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optimizing one's computer

Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 4:03 pm
by gchristie
My PC is getting on in years, and I've maxed out the allowable upgrades to the motherboard. It limps along well enough. Using Windows XP home edition, 2.0 MB RAM Dell Inspirion 2400. Considered Old School these days, but we're kinda attached.

I periodically use the system tools Disk Cleaner and Disk Defragmenter, and use AVG Free 8.5 to regularly scan and remove malware, etc.

There are tools to clean up the registry, start up menu and other things like that but I'm anxious about unintended consequences of using them.

My question, what kinds of upkeep do folks recommend to keep older systems near peak performance that are either free or relatively low cost?

Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 4:13 pm
by Generalisimo
Well, a registry cleaner is a must for an old computer usnig XP. ;)

Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 4:36 pm
by Gray_Lensman
deleted

Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 4:48 pm
by gchristie
Forgot the most relevant piece of information, my teenage daughter using the PC!

Thanks guys. Is it appropriate to recommend a registry cleaning product in this forum? If not, can you PM me with a recommendation?

Appreciate it.

Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 6:28 pm
by Carnium
I'm using recently discovered free (non pro) version of programs from this company:
http://www.iobit.com/

This one is worth a try if you need more system resources to play your games and it is FREE:
http://www.iobit.com/gamebooster.html

Good luck :thumbsup:

Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 8:43 pm
by Franciscus
CCleaner is a great program to optimize the registry and clean the hard disk, and never gave me any problems.
And it is free.

http://www.ccleaner.com/

(they also have a great defrag program, also free - Defraggler)

Regards

Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:11 pm
by gchristie
Thanks for the replies, gentlemen.

Losing Computer Files?!!

Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 8:32 pm
by tagwyn
Hello: Merry Christmas all!! I am losing computer files off of my desktop including all my AGEOD games. I defregmented my files. Nothing seems to help. Any ideas? t :thumbsup:

Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 11:58 am
by Carnium
tagwyn wrote:Hello: Merry Christmas all!! I am losing computer files off of my desktop including all my AGEOD games. I defregmented my files. Nothing seems to help. Any ideas? t :thumbsup:

Yes. Stop drinking as alcohol and computers don't go along too well :D

Another tip

Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 4:22 pm
by gchristie
Found this very useful site with many recommendations on how to get the most out of Windows XP, especially for older machines.

http://www.pctoptips.co.uk/toptips/tt01xp.html

According to the site, the Windows XP defrag utility does not defrag the registry. They recommend this free product that does just that http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/.

Make sure you set a restore point before defragging the registry.

Optimizing Computer!

Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 6:46 pm
by tagwyn
Thanks for the advice. I'll have to reload my AGEOD games using info I gratefully received from Pocus. HOPE they will stick this time. :p apy: :bonk: