In the post above I meant to say 'is it a full retail version and NOT an upgrade disc'. If it is an upgrade disc then you still can do a clean install but the procedure is slightly different, whih is what I did with Vista.
It was a win7 MS boxed DVD and now I need to find where I "filed" it.
As far as I know it was a full install.
Probably the first one I paid for as a separate item!
As far as I know it was a full install.
Probably the first one I paid for as a separate item!
High CPU peaks are normal while browsing (especially when first loading a page), but the duration of the peak shouldn't be long.
Some (MOST?) anti-virus programs have "web protection" or "site filter" or some such. That always troubles the speed. It would be better (and considerably faster) to shut that feature off and use adblockplus.org instead.
A fast-n-dirty way to conquer hard drive related slowdowns while browsing, is to set the browser's cache to 12mb (12mb~15mb for firefox or 33mb~64mb for chrome), resulting in a considerably smaller mess.
You could also consider using Msconfig (already part of widows) to inspect the non-microsoft services and to inspect the startup items. Theoretically, the optimal number of both of those things is zero, and any exception needs to have a good excuse for it.
Some (MOST?) anti-virus programs have "web protection" or "site filter" or some such. That always troubles the speed. It would be better (and considerably faster) to shut that feature off and use adblockplus.org instead.
A fast-n-dirty way to conquer hard drive related slowdowns while browsing, is to set the browser's cache to 12mb (12mb~15mb for firefox or 33mb~64mb for chrome), resulting in a considerably smaller mess.
You could also consider using Msconfig (already part of widows) to inspect the non-microsoft services and to inspect the startup items. Theoretically, the optimal number of both of those things is zero, and any exception needs to have a good excuse for it.
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Sounds promising. All you are really buying with a disc is the license, any particular disc version is the same as everyone else's.
I am getting ready to turn off AVG and uninstall it.
Is there anything I should check in MS to ensure the full range of MS virus and spying protection is actually turned on?
Is there anything I should check in MS to ensure the full range of MS virus and spying protection is actually turned on?
If all else fails, do a clean install. I'm not sure but you may have installed the motherboard Graphics driver as well as the ext graphics card. That's not a good idea. Uninstall the motherboard graphics.
Uninstalled the programmes that were added 2 days ago to help see what bugs might be in there. I also uninstalled 3 others and now there is a massive improvement in Memory it's down to 0.8GB with only Task Manager loaded and rises to ~1GB with TM and firefox loaded.
Handles are still high @ ~20000
Handles are still high @ ~20000
That sounds much better. I'm using 1.5Gb RAM with three tabs open on IE, falling to 1Gb when the present three are closed. That's on 8.1 mind you.
just think what a clean install would be like.
just think what a clean install would be like.Start up is much faster. Moving in the right direction.
Desktop with the egg timer appears in 70seconds, but can't use it, until almost 2minutes.
But that is about half the time from last week/month.
Browser is open in 2mins 10seconds.
Will still go back and review all the other tips.
I'll get my new motherboard and memory running first and then try a clean install on this one.
Thanks.
Desktop with the egg timer appears in 70seconds, but can't use it, until almost 2minutes.
But that is about half the time from last week/month.
Browser is open in 2mins 10seconds.
Will still go back and review all the other tips.
I'll get my new motherboard and memory running first and then try a clean install on this one.
Thanks.
I still have my old HDD from my old XP PC.
Can I just plug that into the new motherboard and let it boot up?
Or does the new motherboard require a proper install?
I ask because that XP was originally an oem version and I don't have any discs.
All it's updates prior to 2014 are also on that HDD.
There was an option with WIN7, to install that and with some jiggery pokery get it to change to XP.
Does that still work, now that MS has moved on to WIN8 & 10?
Can I just plug that into the new motherboard and let it boot up?
Or does the new motherboard require a proper install?
I ask because that XP was originally an oem version and I don't have any discs.
All it's updates prior to 2014 are also on that HDD.
There was an option with WIN7, to install that and with some jiggery pokery get it to change to XP.
Does that still work, now that MS has moved on to WIN8 & 10?
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That is an improvement.
If you do a clean install then don't rush into it. Set your stall out and gather any information you may need first. For example, decide on how you want any partitions to be arranged, and what size you might like. You might want several. Everything is your choice with a clean install, and yours to set up just as you want. Making a quick note of things such as driver versions for the graphics and sound cards is worthwhile. You can check these from your working install via 'Device Manager' and note them down. Then if there is a problem down the line you know what worked before.
We can talk you through what to do should you decide to go ahead. Its good fun setting a PC up from scratch and you learn a lot.
I don't think that would work for a couple of reasons. The HDD will have all the operating system PLUS all the other stuff to make it work such as drivers and so on, all configured for the old hardware. The other problem is that Microsoft would flag the system as invalid because the OEM license is tied to the original hardware electronically. You can get away with replacing an HDD or CDROM drive and so on, but a new mother board is essentially a new PC.
What will happen is you'll be asked to re-activate windows xp. That's MS. Even with W7, changing a video card will void your activation. You'll need to enter the code to re-activate it. If you don't have it, than that's it, you're locked out.
I don't switch HD with Windows loaded. I simply do a clean install. Takes a bit of time to load all the proper drivers but if done correctly, the PC won't be slow.
To remove softwares, I use Revo Uninstaller. Better than Windows. It'll even clean up all the junk files in the registry.
I have two paid licenses , but use a copy of W7-32/64 that is pre-activated.
To have the OS poop out for a simple hardware change would make it
useless for testing/repair and quite frustrating.
I would not own something so "bombed out".
OS
To have the OS poop out for a simple hardware change would make it
useless for testing/repair and quite frustrating.
I would not own something so "bombed out".
OS
Windows will work "fine" without activation. For a while, like a week...
For changing a motherboard, what I've done several times is while it's still in the old system, start the installer off the CD/DVD. Have it do a "refresh" install, let it copy the files to the drive, and reboot. While it's down for the reboot, swap the motherboard out from under it.
That works fine in xp and 7. It does not work for 8.1, and "refresh" now wipes your installed programs.
For changing a motherboard, what I've done several times is while it's still in the old system, start the installer off the CD/DVD. Have it do a "refresh" install, let it copy the files to the drive, and reboot. While it's down for the reboot, swap the motherboard out from under it.
That works fine in xp and 7. It does not work for 8.1, and "refresh" now wipes your installed programs.
There's nothing special about it, except that it is designed to be user friendly for dummies...
Windows came with Internet Options, browser also came with security/privacy/connection setting options... When they are utilised, it's sufficient, and usually better than using add-on but with other things setup unsuitably. But of course this is less user-friendly...
Only by using standard feature (focus on COOKIES), may be with additional use of HOSTS file, advertisements will not show up in your browser.
Updated Adobe reader and a message came up talking about svchost hogging CPU.
I know I have lots of these running taking up lots of CPU and memory.
So I had a look:
Stop svchost.exe from stealing CPU cycles | The Download Blog - CNET Download.com
I know I have lots of these running taking up lots of CPU and memory.
So I had a look:
Stop svchost.exe from stealing CPU cycles | The Download Blog - CNET Download.com
Hmmm. The web is full of 'how to speed up my PC' tips many of which are misinformed or cause other issues to appear. A well sorted installation should fly along without needing to resort to all this.
(I think your install of W7 has seen so much tinkering and installing/uninstalling of stuff that you are really past the point of no return for sorting it. Sometime a reinstall is the only answer)
(I think your install of W7 has seen so much tinkering and installing/uninstalling of stuff that you are really past the point of no return for sorting it. Sometime a reinstall is the only answer)
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