Comp gurus: Learn me on speeding up my laptop

[WRXtranceformed]

I know I could go do a ton of research, but I figured you guys might have some quick answers to my questions before I start.

I've got an Inspiron 700m laptop I bought from John that's been absolutely awesome. It's still hanging in there but it's noticeably slower than when I started with it. I've got a couple of quick questions:

1) It has 1.23 gigs of RAM right now. I'd like to buy a little more for it. How much am I looking at for a decent upgrade? Is there a specific type of RAM that I need to buy for the brand / laptop platform?

2) I've heard a lot about people reformatting their hard drives but I've never actually done it. Is there anything I need to know? Do you know of a good resource that outlines how to do it safely? I'm not sure if I have the XP OS cds around here or not. How do I back integrated programs up that I don't want to lose? (virus scanner w/ paid subscription, etc.). I've got an external HD that I can back up a lot of stuff but those integrated programs I'm not sure how to do

3) Anything else you can think of to give it a spring cleaning? What do you all do?

TIA!

[stevegula]

1 - Ram questions can be answered by crucial.com . They have software to let you know what you can do.

2 - If you don't have the CDs to install XP and the install software/licenses for the software you desire then you're up shits creek if you're worried about doing things legally.

[WRXtranceformed]

Well crucial.com tells me that my laptop can accept a max of 2 gigs of RAM. If I'm showing 1.23 gigs now, does that mean I'm maxed because some of the hardware is using up some of the RAM?

[CaptainHenreh]

Well crucial.com tells me that my laptop can accept a max of 2 gigs of RAM. If I'm showing 1.23 gigs now, does that mean I'm maxed because some of the hardware is using up some of the RAM?

Crucial should have told you *exactly* what memory modules were installed.

[WRXtranceformed]

Oh I just realized there's an analysis program you can download. I just did the suggestion box based on my laptop type.

[WRXtranceformed]

Alright awesome, the program told me that I've got a 1 gig card and a 256mb card and recommended another 1 gig card to replace the smaller one.

Found this on newegg: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820208015">http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820208015</a><!-- m -->

Have any of you guys installed laptop RAM before? Is it tough?

[Mike]

Alright awesome, the program told me that I've got a 1 gig card and a 256mb card and recommended another 1 gig card to replace the smaller one.

Found this on newegg: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820208015">http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820208015</a><!-- m -->

Have any of you guys installed laptop RAM before? Is it tough?

usually cake. depends on your model, but sometimes you need to take the battery out, sometimes you just pop off a panel, sometimes there are a few screws involved. could be ny combination of those too, but it's always pretty easy.

[stevegula]

Alright awesome, the program told me that I've got a 1 gig card and a 256mb card and recommended another 1 gig card to replace the smaller one.

Found this on newegg: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820208015">http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820208015</a><!-- m -->

Have any of you guys installed laptop RAM before? Is it tough?

usually cake. depends on your model, but sometimes you need to take the battery out, sometimes you just pop off a panel, sometimes there are a few screws involved. could be ny combination of those too, but it's always pretty easy.

always take the battery out. Always ground yourself before manipulating RAM.

You can replace it yourself. The only laptop I've ever had that this wasn't cake on was the old clamshell iBook.

[WRXtranceformed]

Sweet thanks guys! I'll probably just start out with the RAM upgrade, and if I need more speed I'll consider reformatting. I just really don't feel comfortable deleting large quantities of info from my laptop if I really don't know what I'm doing.

[stevegula]

The issue is probably not the RAM. Especially if it's "gotten slower over time". You're not exactly losing compression anywhere. If RAM speeds it up, you're just fixing a symptom instead of the problem.

[WRXtranceformed]

How would I diagnose the problem?

[ViPER1313]

Run this program - tell it to do a system scan only, do NOT uncheck any of the boxes. Post the report it generates (done by clicking Save Log, then opening the file and posting the results on here).

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://majorgeeks.com/download3155.html">http://majorgeeks.com/download3155.html</a><!-- m -->

[stevegula]

How would I diagnose the problem?

Frankly, I'd start from scratch and learn to use Spybot Search & Destroy w/ TeaTimer and browser plugins. You pretty much don't need AV software if you're using that.

[Apoc]

Is this the one John wiped clean before he sold? If so, there really shouldn't be anything on right, I would think. What are you using it for? If you're just browsing the web and listening to music and shit, 1.2gb of RAM should be plenty on XP.

