"Earle Horton" <earle@vascongado.usa> wrote in message
news:45afd2e1$0$7864$a82e2bb9@reader.athenanews.co m...
> Don't let relatives know that you have computer expertise. If you get
> assigned a computer maintenance or repair job, screw it up. If you are
> not
> going to listen to reason, the following may be helpful.
>
I bought the machine for him.


> Run http://securitycheck.symantec.com no matter what kind of anti-virus is
> on the machine now.
>
I'll tray that.



> Defrag the hard drive and make sure that it is not almost full.
>
Done that already. All looks good in that department.


> Put XP Professional on it.
>
All I have here is a bootleg copy of XP Pro that will not support -- Bill G.
won't support, actually -- SP2.



> Make him justify any non-Microsoft software that he has installed.
>
> Earle
>
> "Jeff Strickland" <crwlr@verizon.net> wrote in message

 

Don't let relatives know that you have computer expertise. If you get
assigned a computer maintenance or repair job, screw it up. If you are not
going to listen to reason, the following may be helpful.

Run http://securitycheck.symantec.com no matter what kind of anti-virus is
on the machine now.

Defrag the hard drive and make sure that it is not almost full.

Put XP Professional on it.

Make him justify any non-Microsoft software that he has installed.

Earle

"Jeff Strickland" <crwlr@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:KBPrh.21233$wq.14150@trndny07...
> I (my brother in law, really) have a computer that has a SERIOUS case of
The
> Slows. It takes FOREVER to open apps, and complete any number of different
> tasks.
>
> It is an off-brand box that came from Fry's (I think). I don't recall what
> the architecture is, but I'm pretty sure my 286-based laptop was faster.
>
> The computer is on its way to my house for a checkout. I'm not sure what
my
> strategy will be.
>
> The machine has a valid version of XP Home edition, but I do not know if
it
> has the Restore CD or not. Can I use a different copy of XP to do restore
> operations? I assume that I have to use the Key Code that is on the
> computer, not the one that belongs to the copy of XP that I will restore
> from.
>
> Do not hesitate to offer suggestions on what to do ...
>
>
>

 

Don't let relatives know that you have computer expertise. If you get
assigned a computer maintenance or repair job, screw it up. If you are not
going to listen to reason, the following may be helpful.

Run http://securitycheck.symantec.com no matter what kind of anti-virus is
on the machine now.

Defrag the hard drive and make sure that it is not almost full.

Put XP Professional on it.

Make him justify any non-Microsoft software that he has installed.

Earle

"Jeff Strickland" <crwlr@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:KBPrh.21233$wq.14150@trndny07...
> I (my brother in law, really) have a computer that has a SERIOUS case of
The
> Slows. It takes FOREVER to open apps, and complete any number of different
> tasks.
>
> It is an off-brand box that came from Fry's (I think). I don't recall what
> the architecture is, but I'm pretty sure my 286-based laptop was faster.
>
> The computer is on its way to my house for a checkout. I'm not sure what
my
> strategy will be.
>
> The machine has a valid version of XP Home edition, but I do not know if
it
> has the Restore CD or not. Can I use a different copy of XP to do restore
> operations? I assume that I have to use the Key Code that is on the
> computer, not the one that belongs to the copy of XP that I will restore
> from.
>
> Do not hesitate to offer suggestions on what to do ...
>
>
>

 

Don't let relatives know that you have computer expertise. If you get
assigned a computer maintenance or repair job, screw it up. If you are not
going to listen to reason, the following may be helpful.

Run http://securitycheck.symantec.com no matter what kind of anti-virus is
on the machine now.

Defrag the hard drive and make sure that it is not almost full.

Put XP Professional on it.

Make him justify any non-Microsoft software that he has installed.

