RootsChat.Com
General => Technical Help => Topic started by: exessexgirl on Tuesday 02 November 04 11:46 GMT (UK)
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Does anyone else have the trouble that I do? When I am browsing my computer keeps slowing down and I have to wait a couple of minutes for the modem to start pulsing again for the info to comethrough. I am using a dial up modem. It's soooooooooooo frustrating :-X
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I'm on broadband, and find IGI very slow to come through, and sometimes on this site it takes a while to get to where I want, but I put that down to the number of folk using the site.
ALSO when I do a REPLY, then do another REPLY it comes up ...that I have to wait 60 seconds between replies .... so I wait ..... and it still comes up.....so I leave it and go onto something else, before I go back to it.
Su
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thank''s Sue. glad to see I'm not the only one having this problem. Trouble is I have so many windows open doing different things I end up going x eyed ;D When I use FreeBmd I can only use it for a few minutes then get the message server is busy. I know it's because the site is so busy and I'm not moaning :-X
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Hi EG
I also use broadband (but in OZ) and the only site (I use often) that gives me grief is FreeBDM - but we know the reason for that. Do you know how much memory you have in your computer - I'm certainly no expert, but if you have lots of windows open your machine can be using virtual memory (from disk) and this can slow things down. If you're using XP, I wouldn't run with less than 256MB of ram. Win98 can work well with less. Someone else may know more about these things.
What does sometimes slow my machine is the virus checker (I use Nortons). I can be browsing away & it decides it has to check something I am trying to access. This is very obvious when I open word/excel files - either on or off line.
Trish
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Thank's for the replies. I'm using Win98. I've been told that it may be spyware causing the computer to slow down. Computers been scanned and a couple of things have been shown up, but seeing as I'm no computer whizz ::)I'm loath to do anything incase I stuff the thing up once and for all :DHave to wait for no2 son to appear and check it for me. Thanks............Lyn
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Hi Exessexgirl, If you are using Win 98 have a look at this. (I have Win 98SE but I hope it's the same for Win 98).
On the desk top, RIGHT click MY COMPUTER/ Click Properties/ Click the Performance tab and see how much SYSTEM RESOURCES you have free.
System Resources does not depend on how much RAM or the size of your hard drive. It is a 64KB file which is kept by Windows to record the details of the programs and files you currently have open so that it can keep track of what it is doing (program, page, cursor position, etc.) If you have a lot of things working at the same time it cannot store all the necessary details in the 64KB and therefore has to shuffle things about and re-organize itself.
You cannot make this file any larger but you can reduce the number of files and programs which start when you initially boot up thus making it's job a lot easier.
The amount of RAM and the Hard drive size obviously make things run faster once you have them open but the Resources File can definitely slow things down if you have too much open at once.
Hope this sheds a bit of light?
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Hi there. It does make sense :osort of. I'll have to re read it a couple of times to digest the info. thank's for taking the time to reply. I will do what you say and have a look. Once again......thanks.......Lyn
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Hi there. It does make sense :osort of. I'll have to re read it a couple of times to digest the info. thank's for taking the time to reply. I will do what you say and have a look. Once again......thanks.......Lyn
Hi All, I Have windows 98 and i keep my computer tidy. I also fix my own problems. So A few tips, to keep your computer running smoothly and faster. Do not have to many windows open at the same time. This slows your computer down.Once you have got where you want to go. Close the one's on the tool Bar at the bottom.
Defrag your computer at least once a fortnight if you use it a lot. Or Use your maintenace wizard. I installed free,Ad-Aware 6.0 long ago. If my computer freezes or starts acting strange. like it did recently i run it. It found a virus that i didn't have the day before. So before it took hold i was able get rid of it. I do thank my I.P for recomending Ad-Aware 6.0 .You don't really need all this fancy expensive stuff if you use ad-Aware as soon as you think you have a problem. And empty your delete box's they all take up space.And remember.Look after your computer and it will serve you well into old age.
