Calling all computer people..

[RichsBallPythons]

I think you just saved me hundreds of dollars Thanks! I'll probably just look into getting an external drive and I may not even upgrade my OS. I'm plenty happy with how XP works, just not how slow my lappy has been lately. I do have literally thousands of pictures- I think one of my editing programs last counted them at like 5000 or something crazy like that. Not to mention 4 years worth of homework, powerpoints, research papers, and whatever else I've done for school.

Download and install ccleaner from www.ccleaner.com

That will help clean off garbage off the hard drive. Also go through and uninstall programs you dont use. If your machine is below 1gb RAM take it to someone and upgrade that. The ram shouldnt cost more than 20-50. You could even install it yourself if needed. And that will help with other things loading smoother.

[ShortStack]

What comp do you have? Like my laptop is a compaq CQ 60.
Also how much is a good bit of memory... Cause 1 bit isn't enough. Also is it a laptop or a desktop.

It's a Del Inspiron 1501 laptop.. As for the memory, I don't remember but last time my boyfriend explained to me how to go in and check, he said there was still a decent amount left.. I think I was using like 20% or something? Like I said, I can use them, but I'm clueless on how they work, haha. He's muuuuuch better at these things than me. I was all excited about being able to upgrade my OS if I wanted and he was just like, well yeah.. Busted my bubble

[RichsBallPythons]

It's a Del Inspiron 1501 laptop.. As for the memory, I don't remember but last time my boyfriend explained to me how to go in and check, he said there was still a decent amount left.. I think I was using like 20% or something? Like I said, I can use them, but I'm clueless on how they work, haha. He's muuuuuch better at these things than me. I was all excited about being able to upgrade my OS if I wanted and he was just like, well yeah.. Busted my bubble

that series of Dell laptops is older. If not mistaken they only come standard with 512mb ram which is a bare minimum for xp to run.

To find out your RAM you right click My Computer go to properties and window will pop up. When it pops up youll know the computers speed and RAM installed.

[ShortStack]

Ok, I'm on the phone with my boyfriend to and he knows a little more than me, so he was able to guide me through.. This is what it says about my processor and RAM: Processor 3500+ 1.79GHz, 448MB of RAM. Would it be wiser, and would I get more for my money, to just upgrade like my processor and whatnot, or just get a whole new laptop?

[RichsBallPythons]

Ok, I'm on the phone with my boyfriend to and he knows a little more than me, so he was able to guide me through.. This is what it says about my processor and RAM: Processor 3500+ 1.79GHz, 448MB of RAM. Would it be wiser, and would I get more for my money, to just upgrade like my processor and whatnot, or just get a whole new laptop?

Yep thats your problem right there, Processor is old and bogging your system down. With some good tweaking and cleaning you can get it to run decent. Upgrading ram to 1gb which is 1000mb will help you see a difference almost immediately.

You can get newer laptops that are decently fast for 3-500$ and will do what you want and then some

[ShortStack]

Thanks bunches for all the help!

[RichsBallPythons]

If wanting to truly run windows 7 on that laptop i can hook you up. I fix computers on the side that helps fund the snakes.

Just run the windows 7 upgrade tool to see if it will run 100% for sure. If it says it will you can PM me and go from there.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/e...1-2497c146af15

[ShortStack]

Okie dokie, I'll take a better look at it tomorrow.. Thanks again!

[chessfighter]

Don't fall into the brand game. A computer's a computer. It's the Kernel and OS that makes the computer run that most people get confused about. An Apple's no different from a Dell which is no different from a HP, ETC. It's the Operating System that matter (and of course the hardware). With that being said, what are you using your computer for? If you're a gamer stick it Windows OS. If you're into music or computer animation stick with a Mac. if you're into programming and want to really know the ends and out of a computer OS go with a Linux distro like Ubuntu 10.10. I use Ubuntu (Open Source) 100% on my desktop and laptop. I could never go back to proprietary OS. If I was to buy an Apple computer, I'd still just install Ubuntu. It's free and quick. And if you really want control over your computer try Arch Linux.
It really does matter what you're using the computer for.
ALL OS have their ups and downs.

[ShortStack]

Don't fall into the brand game. A computer's a computer. It's the Kernel and OS that makes the computer run that most people get confused about. An Apple's no different from a Dell which is no different from a HP, ETC. It's the Operating System that matter (and of course the hardware). With that being said, what are you using your computer for? If you're a gamer stick it Windows OS. If you're into music or computer animation stick with a Mac. if you're into programming and want to really know the ends and out of a computer OS go with a Linux distro like Ubuntu 10.10. I use Ubuntu (Open Source) 100% on my desktop and laptop. I could never go back to proprietary OS. If I was to buy an Apple computer, I'd still just install Ubuntu. It's free and quick. And if you really want control over your computer try Arch Linux.
It really does matter what you're using the computer for.
ALL OS have their ups and downs.

It's used for school stuff and once I'm done, work(teaching). So nothing crazy, lol. The only other things that go on it are my pictures, and I use it for webcam to talk to my boyfriend. If I don't NEED a whole new computer, I am perfectly fine with putting a lil money into the one I have to get it running a little better. I am all for saving money.. I am a broke college student and soon-to-be teacher, lol.. Money doesn't come easy!