Earle

"Jeff Strickland" <crwlr@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:KBPrh.21233$wq.14150@trndny07...
> I (my brother in law, really) have a computer that has a SERIOUS case of
The
> Slows. It takes FOREVER to open apps, and complete any number of different
> tasks.
>
> It is an off-brand box that came from Fry's (I think). I don't recall what
> the architecture is, but I'm pretty sure my 286-based laptop was faster.
>
> The computer is on its way to my house for a checkout. I'm not sure what
my
> strategy will be.
>
> The machine has a valid version of XP Home edition, but I do not know if
it
> has the Restore CD or not. Can I use a different copy of XP to do restore
> operations? I assume that I have to use the Key Code that is on the
> computer, not the one that belongs to the copy of XP that I will restore
> from.
>
> Do not hesitate to offer suggestions on what to do ...
>
>
>

 

Don't let relatives know that you have computer expertise. If you get
assigned a computer maintenance or repair job, screw it up. If you are not
going to listen to reason, the following may be helpful.

Run http://securitycheck.symantec.com no matter what kind of anti-virus is
on the machine now.

Defrag the hard drive and make sure that it is not almost full.

Put XP Professional on it.

Make him justify any non-Microsoft software that he has installed.

Earle

"Jeff Strickland" <crwlr@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:KBPrh.21233$wq.14150@trndny07...
> I (my brother in law, really) have a computer that has a SERIOUS case of
The
> Slows. It takes FOREVER to open apps, and complete any number of different
> tasks.
>
> It is an off-brand box that came from Fry's (I think). I don't recall what
> the architecture is, but I'm pretty sure my 286-based laptop was faster.
>
> The computer is on its way to my house for a checkout. I'm not sure what
my
> strategy will be.
>
> The machine has a valid version of XP Home edition, but I do not know if
it
> has the Restore CD or not. Can I use a different copy of XP to do restore
> operations? I assume that I have to use the Key Code that is on the
> computer, not the one that belongs to the copy of XP that I will restore
> from.
>
> Do not hesitate to offer suggestions on what to do ...
>
>
>

 

I'm assuming you mean Mb when you said K. Either way, you are better off
with 512Mb for XP.
What processor are you running ?


Dave Milne, Scotland
'91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ
"Jeff Strickland" <crwlr@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:yqQrh.9544$Wz.3408@trndny06...
> Thanks.
>
> I have defragged and error checked since Christmas. Still slow.
>
> I have 13G of Used Space and 24G of Free Space. 375K RAM. The 'puter came
> with 128K, and I added 256K, the total is 384K, but displays as 375K.
>
> The machine is running McAfee Security Suite, 2006 (or 2007, I forget
which)
> that was recently (Thanksgiving, 2006) installed. the machine was slow
> before McAfee was installed, and I was thinking it was "virually enhanced"
> then, and that's why I put the McAfee in. My b-in-law has signed up for
FiOS
> (fiber optic internet), and that comes with a security suite that I am
going
> to be setting up. Therer are two versions, one is free and the other is a
> fee-service. I have the same fiber optic service, and my wife bought the
> fee-service security suite for three of our machines, but my machine still
> is using the McAfee Suite and seems to run fine. (I replaced Norton
Security
> with the McAfee back in November -- at the same time I installed the
McAfee
> in my b-in-law's machine. My machine runs okay, his machine is slow -- the
> machines at my house that have the fee-service security offered by the IP
> run fine.)
>
> I suspect (still) that my b-in-law's machine might have a virus. I use the
> built-in Defrag that comes with Windows, but I haven't a utility that
cleans
> the Registry. I have a strong suspicion that my troubles are in the
> Registry, but I am not smart enough to know what is a Registry Requirement
> and what is a Bogus Registry Entry.
>
> Do you, or anybody else, know if I can reinstall XP using a different copy
> of the OS than the one that came installed on the machine?
>
>
>
>
>
>
> "YouGoFirst" <yougofirst@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:aHPrh.416019$Fi1.402281@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> > You should first get a registry defragmenting program. The program
should
> > also look for errors in the registry. (I use a program called WinASO to
> > both defragment and check for registry errors.) Another source of pain
> > and anguish is the anti-virus program. The more recent versions of
Norton
> > suck up immense computing resources. You can turn off a bunch of scans
> > that Norton does, and that helps. You should also defrag the hard
drive.
> >
> > Part of the problem is that as XP has been upgraded by MS it eats up
more
> > and more resources.
> >
> > "Jeff Strickland" <crwlr@verizon.net> wrote in message
> > news:KBPrh.21233$wq.14150@trndny07...
> >>I (my brother in law, really) have a computer that has a SERIOUS case of
> >>The Slows. It takes FOREVER to open apps, and complete any number of
> >>different tasks.
> >>
> >> It is an off-brand box that came from Fry's (I think). I don't recall
> >> what the architecture is, but I'm pretty sure my 286-based laptop was
> >> faster.
> >>
> >> The computer is on its way to my house for a checkout. I'm not sure
what
> >> my strategy will be.
> >>
> >> The machine has a valid version of XP Home edition, but I do not know
if
> >> it has the Restore CD or not. Can I use a different copy of XP to do
> >> restore operations? I assume that I have to use the Key Code that is on
> >> the computer, not the one that belongs to the copy of XP that I will
> >> restore from.
> >>
> >> Do not hesitate to offer suggestions on what to do ...
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>

