Hardware Help Needed Please

[riverbabe]

My Dell PC is running very very SSSLLLOOOWWW. An IT guy in Manila said that maybe I don't have enough RAM for all the big programs I am trying to run. This is the current data from Windows Task Manager, running Scottrade Elite, McAfee updated version, Microsoft Outlook and Word. (When I try running Interactive Brokers on top of that it freezes.)

My CPU’s are running at 25% or less (sometimes around 2%)
My PF Usage is 687 MB
Commit Charge: 695M/939M

Physical Memory (K) is 251,980
Available is around 33,000 (now less than 16,000)
System Cache is 60,128 (now 58,520)

Kernel Memory (K) total 56,552
Paged 42,264
Nonpaged 14,292

Commit Charge (K)

Total 707,472
Limit 961,584
Peak 873,940

Not sure what all of this means, but looks like I might have a problem?

Help please, if you can? If I have to buy more memory, how much do you suggest? How do I physically install it, i.e. how do I get inside this PC to do it? Riverbabe

[spikefader]

My Dell PC is running very very SSSLLLOOOWWW. An IT guy in Manila said that maybe I don't have enough RAM for all the big programs I am trying to run. This is the current data from Windows Task Manager, running Scottrade Elite, McAfee updated version, Microsoft Outlook and Word. (When I try running Interactive Brokers on top of that it freezes.)

My CPU’s are running at 25% or less (sometimes around 2%)
My PF Usage is 687 MB
Commit Charge: 695M/939M

Physical Memory (K) is 251,980
Available is around 33,000 (now less than 16,000)
System Cache is 60,128 (now 58,520)

Kernel Memory (K) total 56,552
Paged 42,264
Nonpaged 14,292

Commit Charge (K)

Total 707,472
Limit 961,584
Peak 873,940

Not sure what all of this means, but looks like I might have a problem?

Help please, if you can? If I have to buy more memory, how much do you suggest? How do I physically install it, i.e. how do I get inside this PC to do it? Riverbabe

River if I were you I'd double the size of your pagefile and defrag your hard drive. There are plenty of good ones (defrag programs) you can demo for free. Do an off-line defrag for your metadata fragmentation (and pagefile)

For pagefile, hybernation file and system files I've attached a program called defrag.exe which you can use every boot to make sure your system files are contiguous at boot up. (I changed the file type to .txt so I could attach it here. Save it to your desktop and then change the name to defrag.exe and launch it, and then tell it to "defragment every boot".

I would also run a program called Spybot S&D to check for trojans etc. It's free http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html

[mimo_100]

How Do I Upgrade the Memory (RAM) in My Dell™ Computer?

How Do I Upgrade the Memory (RAM) in My Dell™ Computer?


http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?c=us&l=en&s=gen&dn=1012378


or call the GeekSquad and have them come out and assist you.

[jiesen]

had similar problems

I suggest upgrading the RAM - add another 256M and it should help. It worked for me, and isn't as risky as defragging the drive. Ideally you should do both, though. (but be sure to backup before you defrag)

[Karel]

I third a RAM upgrade. 256 K is not at all HUGE.

Regards,

Karel

[billyjoe]

River,
My son agrees with adding the RAM , but says if your computer is of a certain age, it's more economical to buy a new computer . The added RAM for your current computer may be very expensive. I helped Mrs. Billyjoe replace a defective motherboard and it is surprisingly easy to work on these things. Just unplug one component and plug in the new one.A few screws removed from the back end and you can expose all the guts. We also had a defective fan we replaced.It sounded like the playing cards you'd put in bicycle spokes to make it sound cool. Good luck

------------billyjoe

[riverbabe]

Thank you Thank you

Thank you to all for the great suggestions. The consensus is that more memory is an absolute must. So I just called Dell (my computer is less than 2 years old) and Ryan from Austin TX said that with all the big programs I am running I should use 2 Gigs more and I will be amazed at how fast it will run!!! All for $130.00! So how can I pass that up. AND, "Dell On Call" will walk me thru the installation and test all connections at the end of it and give me continued service for another 48 hours, for $49.00 which is equal to or less than the Geek Squad charges.

So I will be all set.

BTW, I run McAfee "total body" scans (complete scans) at least every two weeks, I use MS Defender and Adsense SE at least once a week. I keep an eye on defrag and use the (either Dell or MS, can't remember) program already loaded with machine. The last time I defragged was 3 weeks ago so I'm alright there.

