External Hard Drives

Hiya peeps,

I'm wondering if anyone out there can help me at all, now before I start please make all answer in EASY to understand lanquage, as alongside Nelly I am a bit of a computer technophobe. So here goes:

About a year or so ago the pooter started to slow down and I got out local IT bloke in who said it was basically full up and I needed a bigger memory thingy and then fitted me a new one, I have the box here (512mb ddr400 whatever that means). All was fine and dandy until about 4 months ago I noticed that my pooter was starting to slow down a bit and remembering what the guy said I bought an External Hard Drive from our suppliers, yep I even managed to plug it in and get it working and wahaaaay it sped up again and all fine and dandy, then after a month I started to get a message every day saying that my free backup time has expired and that I have filed pending and I need to buy into it for £16.99
Don't know if it helps but its called 'Memeo Auto Sync'.

So here's my question:

Should I buy this update and if I do will it make my pooter go faster again. Or basicically is it the files that are pending that are slowing things down and can I manually save them to the hard drive, if I can, how the hell do I do it.

Ok hope you clever ones out there understand that and over to you !

[Jester]

Re: External Hard Drives

First off, an external hard drive will not help your computer speed up. All an external hard disk drive will do is give you extra disk place to play with. If your computer has a small amount of memory (in your case 512Mb), then what happens is that Windows will set a side some space on your hard disk drive to create virtual memory. This in itself will slow your PC down as it takes far longer to get information from the 'virtual' memory on your hard drive than it does to get from the actual memory in your PC.

The best way to speed your PC up in the first instance is to have more memory (RAM) installed in your PC. This is quite inexpensive to buy these days, but you do need to know what type of memory you need and to know what the maximum your motherboard will support is.

Many memory manufacturers have now made that simple by having a small javascript program running on their website where you just put in the details of your PC (Make, model etc) and it will tell you what memory needs to be installed and in many cases it will also tell you what the maximum your PC can support. Some (like Crucial's website) will even tell you what memory modules you already have installed and how best to upgrade it - it even gives you installation instructions.

As rule, though Microsoft claim differently, on a Windows XP system it is best to have a minimum of 1Gb of RAM. Vista is a serious memory hog and therefore it is recommended that you have 2Gb of RAM installed to have a tidy performance. Of course, you can go higher if you want to (and your motherboard supports it). Basically, the more RAM you have, the faster Windows will perform.

However, note that older operating systems have a memory limitation. e.g. Windows 98 has a limitation of 1Gb and therefore will not recognise additional memory above 1Gb regardless how much you put in (it even starts to degrade 98 if you put too much in).

Another way is to clean up the registry. We all install programs like they are going out of fashion. If you have been installing stuff from magazines then you will probably have a plethora of spyware/adware as well on your PC. The problem comes when you de-install these applications. Despite what you may hear, very few of these programs de-install completely cleanly. They always leave something behind. The net result is that when you next boot up your PC, entries that were not removed from the Registry may be pointing to files that no longer exist. Windows though, will look for them. This causes boot up time to increase exponentially. Another thing that can cause boot up time to increase is that many programs insist on being run as a service (with the pretext that they will load quicker when you need them). To be honest, the time saved in loading them in this way is negligable. Most of them do NOT need to run at start-up. The only things you need running at start-up are your antivirus, firewall and maybe some keyboard/mouse/graphics drivers. Everything else can go.

There are programs available that will let you clean up your PC very safely. I bought Ashampoo and also have a copy of XP Repair Pro. Both are good at analysing your PC and advising you of 'orphaned' registry entries, temporary files, internet cache, spyware related entries etc etc that could do with being removed. They also advise on what exactly is running at startup and gives you the chance to remove the ones that don't need to be running at start-up. A good free one that I once used was JVC PowerTools - which could be found for free download at htp://www.downloads.com

I've no idea if it is still available for free or even available at all. But there are other good free ones.

If you do a lot of internet surfing, invest in an anti-spyware program and run it regularly to find and remove spyware/adware.

Finally, Memeo Auto-Sync sounds to me like a backup program that probably came with your external hard disk drive. Many people (myself included) use external hard disk drives as backup devices for the main hard drive so that if the main hard drive ever crashes (and they all have a finite life) you have a backup from which to recover. If you are not doing backups, then you don't need a back up program. Even if you do require a back up program, there are plenty of very good free ones out there (I have used Cobian for 3 years without a problem) that you can download and which will do the job just as well. Don't pay for something you don't need.