 

I'm assuming you mean Mb when you said K. Either way, you are better off
with 512Mb for XP.
What processor are you running ?


Dave Milne, Scotland
'91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ
"Jeff Strickland" <crwlr@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:yqQrh.9544$Wz.3408@trndny06...
> Thanks.
>
> I have defragged and error checked since Christmas. Still slow.
>
> I have 13G of Used Space and 24G of Free Space. 375K RAM. The 'puter came
> with 128K, and I added 256K, the total is 384K, but displays as 375K.
>
> The machine is running McAfee Security Suite, 2006 (or 2007, I forget
which)
> that was recently (Thanksgiving, 2006) installed. the machine was slow
> before McAfee was installed, and I was thinking it was "virually enhanced"
> then, and that's why I put the McAfee in. My b-in-law has signed up for
FiOS
> (fiber optic internet), and that comes with a security suite that I am
going
> to be setting up. Therer are two versions, one is free and the other is a
> fee-service. I have the same fiber optic service, and my wife bought the
> fee-service security suite for three of our machines, but my machine still
> is using the McAfee Suite and seems to run fine. (I replaced Norton
Security
> with the McAfee back in November -- at the same time I installed the
McAfee
> in my b-in-law's machine. My machine runs okay, his machine is slow -- the
> machines at my house that have the fee-service security offered by the IP
> run fine.)
>
> I suspect (still) that my b-in-law's machine might have a virus. I use the
> built-in Defrag that comes with Windows, but I haven't a utility that
cleans
> the Registry. I have a strong suspicion that my troubles are in the
> Registry, but I am not smart enough to know what is a Registry Requirement
> and what is a Bogus Registry Entry.
>
> Do you, or anybody else, know if I can reinstall XP using a different copy
> of the OS than the one that came installed on the machine?
>
>
>
>
>
>
> "YouGoFirst" <yougofirst@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:aHPrh.416019$Fi1.402281@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> > You should first get a registry defragmenting program. The program
should
> > also look for errors in the registry. (I use a program called WinASO to
> > both defragment and check for registry errors.) Another source of pain
> > and anguish is the anti-virus program. The more recent versions of
Norton
> > suck up immense computing resources. You can turn off a bunch of scans
> > that Norton does, and that helps. You should also defrag the hard
drive.
> >
> > Part of the problem is that as XP has been upgraded by MS it eats up
more
> > and more resources.
> >
> > "Jeff Strickland" <crwlr@verizon.net> wrote in message
> > news:KBPrh.21233$wq.14150@trndny07...
> >>I (my brother in law, really) have a computer that has a SERIOUS case of
> >>The Slows. It takes FOREVER to open apps, and complete any number of
> >>different tasks.
> >>
> >> It is an off-brand box that came from Fry's (I think). I don't recall
> >> what the architecture is, but I'm pretty sure my 286-based laptop was
> >> faster.
> >>
> >> The computer is on its way to my house for a checkout. I'm not sure
what
> >> my strategy will be.
> >>
> >> The machine has a valid version of XP Home edition, but I do not know
if
> >> it has the Restore CD or not. Can I use a different copy of XP to do
> >> restore operations? I assume that I have to use the Key Code that is on
> >> the computer, not the one that belongs to the copy of XP that I will
> >> restore from.
> >>
> >> Do not hesitate to offer suggestions on what to do ...
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>

 

I'm assuming you mean Mb when you said K. Either way, you are better off
with 512Mb for XP.
What processor are you running ?


