows setup as though you were going to install it for the first time, but choose the repair option instead.) the worst thing you'll need to do is a complete reinstallation of Windows. you CAN do that without deleting all your data files. you may have to reinstall all your programs when you're done.
3. a storage device you can hang on a key chain is most likely an external USB drive (also called thumb drives, memory sticks, and jump drives.) if you copy files to the drive, the originals will stay on your hard drive until you delete them. if you MOVE the files to the external drive, you'll copy them to the external drive and automatically delete them from the hard drive. i don't usually move. i copy, and check to make sure they all stored properly to the external drive before i delete them from the hard drive.
1. buy as much RAM (memory) for it as the motherboard and your budget allow. everyone who's suggested that is absolutely correct. before you plunk down the dough for RAM, though, compare that cost to the price of a new computer. sometimes you're better off buying the new one. after four years, a new computer will be bazillions times faster than an old one with the maximum RAM. (obviously, a decision best made by you and your wallet. :wink: )
2. definitely run Disk Cleanup and then defrag the drive at least once a month.
if you accidentally delete a critical file, such as a .dll, you don't need to replace the computer. if you don't have that file somewhere on a backup disc, you can either reinstall the program that depends on it or run the Windows repair utility. (to do this, run the Windows setup as though you were going to install it for the first time, but choose the repair option instead.) the worst thing you'll need to do is a complete reinstallation of Windows. you CAN do that without deleting all your data files. you may have to reinstall all your programs when you're done.
3. a storage device you can hang on a key chain is most likely an external USB drive (also called thumb drives, memory sticks, and jump drives.) if you copy files to the drive, the originals will stay on your hard drive until you delete them. if you MOVE the files to the external drive, you'll copy them to the external drive and automatically delete them from the hard drive. i don't usually move. i copy, and check to make sure they all stored properly to the external drive before i delete them from the hard drive.
04-20-2009, 12:43 PM
#13
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 18,726
Originally Posted by grammo013
Good to run on the main menu. Type in prefetch. It will bring up a ton of things that need to be deleted. Delete everything there. It will speed up your computer a lot. It is just where things wwe look at get stored.
And I think I am going to buy a few USB sticks to save all my embroidery stuff on and another for pics. That way if..not when something bad happens to the machine..I won't loose all my stuff.
Thanks all!
04-20-2009, 12:45 PM
#15
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 18,726
Thanks Patrice...I am thinking that I'll just go ahead and buy a new laptop...they really do want to sell them right now with the economy being bad and all. When things improve, I might not be able to get as good of a deal on one. :wink:
04-20-2009, 12:45 PM
#16
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 114
I think Patty44 might be talking about a flash drive or some people call them thumb drives. They are about the size of your thumb and you can transfer files from one computer to another and they are usually sold on a lanyard or as a keychain attachment. I have one on a lanyard and I use it to transfer files from my laptop to my PC.
04-20-2009, 01:57 PM
#17
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: SW Iowa
Posts: 32,855
Originally Posted by PatriceJ
this is a summary, really, of what you've read above. to speed up your computer:
1. buy as much RAM (memory) for it as the motherboard and your budget allow. everyone who's suggested that is absolutely correct. before you plunk down the dough for RAM, though, compare that cost to the price of a new computer. sometimes you're better off buying the new one. after four years, a new computer will be bazillions times faster than an old one with the maximum RAM. (obviously, a decision best made by you and your wallet. :wink: )
2. definitely run Disk Cleanup and then defrag the drive at least once a month.
if you accidentally delete a critical file, such as a .dll, you don't need to replace the computer. if you don't have that file somewhere on a backup disc, you can either reinstall the program that depends on it or run the Windows repair utility. (to do this, run the Windows setup as though you were going to install it for the first time, but choose the repair option instead.) the worst thing you'll need to do is a complete reinstallation of Windows. you CAN do that without deleting all your data files. you may have to reinstall all your programs when you're done.
3. a storage device you can hang on a key chain is most likely an external USB drive (also called thumb drives, memory sticks, and jump drives.) if you copy files to the drive, the originals will stay on your hard drive until you delete them. if you MOVE the files to the external drive, you'll copy them to the external drive and automatically delete them from the hard drive. i don't usually move. i copy, and check to make sure they all stored properly to the external drive before i delete them from the hard drive.
1. buy as much RAM (memory) for it as the motherboard and your budget allow. everyone who's suggested that is absolutely correct. before you plunk down the dough for RAM, though, compare that cost to the price of a new computer. sometimes you're better off buying the new one. after four years, a new computer will be bazillions times faster than an old one with the maximum RAM. (obviously, a decision best made by you and your wallet. :wink: )
2. definitely run Disk Cleanup and then defrag the drive at least once a month.
if you accidentally delete a critical file, such as a .dll, you don't need to replace the computer. if you don't have that file somewhere on a backup disc, you can either reinstall the program that depends on it or run the Windows repair utility. (to do this, run the Windows setup as though you were going to install it for the first time, but choose the repair option instead.) the worst thing you'll need to do is a complete reinstallation of Windows. you CAN do that without deleting all your data files. you may have to reinstall all your programs when you're done.
3. a storage device you can hang on a key chain is most likely an external USB drive (also called thumb drives, memory sticks, and jump drives.) if you copy files to the drive, the originals will stay on your hard drive until you delete them. if you MOVE the files to the external drive, you'll copy them to the external drive and automatically delete them from the hard drive. i don't usually move. i copy, and check to make sure they all stored properly to the external drive before i delete them from the hard drive.
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