[WRXtranceformed]

Run this program - tell it to do a system scan only, do NOT uncheck any of the boxes. Post the report it generates (done by clicking Save Log, then opening the file and posting the results on here).

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://majorgeeks.com/download3155.html">http://majorgeeks.com/download3155.html</a><!-- m -->

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 11:16:30 AM, on 2/16/2009
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.6000.16791)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\EvtEng.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\S24EvMon.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\WLKeeper.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware\AAWService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lxdncoms.exe
C:\Program Files\McAfee\SiteAdvisor\McSACore.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcmscsvc.exe
c:\program files\common files\mcafee\mna\mcnasvc.exe
c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\mcproxy\mcproxy.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcshield.exe
C:\Program Files\McAfee\MPF\MPFSrv.exe
c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\agent\mcagent.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\RegSrvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\igfxsrvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\hkcmd.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\igfxpers.exe
C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\bin\ZCfgSvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\ifrmewrk.exe
C:\Program Files\CyberLink\PowerDVD\DVDLauncher.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswctrl.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware\AAWTray.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Lexmark 2600 Series\lxdnMsdMon.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Intel\Wireless\Bin\Dot1XCfg.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcsysmon.exe
C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Lee\Desktop\HiJackThis.exe

R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157">http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157</a><!-- m -->
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896">http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896</a><!-- m -->
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896">http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896</a><!-- m -->
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157">http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157</a><!-- m -->
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchURL,(Default) = <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=mcafee&p=">http://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=mcafee&p=</a><!-- m -->%s
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = *.local
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll (file missing)
O2 - BHO: DriveLetterAccess - {5CA3D70E-1895-11CF-8E15-001234567890} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswshx.dll
O2 - BHO: Java™ Plug-In SSV Helper - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: scriptproxy - {7DB2D5A0-7241-4E79-B68D-6309F01C5231} - c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee\VIRUSS~1\scriptsn.dll
O2 - BHO: McAfee SiteAdvisor BHO - {B164E929-A1B6-4A06-B104-2CD0E90A88FF} - c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee\SITEAD~1\mcieplg.dll
O2 - BHO: Java™ Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: JQSIEStartDetectorImpl - {E7E6F031-17CE-4C07-BC86-EABFE594F69C} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\deploy\jqs\ie\jqs_plugin.dll
O3 - Toolbar: McAfee SiteAdvisor Toolbar - {0EBBBE48-BAD4-4B4C-8E5A-516ABECAE064} - c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee\SITEAD~1\mcieplg.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [igfxtray] C:\WINDOWS\System32\igfxtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [igfxhkcmd] C:\WINDOWS\System32\hkcmd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [igfxpers] C:\WINDOWS\System32\igfxpers.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SynTPEnh] C:\Program Files\Synaptics\SynTP\SynTPEnh.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IntelZeroConfig] "C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\bin\ZCfgSvc.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IntelWireless] "C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\ifrmewrk.exe" /tf Intel PROSet/Wireless
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DVDLauncher] "C:\Program Files\CyberLink\PowerDVD\DVDLauncher.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [dla] C:\WINDOWS\system32\dla\tfswctrl.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UpdateManager] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Sonic\Update Manager\sgtray.exe" /r
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [mcagent_exe] "C:\Program Files\McAfee.com\Agent\mcagent.exe" /runkey
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AppleSyncNotifier] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleSyncNotifier.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [lxdnmon.exe] "C:\Program Files\Lexmark 2600 Series\lxdnmon.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [lxdnamon] "C:\Program Files\Lexmark 2600 Series\lxdnamon.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\QTTask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Ad-Watch] C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware\AAWTray.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [cdloader] "C:\Documents and Settings\Lee\Application Data\mjusbsp\cdloader2.exe" MAGICJACK
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [RegistryMechanic] C:\Program Files\Registry Mechanic\RegMech.exe /H
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Speed Launch.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="res://C">res://C</a><!-- m -->:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - C:\WINDOWS\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/V5Controls/en/x86/client/wuweb_site.cab?1162240253638">http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupda ... 2240253638</a><!-- m -->
O18 - Protocol: sacore - {5513F07E-936B-4E52-9B00-067394E91CC5} - c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee\SITEAD~1\mcieplg.dll
O23 - Service: McAfee Application Installer Cleanup (0244581234685397) (0244581234685397mcinstcleanup) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\024458~1.EXE
O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
O23 - Service: Bonjour Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
O23 - Service: Intel® PROSet/Wireless Event Log (EvtEng) - Intel Corporation - C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\EvtEng.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: Java Quick Starter (JavaQuickStarterService) - Sun Microsystems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
O23 - Service: Lavasoft Ad-Aware Service - Lavasoft - C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware\AAWService.exe
O23 - Service: lxdnCATSCustConnectService - Lexmark International, Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\\lxdnserv.exe
O23 - Service: lxdn_device - - C:\WINDOWS\system32\lxdncoms.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee SiteAdvisor Service - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\McAfee\SiteAdvisor\McSACore.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Services (mcmscsvc) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\MSC\mcmscsvc.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Network Agent (McNASvc) - McAfee, Inc. - c:\program files\common files\mcafee\mna\mcnasvc.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Scanner (McODS) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcods.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Proxy Service (McProxy) - McAfee, Inc. - c:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\mcafee\mcproxy\mcproxy.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Real-time Scanner (McShield) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcshield.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee SystemGuards (McSysmon) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee\VIRUSS~1\mcsysmon.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Personal Firewall Service (MpfService) - McAfee, Inc. - C:\Program Files\McAfee\MPF\MPFSrv.exe
O23 - Service: Intel® PROSet/Wireless Registry Service (RegSrvc) - Intel Corporation - C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\RegSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: Intel® PROSet/Wireless Service (S24EventMonitor) - Intel Corporation - C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\S24EvMon.exe
O23 - Service: Intel® PROSet/Wireless SSO Service (WLANKEEPER) - Intel® Corporation - C:\Program Files\Intel\Wireless\Bin\WLKeeper.exe

