New Dell w / WinXP Pro running slow [bells and whistles] [new dell]
Q: I have a new Dell with all the bells and whistles and it runs very slow. When I try to open a program on the computer actually looks like he thinking about what to do. It normally takes 6-15 seconds to get my programs to open. What can I do to the system (I know its a Dell)
TIA tweak
The New Millennium Gold Rush Trading System
Re:use msconfig as soon as you get a new computer and disable all the startup items
High Performance Barefoot Trimming
Re:Originally posted by: guy
Or use my method – get it via UPS, turn it on once to make sure things are working, then shut down, install loads more ram, format HD, fresh install windows. Suddenly it's a very nice computer!
Fresh install… using the Dell recovery CD?
I just got a new lappy 
The New Nostradamus
Re:This procedure should be followed with all "pre-built" computers, be it Dell, HP, Compaq, etc… Sometimes I think the manufacturers goal is to use as much hard drive space and put as many icons on your desktop as humanly possible. The change in the speed of the computer can be quite astounding!
Originally posted by: guy
Or use my method – get it via UPS, turn it on once to make sure things are working, then shut down, install loads more ram, format HD, fresh install windows. Suddenly it's a very nice computer!
The Good News of New Beginnings
Re:What model of DELL is it? You don't happen to be Joe Sanders with LCSNW, by any chance…?
edit: and by the way, if it's the GX60, it's a losing battle. You're up against these factors:
Celeron CPU (very poor performers compared to a Pentium4, Duron or AthlonXP)
Single-channel DDR memory (a serious hindrance to Intel's CPUs, which should be equipped with dual-channel DDR or RDRAM for proper performance)
Onboard video fighting the CPU for the memory bandwidth and a chunk of the memory space
Slower i845GL chipset
No AGP slot, so no way to add in an AGP card and fix the onboard-video-fighting-the-CPU problem
Wowzy WinXP interface with a bunch of performance-sucking animations and junk, which you could fix by right-clicking the Start button and setting the interface to Windows Classic and disabling all the animations
And of course, being a Dell, it's got a slow-but-quiet hard drive, which you could fix by replacing the hard drive
New: The Info Product Model
Re:Or use my method – get it via UPS, turn it on once to make sure things are working, then shut down, install loads more ram, format HD, fresh install windows. Suddenly it's a very nice computer!
A Second Home In New Zealand.
Re:Originally posted by: guy
Just to check… even though you say it has all the bells and whistles, how much ram? I know most dells come w/ only 128 or so standard, which is no way near enough for XP.
Dell seriously has issues with not having enough RAM for most systems they sell. Include that with all the preloaded garbage they add, and you got yourself a machine hurt before it even gets broken in.
Look into a memory upgrade, and also try getting rid of the uneeded apps that run on startup by typing "msconfig" in the RUN window.
It might sound like I am pissed with Dell, but in fact Dell keeps my tech support business busy.
The New World Order Assimilation Dossier
Re:Originally posted by: fredtam
Celeron?LOL, could be one of those too.
The New Science of Abundance
Re:Just to check… even though you say it has all the bells and whistles, how much ram? I know most dells come w/ only 128 or so standard, which is no way near enough for XP.
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Re:check the bios to make sure it's not running the processor in compatability mode. run a defrag. that's about it, there aren't a lot of option to speed up dell's.
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Tags: bells and whistles, new dell