PC start up Speed 1

[woody2002]

Hi,

This may sound like a simple question, but could someone please advise me what is the best (and easiest) way to improve the time it takes my PC to startup?

I recently formatted my hard drive and reinstalled Windows 98SE and with only the operating system on it started relatively quickly. However, as I continue to add the applications I need, it is progressively getting slower and slower (naturally!).

Is this something I could fix by replacing my Processor - I currently have a Pentium 2 350Mhz, or is it more related to the RAM, which would obviously be far easier (and cheaper) to improve!

Thanks for your help.

Woody

 

[mainegeek]

How much ram do you have?

 

[woody2002]

64Mb - I've found out my PC can have up to 512Mb. Do you think putting this in will significantly increase the bootup time?

At the moment it takes an age....

 

[gargouille]

Go to Start/Run and type msconfig and hit enter.
Examine the Startup tab and look at what's starting up on bootup. Each of the items there takes resources, and that's increasing your boot time. Uncheck the ones you think you can live without (usually everything but Explorer and system tray, although I have unchecked everything there and the system still booted.)
Then try a restart and see if it doesn't speed up the process.
(on some systems you can hold down the Shift key when it's booting and only the minimum/necessary things will load)

Loading a program only when you want it called up frees up system resources greatly.

 

[gargouille]

Should also have added that scandisk and defrag need to be run regularly, especially when you load software, as the install usually "shotguns" data to the hard drive. These 2 things make your computer run better/faster.
Throwing more RAM at your system is (IMO) turning a blind eye to managing it properly. IF the correct procedures don't "float your boat" then for sure add RAM. (would be good anyway) But learn how to manage the system as well.

 

[woody2002]

Thanks Gargouille, you've been a great help.

There are a number of things within msconfig -> startup that I'm not 100% sure about, but at least you've given me a starting point so I can find out some more.

Thanks again.

Woody