Dave Milne, Scotland
'91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ
"Jeff Strickland" <crwlr@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:yqQrh.9544$Wz.3408@trndny06...
> Thanks.
>
> I have defragged and error checked since Christmas. Still slow.
>
> I have 13G of Used Space and 24G of Free Space. 375K RAM. The 'puter came
> with 128K, and I added 256K, the total is 384K, but displays as 375K.
>
> The machine is running McAfee Security Suite, 2006 (or 2007, I forget
which)
> that was recently (Thanksgiving, 2006) installed. the machine was slow
> before McAfee was installed, and I was thinking it was "virually enhanced"
> then, and that's why I put the McAfee in. My b-in-law has signed up for
FiOS
> (fiber optic internet), and that comes with a security suite that I am
going
> to be setting up. Therer are two versions, one is free and the other is a
> fee-service. I have the same fiber optic service, and my wife bought the
> fee-service security suite for three of our machines, but my machine still
> is using the McAfee Suite and seems to run fine. (I replaced Norton
Security
> with the McAfee back in November -- at the same time I installed the
McAfee
> in my b-in-law's machine. My machine runs okay, his machine is slow -- the
> machines at my house that have the fee-service security offered by the IP
> run fine.)
>
> I suspect (still) that my b-in-law's machine might have a virus. I use the
> built-in Defrag that comes with Windows, but I haven't a utility that
cleans
> the Registry. I have a strong suspicion that my troubles are in the
> Registry, but I am not smart enough to know what is a Registry Requirement
> and what is a Bogus Registry Entry.
>
> Do you, or anybody else, know if I can reinstall XP using a different copy
> of the OS than the one that came installed on the machine?
>
>
>
>
>
>
> "YouGoFirst" <yougofirst@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:aHPrh.416019$Fi1.402281@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> > You should first get a registry defragmenting program. The program
should
> > also look for errors in the registry. (I use a program called WinASO to
> > both defragment and check for registry errors.) Another source of pain
> > and anguish is the anti-virus program. The more recent versions of
Norton
> > suck up immense computing resources. You can turn off a bunch of scans
> > that Norton does, and that helps. You should also defrag the hard
drive.
> >
> > Part of the problem is that as XP has been upgraded by MS it eats up
more
> > and more resources.
> >
> > "Jeff Strickland" <crwlr@verizon.net> wrote in message
> > news:KBPrh.21233$wq.14150@trndny07...
> >>I (my brother in law, really) have a computer that has a SERIOUS case of
> >>The Slows. It takes FOREVER to open apps, and complete any number of
> >>different tasks.
> >>
> >> It is an off-brand box that came from Fry's (I think). I don't recall
> >> what the architecture is, but I'm pretty sure my 286-based laptop was
> >> faster.
> >>
> >> The computer is on its way to my house for a checkout. I'm not sure
what
> >> my strategy will be.
> >>
> >> The machine has a valid version of XP Home edition, but I do not know
if
> >> it has the Restore CD or not. Can I use a different copy of XP to do
> >> restore operations? I assume that I have to use the Key Code that is on
> >> the computer, not the one that belongs to the copy of XP that I will
> >> restore from.
> >>
> >> Do not hesitate to offer suggestions on what to do ...
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>

 

I'm assuming you mean Mb when you said K. Either way, you are better off
with 512Mb for XP.
What processor are you running ?


