You can trust me on the CCleaner thing...it does only good.  I use it's utilities at least once a week to keep things smooth on my machine.  It's not really a "free download" like you find in most places.  The community at TechSpot basically bought the program's use from the designers to have as a free utility to have their forum members use when they come up with problems.  All the programs I listed above are like that.  Anything associated with TechSpot is pretty good stuff...that's all that community is for, solving PC issues.

I always suggest more ram.  To my knowledge, there's no such thing as too much ram, and I don't understand why computers don't come from the factory maxed out.  But when I went from the 256mb in my 2002 Compaq to the 1gig max it was like having a new machine.

I'll try increasing RAM then, I don't think its difficult even for an old git like me, just popping in a couple of boards or similar, cheers.

You will have 2 or 3 slots on the motherboard for ram , there are 2 types of ram , i would recommend pullling the old one out and having a look , and then searching on ebay or something DDr2 ram is insanly cheap , i think 3 gbs for around 20 pounds.

T

Cal your pc uses DDR SDRAM and should have 256mb in there right now.  Don't get multiple sticks to increase what you got...just get a 1gig stick and call it good.  Your computer has a 1gig max.

Righto, It does have 256, I believe two boards. If I get a couple of 500mb boards I can simply replace the old with the new? I am pretty sure I know exactly where the boards are so it should be pretty simple huh.....huh OR do I disconect both and put a one gig stick, is this on the same connectors?

Quote from: Cal Price on January 11, 2009, 04:14:32 PM
Righto, It does have 256, I believe two boards. If I get a couple of 500mb boards I can simply replace the old with the new? I am pretty sure I know exactly where the boards are so it should be pretty simple huh.....huh OR do I disconect both and put a one gig stick, is this on the same connectors?

I'd get the fastest 1Gb stick I could, and replace the 256gb stick. Then defrag with PerfectDisk (the free one), kill ALL the startup applications, and update.

Sure, updates means you need to restart 100 times, but it will clear up eventually, and be safer/faster.

I like to err to the side of safer than faster, hence my old mac craptops

yeah it'll be cheaper to just buy the one 1gb stick than two 512's or what have you.  You have to disconnect and remove the old 128's.

Aha! I just found the book that came with the P.C. - you know the one you only consult in desperation usually. In "Specs" it say max memory 2 gig, is there any advantage in going to the full amount as looking around the cost is not that different?

I hit up your PC specs online and it says 1gig...if your paperwork says two then yeah, get as much as possible.  You can never have too much ram.

Thanks for all the patience and advice mac (and others) I'm fitting a new CD/DVD drive this afternoon as my current one "jumps" and rumbles a bit so whilst the unit is open I'll double check the existing memory and order upgrade.