Trying to keep things simple

[Dakarnoway]

Hi IT Bods,

I have had lots of problems over the past 18 months with my PC of slowing down and sometimes not being able to get on line until IT decides and about:blank pages appear, worst of all no Audio Sound, just beeeeeps

So i`ve had my computer cleaned inside and out. Cleared of everything but photos and my music that have been saved on 3 disc`s.

I`m a complete numpty on how PC`s work. I just click the mouse and type stuff. I want now to keep things simple, but learn how to get photos on this website and maybe do a R.R. now and then. I`ve asked before but just to make sure which is the easiest way to get photos on to here? ... via websites flicker, fotobucket or google picsco or something.

The guy who cleaned my PC has reinstalled Windows XP Home Edition and Service Pack 1a, I know thats old and will try to download S.P. 2 or 3 soon. Also Microsoft Security Essentials, Basic membership and I think it`s a Free Download. Ok probably not the best but which/what is?

I am asked constantly to download Adobe Flash player on a popdown line on every window. How do I know if JavaScript is enabled, where can I find if it is or not?
There will be lots of other basic questions but they will do for now.

Cheers Dakarnoway

 

[Onwalkabout]

Sounds like you are in for hours of endless fun.

I would say that the first step is to download and install all the current patches - go to windows update web page and keep downloading and installing until there are no more left. Also install the driver downloads from the site. This might solve the problems in the first instance without you needing to go 'under the hood' if you like.

Next you need to check your drivers. Sounds like your audio driver is not installed. Not having used XP for a while, I can't quite remember the correct order, but if I remember, click 'Control Panel' - 'System' - 'device manager'. This should tell you what devices are working and which have drivers and which do not. Audio will probably have a nice orange warning beside it. You will need to know what brand of audio device you have and then download and install the driver for XP. Hopefully, step one will mean you don't need to do this one.

Install adobe flash - you need this to run things like You Tube and loads of other stuff from the web, accept and install this one. You should also install Java (www.java.com). It's auto install and easy to do.

Finally I use two good little tools - one called ccleaner (do a search) and one called smart defrag (http://www.iobit.com/iobitsmartdefrag.html). Both are free and good at keeping some of the gremlins away.

Good luck. Have a wider search on the web and you should find other hints about.

 

[jailon]

it sounds like a memory problem = not enough RAM.

to check, what you need to do is ctrl + alt + del to bring up task manager and select the performance tab. this will bring up some graphs, look at CPU usage and PF usage....

in idle mode (no programs running like interent, e mail etc, but allowing for any virus software you have) your cpu shouldn't be using more than 10%,

your PF usage (RAM memory) with XP should be running about no more than 400MB.....(again allowing for any virus software running)

with me so far

on the bottom right hand side you will see Physical memory and in Total it will say something like 1571820
(which = 1.5 gig of ram, 104xxxx = 1 gig of ram, 512xxx = 512 mb of ram)

if your total physical memory is LESS* than what the PF usage graph is using then it means that windows is having to use you hard drive space to load programs up, which is much much slower than using the RAM

*if you have about 100mb left in idle mode, then fire up internet and e mail and watch it dissapear, so you will need to buy more memory

still with me

The following applies if its a desktop not a laptop....
If you do need more memory it is not a problem as they range from £10 upwards for an extra ram chip,

to install is a doddle, remove the side panel of your PC (usually the left side if its a tower) and you will see a circuit board about 5mm thick and about 5" long, next to it will be a spare slot.

Remove the old one and make a note of what type it is (512mb 233mhz / 512mb ddr2 etc.) then simply search the net or go to a PC supplier and order a bigger one. Dont get more than 2GB in size as some motherboards dont support anything more than 2GB so you will be wasting yor money. My suggestion is to buy a 1GB chip and just run it alongside your exsiting one.

once physically installed, then just start up as normal and see if your problem is fixed.

hope this helps (and sorry for waffling on )