Slow Computer

U

user87

New Member
Computer Specs:

COMPAQ Presario

5WV280
5000 Series

900MHz AMD Athlon Processor
128 MB Memory
30.0GB Hard Drive
CD-ROM Drive
CD-RW Drive
8MB Nvidia TNT2 Graphics
56K Modem
10/100 Mb PCI NIC

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I got this desktop computer in [year] 2000 or 2001, and I am not a computer person. The computer loads really, really slow, especially opening programs. I often try to run the disk defragment, but I can leave the computer on for an entire day and disk defragment will still have not finished scanning/running. Once, I tried partitioning it, but I guess that was a bad idea. I think I messed this computer up. I want to format the computer, but I don't exactly know how. The CD will SOMETIMES load, or I'll get to the black screen and I don't know how to make the CD load even though I set the CD-ROM drive to load first. Also, I wonder if this computer needs more RAM. Would anyone like to help me with my computer troubles? Any advice would be of great help.
 
lol i remember i had a gateway with 60 mb a ram. used to run 3.1
the only game it supported was the orignal Where in the world is Carman Sandiago.
 
When I bought the computer, it was Windows ME. Now, it's a Windows XP.

But I seriously think I messed this computer up when I tried partitioning it that one time. Can this computer be fixed?
 
any computer can be fixed if it has no hardware deformaties.

If you really want to start from scratch, just zero out the hard drive and reinstall windows. Then you can say you have a BRAND NEW 900MHz AMD Athlon Processor
128 MB Memory
30.0GB Hard Drive
CD-ROM Drive
CD-RW Drive
8MB Nvidia TNT2 Graphics
56K Modem
10/100 Mb PCI NIC
computer. Not to many people can say that anymore.
 
user87 said:
When I bought the computer, it was Windows ME. Now, it's a Windows XP.

But I seriously think I messed this computer up when I tried partitioning it that one time. Can this computer be fixed?
Click to expand...

Windows XP is a huge memory hog. Your problem is 128 MB RAM. Your computer is going to be ultra slow with XP.
 
HAHAHA, im retarded, i missed him saying he's running xp.. 256 barely does the job. LMFAO

With 256, you have roughly 110mb ram left over only after closing most proccess and clearing your ram. Usually your working with 30-60 mb of ram after start up.

I can imagine with a 128.
 
Alphatronix said:
any computer can be fixed if it has no hardware deformaties.

If you really want to start from scratch, just zero out the hard drive and reinstall windows. Then you can say you have a BRAND NEW 900MHz AMD Athlon Processor
128 MB Memory
30.0GB Hard Drive
CD-ROM Drive
CD-RW Drive
8MB Nvidia TNT2 Graphics
56K Modem
10/100 Mb PCI NIC
computer. Not to many people can say that anymore.
Click to expand...

How can I do this? I don't have any 'important' documents and whatnot on the computer, so I don't care if I "lose" anything. All I care about is fixing this darn computer and having it run "normal" again! (I'm a computer noob!) I want to uninstall every program on the computer, but nothing opens (that, or it takes forever to load. It's so upsetting that I just turn the computer off and leave it alone. I can't even use the computer.). I'm stuck and don't know what to do. And I knew it was the RAM, the memory problem! But I had no idea the operating system played a part in all of this. Can I just buy RAM at CompUSA or something? Will this sorta fix my problem?

Just out of curiosity, what'ya mean by "then you can say you have a brand new 900MHz.......not too many people can say that anymore"? Is this a good thing? I'd really like it if I can try to fix this and say, "I have a brand new 900MHz Athlon Processor"!

Is it possible to "downgrade" operating systems, go from XP to ME?

And FYI, I'm a girl.
 
Last edited:
You don't want to go to Me, you'll have waaaay more problems with that OS... As for cleaning up the computer/getting rid of everything: Take the Windows CD that came with the computer and stick it in the cd tray. Go into the BIOS (turn on the computer and press F8 before you see the Windows screen as soon as you turn on the computer) and change the boot order so that the computer boots from the CD drive first. Save changes and exit, then follow the instructions for reinstalling the OS from there should take about an hour or so from start to finish. Also, when you are finished go back into the BIOS and change the boot order back so that it boots the way it was when you changed it the first time. Otherwise, the computer will want to boot from the CD all the time... :D
 
Is it possible to "downgrade" operating systems, go from XP to ME?

And FYI, I'm a girl.[/QUOTE]


You could go to Win.2000
 
Even if I reinstall XP, won't I still have trouble because of the RAM?

Does anyone know anything about partitioning? Would this be enough space/anything wrong:

28624 MB Disk 0 at Id 0 on bus 0 on atapi [MBR]
C: Partition1 [NTFS] 28623 MB ( 5421 MB free )
76319 MB Disk 0 at Id 1 on bus 0 on atapi [MBR]
D: Partition1 [Unknown] 76319 MB ( 76318 MB free )

BY THE WAY, THANKS FOR ALL THE FEEDBACK!
 
i actually used to have a 2001 or 2002 dell pentium 4 with only 128 ram in it, and it ran xp just fine also some pretty decent games too with a little lag.
 
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