Computer help

O.k. I'm the first to admit I don't know a lot about computers.
Mine is slow now how do I fix this ? I have deleted my cookies de-fraged it deleted all the crap I don't need pics, games,etc.
Is there a way to restore your computer to the day you got it?
That would be really cool! ;D What would be a good book to get that wouldn't bury me in computer talk I wouldn't understand?

 

David,
What Op system are you on?
What CPU do you have
How much Free space is on your HDD and How big is it
How Much RAM do you have?

Sorry for the Questions But someone is going to ask

J

 

David,

What OS do you use? Windows? If so which version?

Is the speed issue to do with disk access or processing speed?

John

 

J

LOL Snap

John

 

Also what Video card do you have and with how much video ram??

This will bottle neck a program if it is trying to put out a lot of video of any quality. Unfortunately, the answer might be to get a faster computer as they fly these days.

 

O.K I have a gateway with windows xp
I have 12.1 GB left free this is more than 1/2
I have 6.50 GB used
Does this sound right. I have no clue really this is found by right clicking on my local disk and going to properties
I don't know how much ram I have.

 

Win XP has a function to restore your system.
If you goto Help and support
-> Start then right colum near the bottom
This will load a help screen. Half way down on the right is pick a task -> select undo changes with system restore-> click on restore my computer to an earlier time
Then select a date. the computer will then restore your computer and ask you to reboot. Remember any software loaded post dated restore point will have to be reinstalled


J

 

David,

Another thing that can often slow up your PC is the number of programs that load into RAM at start up.

Try this:

Hold down the Ctrl and Alt keys and press the Delete key once only.

This should bring up a Sytem box with some tabs. One of the tabs should say something like " start up items "

Select this tab and you should see a list of programs that Windows automatically loads into memory at start up.

Next to each item there is a tick box, untick the items that you dont want to automaticaly load. Things like MSN messenger, Yahoo messenger, P2P file sharing all use a lot of RAM so unless you need to have them running when you start your PC, un tick them.

John

 

John?
I get the task manager but don't see tic boxes under any of the tabs?
I'm running XP is it supposed to be there?

 

David,

I'm at work at the moment and not running XP. I do run XP at home and will check when I get there ( in a couple of hours ) Let me have a look and I will reply as I am sure they are there under the " START UP" tab


John