Hope this helps

[Curlyben]

Re: External Hard Drives

1/ NO.
2/ Yes, simply drag and drop the files you wish to back up.

Right then time to take stock.

What exactly are you using the external drive for ?
Do you know the specs of your machine, like windows version, RAM (memory), CPU speed etc,
If you RIGHT click My Computer and select PROPERTIES most of the info is there.

What is the main use of it ?
What colour is it
and most importantly does it have 1 or 2 coffer cup holders

[enaid]

Re: External Hard Drives

PMSL you did ask

[breeze1996]

Re: External Hard Drives

I Wouldn't buy it.
Also try removing it from the Add/ Remover on the Control Panel.
Look it up in help if your a real newbie.

Most of the time it's just the amount of items you have loaded on the computer.

Go back through your programs and uninstall any you don't use but still have the disks for. This will speed up your computer.

Also go to the programs and find the defrag program run this and it will place all the programs together on your hard drive and this speeds up your computer for free.

You can add more RAM, I have 4Gb mine but an easy cheat is to use your USB key if you have one, it can be made to act as memory if you just check the proterties once it's plugged in.

[Sapphire]

Re: External Hard Drives

Ohhhh thanks for that info Jester, I did understand it, thank you for explaining it in EASY lanquage for me.

I did actually buy the hard drive as a back up device, just in case the pooter went wrong or we had a fire or whatever and I could just grab it and go, I run our accounts from this pooter and wanted to keep the records safe.

So basically its not that which is slowing the pooter down, I need to get a bigger memory installed. Ok time for our IT man to pay a visit I reckon.

[enaid]

Re: External Hard Drives

I need to get a bigger memory installed. Me too :tung:

[Sapphire]

Re: External Hard Drives

1/ NO. OK
2/ Yes, simply drag and drop the files you wish to back up. And how do you do that then clever clogs !

Right then time to take stock.

What exactly are you using the external drive for ? To save my important stuff on ie the Accounts for the business (SAGE) etc.
Do you know the specs of your machine, like windows version, RAM (memory), CPU speed etc, No, but I suppose I am going to try to find out now arn't I.
If you RIGHT click My Computer and select PROPERTIES most of the info is there.

Copied Exactly:
System: Microsoft Windows XP
Professional
Version 2002
Service Pack 2

Registered to: Sapphire
55274-OEM-0011903-00102

Manufactured and Supported by:
DELL Computer Corporation
Dell Dimension DIM 2400
Intel (R)
Celeron (R) CPU 2.60 Ghz
2.59 Ghz, 768 mb of RAM

What is the main use of it ? Business (small to medium business) and pleasure (mostly on here)
What colour is it Black
and most importantly does it have 1 or 2 coffer cup holders

No coffee cup holders but I do have pink fluffy dice hanging from the monitor.

[Curlyben]

Re: External Hard Drives

** Please note there are OTHER ways to do this, but these instructions are trying to be as simple and painless as possible. **


Right then.
There is NO need to pay someone to do this for you, it's about time you learnt how to do this kind of stuff for yourself anyway.

Why have knowledgeable buddies and not use that knowledge

So time for some system maintenance.
Now this will seem like a long list, but it's all quite straightforward.

You're going to be clearing out junk, scanning for viruses and spyware, patching and defragmenting. Now I can see you looking in horror at what I have just typed, but don't panic we're here to help. Once we are done your system will run better than it ever has, WITHOUT spending any money. Now bear in mind I will be recommending that you down load aload of tools, don't worry they are perfectly safe, but they help to make the job easier.

So first things first, lets get rid of all the crap.


1/ Clean out junk/rubbish files:

- CCleaner

Download CCleaner ( Download CCleaner 2.09.600 - FileHippo.com )
Install it and run it, there's a nice How to here: CCleaner - 1. After Installation

You basically want to start at the top and run the Cleaner with everything selected, clean the registry ( do this option multiple times until it comes back clean) and then we need to look at the programs that start when the computer is booted.

In the Tools tab select start up. Now make the box FULL screen and take a screen shot.
For Screen Shot press the ALT and Prnt Screen buttons, then open word (or any other imaging program) RIGHT click and select PASTE. You now have a picture of the CCleaner window in a word doc. Attach that here and we'll advise what you can disable and what you MUST keep on start up.

