OMO Computer Maintenance/Wiping

I have an ACER Extensa 5630EZ with a 4GB instead of 2GB.
Bought this machine over 3 years ago.

http://www.acerdirect.co.uk/Acer_Ext...10/version.asp

Any tips on how to improve peformance?
Its quite recently became very slow, lagging, programs crashing etc

I have malware bytes, Avast and Microsoft Security essentials (i think) as virus software. Full system scans come up clean.

Not sure what I should do with things lyk disk defrag, etc etc

I was considering wiping it and starting again, as I dont have that many files on it, but unsure?

[Bibio]

never run 2 virus software at the same time.

if your running XP then go to.. start/run and type in msconfig then click OK, go to the stratup tab and turn off everything you dont need to run when windows starts such as MS office and other programs that will run when you click the exe (you don't need apps to start with windows but you need your antivirus etc.etc to)

next thing to do is defrag the HDD.

Originally Posted by Sally

I was considering wiping it and starting again, as I dont have that many files on it, but unsure?

That would be my recommendation.

It'll seem like a new machine.

[Fallout]

Spank is running something from neolithic periods all because of a annual wipage!

Tips ...
1. Make sure you have your OS disc or restore disc before you start.
2. Test it! Put it in and make sure you can boot from it and start installing windows before you erase your disc.
3. Backup all your documents to external media. There will be things you've forgotten like stuff in My Documents, files you've downloaded, music, videos, game save files, etc. Be thorough and go through all directories.
4. Make sure you have your driver discs for any bizarre hardware. Most imporantly, if you had to use a CD to setup your network adapter, make sure you have that, otherwise you won't be able to setup your internet connection and then you're screwed.
5. Boot from your restore disc and use the reformat option to have a clean sweet then install.
6. Let windows do all it's updates, get online and download drivers for your graphics card and all your hardware, get your anti-virus setup again (use a decent one!) and avoid installing CPU/memory hogging software in the future.

Hope that helps a bit.

Originally Posted by Fallout

avoid installing CPU/memory hogging software in the future.

Itunes for instance.

[pookie]

chances are you probably have a restore / recovery partition on your laptop which would make wiping it easier.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by pookie

chances are you probably have a restore / recovery partition on your laptop which would make wiping it easier.

Caution, those sometimes come with loads of sales crap bundled with them like dell etc send out with their consumer machines.

[SoulKiss]

Take off, nuke the site from orbit, its the only way to be sure.