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Hello Celia. thank's for the advice. I do close all unnecessary windows and I maintain my anti-virus weekly. I also defra a couple of times a week. Also empty my history, temp files and cookies at the end of every session as well as emptying the recycle bin. I also have adware 6 on the computer. It's just that when I am online, the flow of info coming through slows right down and I can sit here for up to a couple of minutes at a time waiting for it to start again. e.g, I hit the reply button to your message, and had to wait a good minute or so for the page to change. this happens everytime I am online, and it's really annoying.......Lyn
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Hello Lyn, You never know how computer literate people are, when you offer advice and you don't know them. Having to wait a couple of minutes for pages to download is good.I could have made a cup of tea sometimes ;D the time it takes for some pages to download. It's a bit like waiting for a bus that has to stop at all the traffic lights so it arrives late. It comes in eventually :D
Celia
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How long is it since you did a complete system restore?
Often total flattening the hard drive and re-installing all apps will speed it up no end. Clearing out all the odds and ends left behind by just using the pc.
Have you had your telephone line checked, this can sometimes cause trouble, also ask the telephone company to boost the speed of your line at the exchange.
Mike
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Gosh Mike
Can you REALLY ask the telephone company to boost the line speed at the exchange in your part of the world!!! I'm sure the operator here (Oz) would fall off the chair laughing if I asked this for a dial up line.
enjoy
Trish
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Thank's everyone for the advice. Didn't think anyone else was having the same problem ;)Like you Trish, I don't think our telephone operator would speed up a dial up connection. I won't have a go at reinstalling, I'd probably stuff the whole thing up. It's probably me, I'm tooooooooooo impatient :P
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Thank's for the replies. I'm using Win98. I've been told that it may be spyware causing the computer to slow down. Computers been scanned and a couple of things have been shown up, but seeing as I'm no computer whizz ::)I'm loath to do anything incase I stuff the thing up once and for all :DHave to wait for no2 son to appear and check it for me. Thanks............Lyn
Hi Lyn
I doubt if it is a spyware issue that is making so much difference to your system performance and is more likely to be a lack of system resources as suggested by others.
However if you don't have a good anti spyware system I would recommend Spybot Search and Destroy which is free to download at http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,22262,00.asp
Hope this helps
Ticker
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Telephone lines can be tweaked at the xchange by a telephone engineer, not the operator. ???
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Thank's all for the replies. I have got spybot search and destroy. Yesterday I downloaded the free AVG Free Edition that was recommended on this site, but couldn't get my outlook express to work, kept getting messages saying server had shut connection, so today I removed it. If I'm not careful I shall cause myself problems, and no 2 son's not here to fix it :-[I probably do need to upgrade a bit. thank's all for taking the time to reply anyway....Lyn
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Hi Essexgirl ......
There are loads of reasons why PC's would run slow etc but an educated guess would be that it's because your running a standard phone modem getting a connection somewhere in region of 56k.
Most web pages these days are written with broadband users in mind where the average speed is going to be 512k & indeed now some people have 1 & 2MB links.
Other suggestions that people have said will help very slightly - thing to remember is that you are using your phone to access the data & this is the slowest/weekest link.
Time for an upgrade :) :D
Regards
Simon
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Hi Simon. You're right you know, I am using a standard 56k modem, through my phone line. Oh well, just have to learn to be a patient for a little while longer. thank's for taking the time to reply. ............ Lyn
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Hi All, a little FREE program I have found to be useful and which can sometimes speed up all different types of internet connections is called Cybertweak on http://www.cybertweak.co.uk.
When installed and running, enter the type of connection you have on your computer in the centre box and click OPTIMIZE.
Close the next pop-up window and click the right hand side scroll button at the bottom of the original Cybertweak window.
It then shows how the computer is set at the moment and also the optimum settings for your particular connection. If you wish to change the settings then click the APPLY button.
This will then apply the best readings applicable for your internet connection.
It may be prudent to make a note of your existing readings before changing any so that they can always be put back as they were.
I have never had any problems using this program but obviously you change the readings at your own risk.
I think the best chance of an increase in speed will be with the dial-up modem as they can be so critical.
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Hi Wak :) Thank's for your reply. I've noted the site and will have a look.........Lyn
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I too have dial-up and 56k and altho I have AOL. 9.0 Optimized I still get it running slow at Rootschat if I come to this site early in the morning U.S. time, say 7 to 8 A.M.. I assume that is because in U.K. it is noon to one P.M. and site is busy. But I just keep trying 'cause Rootschat is worth it! Leagen