Dave Milne, Scotland
'91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ
"Jeff Strickland" <crwlr@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:yqQrh.9544$Wz.3408@trndny06...
> Thanks.
>
> I have defragged and error checked since Christmas. Still slow.
>
> I have 13G of Used Space and 24G of Free Space. 375K RAM. The 'puter came
> with 128K, and I added 256K, the total is 384K, but displays as 375K.
>
> The machine is running McAfee Security Suite, 2006 (or 2007, I forget
which)
> that was recently (Thanksgiving, 2006) installed. the machine was slow
> before McAfee was installed, and I was thinking it was "virually enhanced"
> then, and that's why I put the McAfee in. My b-in-law has signed up for
FiOS
> (fiber optic internet), and that comes with a security suite that I am
going
> to be setting up. Therer are two versions, one is free and the other is a
> fee-service. I have the same fiber optic service, and my wife bought the
> fee-service security suite for three of our machines, but my machine still
> is using the McAfee Suite and seems to run fine. (I replaced Norton
Security
> with the McAfee back in November -- at the same time I installed the
McAfee
> in my b-in-law's machine. My machine runs okay, his machine is slow -- the
> machines at my house that have the fee-service security offered by the IP
> run fine.)
>
> I suspect (still) that my b-in-law's machine might have a virus. I use the
> built-in Defrag that comes with Windows, but I haven't a utility that
cleans
> the Registry. I have a strong suspicion that my troubles are in the
> Registry, but I am not smart enough to know what is a Registry Requirement
> and what is a Bogus Registry Entry.
>
> Do you, or anybody else, know if I can reinstall XP using a different copy
> of the OS than the one that came installed on the machine?
>
>
>
>
>
>
> "YouGoFirst" <yougofirst@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:aHPrh.416019$Fi1.402281@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> > You should first get a registry defragmenting program. The program
should
> > also look for errors in the registry. (I use a program called WinASO to
> > both defragment and check for registry errors.) Another source of pain
> > and anguish is the anti-virus program. The more recent versions of
Norton
> > suck up immense computing resources. You can turn off a bunch of scans
> > that Norton does, and that helps. You should also defrag the hard
drive.
> >
> > Part of the problem is that as XP has been upgraded by MS it eats up
more
> > and more resources.
> >
> > "Jeff Strickland" <crwlr@verizon.net> wrote in message
> > news:KBPrh.21233$wq.14150@trndny07...
> >>I (my brother in law, really) have a computer that has a SERIOUS case of
> >>The Slows. It takes FOREVER to open apps, and complete any number of
> >>different tasks.
> >>
> >> It is an off-brand box that came from Fry's (I think). I don't recall
> >> what the architecture is, but I'm pretty sure my 286-based laptop was
> >> faster.
> >>
> >> The computer is on its way to my house for a checkout. I'm not sure
what
> >> my strategy will be.
> >>
> >> The machine has a valid version of XP Home edition, but I do not know
if
> >> it has the Restore CD or not. Can I use a different copy of XP to do
> >> restore operations? I assume that I have to use the Key Code that is on
> >> the computer, not the one that belongs to the copy of XP that I will
> >> restore from.
> >>
> >> Do not hesitate to offer suggestions on what to do ...
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>

 

"Jeff Strickland" <crwlr@verizon.net> wrote in
news:VwQrh.7079$q32.1798@trndny01:

>
> "Earle Horton" <earle@vascongado.usa> wrote in message
> news:45afd2e1$0$7864$a82e2bb9@reader.athenanews.co m...
>> Don't let relatives know that you have computer expertise. If you
>> get assigned a computer maintenance or repair job, screw it up. If
>> you are not
>> going to listen to reason, the following may be helpful.
>>
> I bought the machine for him.
>
>
>> Run http://securitycheck.symantec.com no matter what kind of
>> anti-virus is on the machine now.
>>
> I'll tray that.
>
>
>
>> Defrag the hard drive and make sure that it is not almost full.
>>
> Done that already. All looks good in that department.
>
>
>> Put XP Professional on it.
>>
> All I have here is a bootleg copy of XP Pro that will not support --
> Bill G. won't support, actually -- SP2.
>
>
>
>> Make him justify any non-Microsoft software that he has installed.
>>
>> Earle
>>
>> "Jeff Strickland" <crwlr@verizon.net> wrote in message

If all else fails, format the hard drive and do a clean install of
Windoze.