--
End of file - 8860 bytes

[Apoc]

Wow... no wonder it's slow. You really need all those processes to load on boot? McAfee is probably your major problem.

[WRXtranceformed]

No I dont want any of them to. What's the process to shut some of them off (like McAfee)? I do want to keep my firewall on.

[Apoc]

No I dont want any of them to. What's the process to shut some of them off (like McAfee)? I do want to keep my firewall on.

Windows has a firewall, just use that. If it were me, I'd uninstall McAfee and disable all the auto-run for the tons of things that probably show up as icons by your clock. You can leave Ad-Aware if you're nervous but things like Quicktime, Acrobat and all the "updaters" are completely unnecessary.

MagicJack? Seriously?

[stevegula]

download and install SpyBot S&D and make sure it installs TeaTimer and all IE things.

TeaTimer is a process that monitors for registry/system file changes and prompts you to permit/deny every time. You can whitelist/blacklist things to automatically be dealt with. Basically, anytime you're not installing a program or changing something with the system, but TeaTimer pops up something, you're gonna want to hit deny - it means a virus or some background task is doing things without your permission/knowledge.


from the start->run menu, run 'msconfig' and go to the StartUp tab. I would uncheck:
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DVDLauncher] "C:\Program Files\CyberLink\PowerDVD\DVDLauncher.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [UpdateManager] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Sonic\Update Manager\sgtray.exe" /r
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AppleSyncNotifier] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\bin\AppleSyncNotifier.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [lxdnmon.exe] "C:\Program Files\Lexmark 2600 Series\lxdnmon.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [lxdnamon] "C:\Program Files\Lexmark 2600 Series\lxdnamon.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\QTTask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Ad-Watch] C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-Aware\AAWTray.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [cdloader] "C:\Documents and Settings\Lee\Application Data\mjusbsp\cdloader2.exe" MAGICJACK
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [RegistryMechanic] C:\Program Files\Registry Mechanic\RegMech.exe /H


And delete anything from Start->Programs->Startup

Then reboot and see how things go. If you go the SpyBot route, you'll discover what apps incessantly try to run at boot until you tell them otherwise (iTunes for instance, it will try to add itself ad nauseam until you go into the application and tell it no, same for QuickTime).

Get rid of Ad-Aware and Registry Mechanic. Actually, go through your Add/Remove Programs and get rid of everything you don't actually use. That may clean out some other stuff you weren't aware of as well.

[WRXtranceformed]

Haha yeah at Magicjack, I make hundreds of calls for work and my boss suggested I try it to save minutes on my cell phone before I upped my plan. I used it once and it sucked. I guess it left a venereal disease on my computer when I uninstalled it.