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notebook slow? Try adding more RAM!!!

I recently helped a fellow Realtor with a problem she had with her notebook. In a nutshell, it was very very slow.

She had a brand new notebook with the latest Microsoft OS (Windows Vista). The only thing I saw that was a problem was the size of RAM, it only has 512MB!!

With the vista OS, you need at least twice that amount 515Mb X 2 = 1,000 Mb = 1 GB). I recommended that since her notebook has only 2 slots for the memory chip,she should get two 1Gb memory modules for a grand total of 2 Gb.

Several weeks later, she finally bought the memory and it only took me a few minutes to install it. The results was like night and day! The notebook started faster, and applications came up almost instantly. For what little she spent on the RAM, she more than made it back with the increased productivity.

Do yourself a favor and look at the mcahine that you are glued to, day in and day out. If you are running vista, see if you need to have and upgrade to 2 gb!

With vista, just left click on start, right click on Computer, then left click on properties, you should get a window that has a lot of incormation about your machine, including the amount of RAM it has.

Rich T.

Posted by Richard Thewissen on 07/31/2008 07:24 PM

Comments (12)

zen and the art of pc add ram

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12 Comments on notebook slow? Try adding more RAM!!!

JUL

2008

I AGREE... I bought an Apple MacBook Pro with additional RAM and quicker processor and I absolutely love it.... The only time I have to go to a Windows system, is when I have to print from my job. Then I just "Book Camp" my system to toggle from the Apple system to the Windows system. Having both systems, I absolutely love my Mac operating system and only go to Windows when i have to print. LOL

;>)

Too many people buy notebooks with too little RAM. The retailers do this to get the price down. Sometimes it's cheaper to buy the bargain priced computer and add the RAM later since it's so cheap.

Great to know. I just had to defrag my laptop today.

My home XP has been driving me crazy! My Vista laptop already has 2GB of Ram. THe XP I just checked has 512 Ram. Do I need to upgrade? I've done all the defrag and removed picture files and dumped all temp and cookie files. Still it's as slow as molasses. Would it be best to start over and start clean again with a reinstallation?

With plenty of time, the windows os can get filled with too many "junk" registry information, application services that we don't know what they are used for, too many search tool bars for internet explorer, etc.

If you have a system restore cd (which will return it to the dactory default) you might want to consider doing so (after you backup your files.

Its time consuming to do so, since you will have to reinstall all your applications, and al the patches.

I will oftet do this at least once a year! (OK , I'm also an IT professional prior to becomming a realtor)

Another suggestion is to have your pc with just the necessary application to do your job. Anything else, put them on another "Play Machine"

Richard,

It was "new" but already outdated... Most important: RAM, processing power, operating system and hard drive capacity. Some computer stores have knowledgeable employees and others just want a commission.

Ann

Ann,

Prices for PC have fallen quite a bit. However, think about what it is you will be using that pc for. Adding an additional hard drive (increasing your storage capacity) is relatively easy, especially if you get an external hard drive.

If you need the pc for email using the internet, and some simple word processing, you don;t really need that , much power.

another thing to look into if you do a lot of graphice work is to upgrade your video card!

Richard, If I do that will I be able to acccess all the needed patches. Are they still online for XP? It shouldn't be too hard since I don't install games or many programs other than HP printer and Photoshop. Do I just use the disc to reinstall for the whole thing/ Is that where I start after I have saved all my document files?

Yes, you should still be able to get the windows xp updates. Another thing yoyu could do once you have everything setup the way you want it, you could use a drive imaging software to make a snapshot of your machine. this way, when you system gets messed up, all you would have to do is:

1. Backup your documents

2. Use the Factory CD for system Restore

3. Install your backup software

4. Restore your full system backup.

We just upgraded one of the laptops from 1 gig to 2 gig and it is helping- and we are on XP Pro.

AUG

2008

Richard,

I found in using the system restore you lose all the files but if you make a system rescue disk from AVG you can generally repair corrupted boot files. Or you have a young "techie" person look at the system for a lot less than Best Buy.

Ann

yes the ststem restore files will help you fix a bad file or files. However, it will not clean up the registry nor will it unload the apps that you have installed over the years. Best Buy is not always the best price in town. also please remember that you get what you pay for. Hire somone who is a professional :)

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