Why is a "modern" computer running so slow?

Question

I have a somewhat modern Dell Latitude D620 which I upgraded to 2GB of RAM and it also has a Core 2 Duo processor with a clean install of Windows XP pro (as according to product key on bottom). This machine is really slow, I ran all of the updates, scanned for viruses which turned out to be nothing. I don't know what wrong. This obviously is not the newest computer in any stretch of imagination but why is Windows XP so slow. XP originaly shipped on machines with 128 and 256MB of RAM and I thought the 2GB was very generous. I defragged the hard drive to make sure nothing got placed in weird places during install but still runs very slowly. I want to give this to my mom for mothers day tomorrow as it is in perfect condition since she does not have a "modern" computer. She won't use it for the most intense things, she likes youtube but that has no problem once the machine is up and running since the processor is new enough to handle it (even in 720!). Ubuntu (it was actually xubuntu) linux worked great should I stick with that? Just please give me suggestions on what to do to speed it up when in Windows XP, I installed Chrome as main browser so its not ie as many people annoyingly told me it was. Any thanks in advanced!

Answer 1

The D620 can handle up to 4gb of RAM - which is the amount of RAM that I see most laptops in the newspaper ads showing up with. It will also work with a Vista or Windows 7 upgrade applied over the XP (cheaper than a whole new operating system, usually). The only other way to speed it up (besides more RAM) would be to run all the updates, do a Disk Clean to minimize the size of the image (remove the extra recovery images) and then Defragment.



If you don't have the chance to get more RAM (it's Saturday evening after the stores are closed) - the Linux operating system is written with fewer lines of code, so it will run faster than the Microsoft operating system, with the rest of the hardware being equal. It is also a lot less likely to be a target for hackers and viruses - so it might not be a bad choice for your mother.



Depending on the size of the hard drive - you could split off 10 or 12 gb for Linux and leave the rest running XP, then setting it up as a dual boot. Then let your mother decide which operating system she likes the best.



XP has had it's support period extended to early of 2014 (I can't remember what month) - so it can be updated for a while longer.

Answer 2

If your mom is only going to be using it for basic stuff; like surfing the net., and you want it to be close to Windows in appearance, then go with ZorinOS http://zorin-os.com/ . Linux Mint would also be a good option http://www.linuxmint.com/ .



There are others like Sabayon or Manjaro (which run far better than Ubuntu and Ubuntu derivatives); they are very user friendly, but a little more technical.



I recommend that you go with either of the first two mentioned.

Answer 3

"upgraded to 2GB of RAM"



Maybe it started "bad" after the RAM upgrade and set its self to a default slow "limp mode" in the BIOS. You may need to set the BIOS back to full speed. May be the RAM is bad or not seated well causing the BIOS to go into limp mode.



It could also be you knocked the CPU heat sink loose. The CPU will throttle back speed because its overheating.... will run real slow if thats the problem.

Answer 4

XP-SP3 will be continued until 2014 sometime.



By all means, get her on Ubuntu right away.

It's either that, or teach her all the various baby sitting and anti-virus & anti-malware tactics that must be done everyday.

Don't sentence her to an OS that even seasoned geeks get tired of fixing all the time.

Answer 5

have you ever scanned for secret agent ware? If no longer acquire, replace and test with Spybot and Adaware. How long in view which you ran a diskcleanup? Is your force loose from fragmentation? This sickness can sluggish issues down. save a verify on frag ranges and likewise on the loose area.

Answer 6

maybe some technical problem with your pc..

it must be on a guarantee period if you bought it within the last two years.... just give it back to the company for service..

Answer 7

microsoft discontinued support for windows xp a while back, that could be the problem. but my advice is to check task manager and see what processes are consuming so much resources and see about disabling them.

Answer 8

Maybe you just have lots of viruses or don't have any firewall programs.