computer running slow
Discussion
Hi I wonder if any one can help me...
I have a dell Inspiron 4000 laptop, and I've recently upgraded to windows XP, however the computer is now running really slow. It has 128MB of RAM, and 9.21GB of memory, with (3.21GB free). Is it either of these that needs to be increased or something else I haven't thought of? Also if it is either of these that need upgrading does any one have an idea of how much this would cost?
Thanks!
I have a dell Inspiron 4000 laptop, and I've recently upgraded to windows XP, however the computer is now running really slow. It has 128MB of RAM, and 9.21GB of memory, with (3.21GB free). Is it either of these that needs to be increased or something else I haven't thought of? Also if it is either of these that need upgrading does any one have an idea of how much this would cost?
Thanks!
wiggy001 said:
Yep, definitely the lack of RAM to blame here (I'd imagine absolutely everything is running in virtual memory (ie the hard drive)).
Upgrade is possible and cheap, otherwise, new lappy time.
Upgrade is possible and cheap, otherwise, new lappy time.
Thing with an upgrade is.. you need to ask yourself what sort of laptop only comes with 9gb of disk and 128mb of ram.
the answer is an OLD one... so no amount of upgrades is going to make this fly, let alone run Vista when it drops out and replaces XP...
J
Thanks for the advice from both of you, I really need to do the cheapest option right now.... it is an old laptop (bought in 2000) but do you know how much an upgrade of RAM is likely to be? if it turns out that in the long run its cheaper to get a new computer I may have to do that.
Inspirion 4000,
Pentium 3, 750Mhz processor (or somewhere in that range).
The CPU has enough horsepower to run XP, just. Although you might need to turn off some of the limited eye candy.
However, CPU aside the HDD will be 4,200 RPM (or slower) and 128Mb RAM is certainly not enough for a stock install of XP to boot without eating in to swap space (most stock XP installs seem to however around the 170Mb useage).
I would go to somewhere like Dabs or Scan or a n other parts supplier and buy a larger, faster laptop HDD. I would then look at the manual and figure out what the maximum amount of RAM the system can be fitted with and if it will do it, I'd fit 512Mb of RAM.
This will improve performance of the system, however I would consider this to be a 'one shot' upgrade. After you do this the only place to go from their is a new laptop. Bear in mind that even the bottom end Dell's running Celeron processors will be faster than your P3.
Pentium 3, 750Mhz processor (or somewhere in that range).
The CPU has enough horsepower to run XP, just. Although you might need to turn off some of the limited eye candy.
However, CPU aside the HDD will be 4,200 RPM (or slower) and 128Mb RAM is certainly not enough for a stock install of XP to boot without eating in to swap space (most stock XP installs seem to however around the 170Mb useage).
I would go to somewhere like Dabs or Scan or a n other parts supplier and buy a larger, faster laptop HDD. I would then look at the manual and figure out what the maximum amount of RAM the system can be fitted with and if it will do it, I'd fit 512Mb of RAM.
This will improve performance of the system, however I would consider this to be a 'one shot' upgrade. After you do this the only place to go from their is a new laptop. Bear in mind that even the bottom end Dell's running Celeron processors will be faster than your P3.
bad news moondust. have a look here:
www.crucial.com/uk/store/listparts.asp?Mfr%2BProductline=Dell%2BInspiron&mfr=Dell&tabid=AM&model=Inspiron+4000+Series&submit=Go
Biggest memory units is 256mb, and you can fit two so that gievs you 512mb memory which is OK, but means putting your 128mb in the bin, and spending £90.
www.crucial.com/uk/store/listparts.asp?Mfr%2BProductline=Dell%2BInspiron&mfr=Dell&tabid=AM&model=Inspiron+4000+Series&submit=Go
Biggest memory units is 256mb, and you can fit two so that gievs you 512mb memory which is OK, but means putting your 128mb in the bin, and spending £90.
robdickinson said:
bad news moondust. have a look here:
www.crucial.com/uk/store/listparts.asp?Mfr%2BProductline=Dell%2BInspiron&mfr=Dell&tabid=AM&model=Inspiron+4000+Series&submit=Go
Biggest memory units is 256mb, and you can fit two so that gievs you 512mb memory which is OK, but means putting your 128mb in the bin, and spending £90.
www.crucial.com/uk/store/listparts.asp?Mfr%2BProductline=Dell%2BInspiron&mfr=Dell&tabid=AM&model=Inspiron+4000+Series&submit=Go
Biggest memory units is 256mb, and you can fit two so that gievs you 512mb memory which is OK, but means putting your 128mb in the bin, and spending £90.
This sounds like good option and probably the cheapest for me at the moment, would it be expensive to fit?
After reading all the other replies too I think I will go for a new computer when funds will allow (but not yet!) - and I don't want to spend big money on my present one. One other option I thought of (but it might be a crazy one - please tell me if it is!)is that as my laptop was running fine on windows 98 i.e. before I made the upgrade to XP, would it be possible to remove Windows XP and
reinstall Windows 98? - if this is easy to do?
This would not involve any extra expense to me and this would enable me to start using my computer again quickly and without any problems.
One possible hitch is that Dell didn't give me a W 98 disk with the laptop, it was pre loaded when purchased.
Your advice again please!
Moondust
If you have some way of restoring the laptop to factory (i.e. either recovery CD's or a recovery partition on the lappy) then yes it would be simpler and cheaper to do so. A lot of devices you can buy in the shops do come with Win98SE drivers so for the time being you would be laughing (and add the £90 to the new lappy fund).
You would of course need to backup all your data first as the only way to 'downgrade' Windows is to wipe the drive.
If you don't have either of those two methods of factory restore avaliable then..... I'm out of ideas as far as legal means go. MS don't sell Win98 anymore so it's not like you can get a copy of it from them.
You would of course need to backup all your data first as the only way to 'downgrade' Windows is to wipe the drive.
If you don't have either of those two methods of factory restore avaliable then..... I'm out of ideas as far as legal means go. MS don't sell Win98 anymore so it's not like you can get a copy of it from them.
thepassenger said:
If you have some way of restoring the laptop to factory (i.e. either recovery CD's or a recovery partition on the lappy) then yes it would be simpler and cheaper to do so. A lot of devices you can buy in the shops do come with Win98SE drivers so for the time being you would be laughing (and add the £90 to the new lappy fund).
You would of course need to backup all your data first as the only way to 'downgrade' Windows is to wipe the drive.
If you don't have either of those two methods of factory restore avaliable then..... I'm out of ideas as far as legal means go. MS don't sell Win98 anymore so it's not like you can get a copy of it from them.
You would of course need to backup all your data first as the only way to 'downgrade' Windows is to wipe the drive.
If you don't have either of those two methods of factory restore avaliable then..... I'm out of ideas as far as legal means go. MS don't sell Win98 anymore so it's not like you can get a copy of it from them.
thanks for that....I will look into seeing if its possible, hope so as like you said it would put the £90 towards a new one!
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