You have all been great and I thank you thank you. River

[riverbabe]

River if I were you I'd double the size of your pagefile and defrag your hard drive. There are plenty of good ones (defrag programs) you can demo for free. Do an off-line defrag for your metadata fragmentation (and pagefile)

For pagefile, hybernation file and system files I've attached a program called defrag.exe which you can use every boot to make sure your system files are contiguous at boot up. (I changed the file type to .txt so I could attach it here. Save it to your desktop and then change the name to defrag.exe and launch it, and then tell it to "defragment every boot".

I would also run a program called Spybot S&D to check for trojans etc. It's free http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html

Spike, thanks for these. They might be close to what I am already using, but will download them anyway and try them out. I'm not worried about defragging every boot, except for the extra time it might take. But if I upgrade the memory, it might not take as long to boot as it does now, so it might not matter at all.

[riverbabe]

How Do I Upgrade the Memory (RAM) in My Dell™ Computer?


http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/en/document?c=us&l=en&s=gen&dn=1012378


or call the GeekSquad and have them come out and assist you.

You always know where to find it! lol

[scifos]

Sans a virus/malware/spyware, the best options are defrag and more memory. 256MB isn't a whole lot, 2GB should set you up nicely for a long time, and memory prices have gone through the floor, so its cheap. Another nice utility for disk cleanup (not necessarily to speed up your pc) is ccleaner.

[riverbabe]

Sans a virus/malware/spyware, the best options are defrag and more memory. 256MB isn't a whole lot, 2GB should set you up nicely for a long time, and memory prices have gone through the floor, so its cheap. Another nice utility for disk cleanup (not necessarily to speed up your pc) is ccleaner.

Thanks Scifos, will look into that one too. (Formerly known as "crap cleaner." Funny!)

[riverbabe]

Faster than a Speeding Bullet!!!

To follow up, the Dell On Call tech walked me through installation of two (2) new 1 GB memory modules this morning.

WOW!!! I'm running at warp speed now! Shoulda done this a long time ago! Riverbabee

[peanuts]

To follow up, the Dell On Call tech walked me through installation of two (2) new 1 GB memory modules this morning.

WOW!!! I'm running at warp speed now! Shoulda done this a long time ago! Riverbabee

I'm glad your computer is running faster. This is a great post. I wonder how many people are having the same problems?

I went to the barbershop not too long ago and as Vic and I were talking about current events and such, he told me how his son (35ish) bought an iPod for him a few years earlier and how he didn't think much of it at the time. Then as he played with it, learning how to use it, he realized the iPod's song capacity and ease of use. He began buying all the new accessories and downloading his favorite songs. He would listen to his iPod while driving or waiting for customers to come into the shop. My barber suddenly seemed cooler than some of my friends.

Then he started telling me about Apple's stock. He remembered that soon after he started to use the iPod he thought that it would catch on as the "cool new thing that everyone wants" He must have a good nose for stocks, or has good people giving him advice, because he wanted to buy some stock after using just the iPod. His entry would have been very nice, but he never did it.

So, who made your chip, and from whom did you buy it?

[IIC]

I was having some problems with my home computer the last month...freezups, slowness, getting knocked offline. I was about ready to chuck it and set up my new one that has been in the box for over 2 years.

As I look back it all started when I installed Paltalk. I frequently run checkdisk and adaware full scan...My virus protection is supposed to always be running (Secure Resolutions Anti-Cyber Crime).

One thing I don't do very often is clear my cookies and Temp files.

Last night I did that and uninstalled Paltalk...took several hours...Also ran a manual scan and quarantined some drive cleaner virus.

After that my computer was running at top speed and again this morning...Good to be back to normal.

I have everything backed up but I'm not looking forward to transferring everything to a new computer and installing all the software...But I guess I should before the new one in the box becomes an antique

[riverbabe]

So, who made your chip, and from whom did you buy it?

Peanuts, I bought it from Dell because I have a Dell computer and I gave them my service code and they immediately knew what I had and what to tell me to do. The chip is SNPU8622C/1G, "Assembled in South Korea."

Everything in South Korea is "LG" something so suspect it is made by LG but can't prove it. All I know is that it works and I am much happier now! River