- Inbuilt Windows Disc cleaner

So once you have used CCleaner to remove crap it's time to use the windows Disc cleaner.

OPen My Computer
RIGHT click C: Drive
select PROPERTIES
Click Disc cleaner button
WAIT a bit
check everything EXCEPT compress old files
Click OK
WAIT again
job done.

So that wasn't too difficult now was it.


2/ System Scan

- Anti Virus

So next time to make sure your system is free of nasties.
Now I hope you have anti-virus protection installed, if not AVG do a good one and it's free ( http://www.grisoft.cz/filedir/inst/a...8_138a1332.exe )

So this is pretty easy.
Open My Computer
RIGHT click and select scan for viruses.
WAIT ages and delete everything it finds.

- Spyware

As for spyware you'll need another tool called Spybot S&D ( FileForum | Download Spybot Search and Destroy )
Here's how to use it: The home of Spybot-SD!

Simply a case of saying yes to everything and deleting anything it finds.
Again this will take ages.


3/ Patching with Windows Update

Patching is very straightforward as it's just a case of going to Microsoft's update site: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
If you want things nice and easy select express, BUT be warned doing this WILL automatically update your IE to version 7.

Selecting Custom allows you to install only the updates you want.
Personally I use Custom and uncheck anything to do with IE7.


4/ File System Defragmentation

Last but by no means least is a defrag.
Now over time hard drives get slower as Windows throws file were ever it feels like.
A defrag is simply reorganising the filing system that is your hard drive.
Yet again here's a great free tool that makes this process reallllly easy: Defraggler - Defragment your files!

Here's the how to: Defraggler - Defragment your files!


5/ Coffee Time

Right then after all that's done, and it WILL take ages, your system will be running better than it has for a long time.

Now it's good practice to get into a routine when using these tools.
I use CCleaner weekly and do the others monthly.
Yes it all takes time, but you can fire them up and have coffee

6/ Give CB rep for being WAAAAAAAAAAAAAYyyyyyyyyyyyyy coool and understanding

[Sapphire]

Re: External Hard Drives

In the Tools tab select start up. Now make the box FULL screen and take a screen shot.
For Screen Shot press the ALT and Prnt Screen buttons, then open word (or any other imaging program) RIGHT click and select PASTE. You now have a picture of the CCleaner window in a word doc. Attach that here and we'll advise what you can disable and what you MUST keep on start up.

Whats that then? Can I use Word Processor? heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeellllllllllllllllp!

[Sapphire]

Re: External Hard Drives

So next time to make sure your system is free of nasties.
Now I hope you have anti-virus protection installed, if not AVG do a good one and it's free ( http://www.grisoft.cz/filedir/inst/a...8_138a1332.exe )

Got that already thanks, downloaded it when PK posted it up.

[Curlyben]

Re: External Hard Drives

In the Tools tab select start up. Now make the box FULL screen and take a screen shot.
For Screen Shot press the ALT and Prnt Screen buttons, then open word (or any other imaging program) RIGHT click and select PASTE. You now have a picture of the CCleaner window in a word doc. Attach that here and we'll advise what you can disable and what you MUST keep on start up.

Whats that then? Can I use Word Processor? heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeellllllllllllllllp!

YES !

[Sapphire]

Re: External Hard Drives

I also have the BT Internet Security Pack that I pay for every month, go on then tell me off !!!!

I'm waiting ..........................

[Curlyben]

Re: External Hard Drives

So next time to make sure your system is free of nasties.
Now I hope you have anti-virus protection installed, if not AVG do a good one and it's free ( http://www.grisoft.cz/filedir/inst/a...8_138a1332.exe )

Got that already thanks, downloaded it when PK posted it up.

Good least your listening
------------------------------- merged -------------------------------

I also have the BT Internet Security Pack that I pay for every month, go on then tell me off !!!!

I'm waiting ..........................

Piece of pooh.
Dump it.
There are alot of free tools available that will do what you now pay for AND MORE !!!

Of course you're going to need one of these:



Tin foil hat - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Sapphire]

Re: External Hard Drives

:kiss: Oh yes I need a new hat, folding it as we speak you cheeky bugger you