Free software to boost computer performance?

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GBAstar

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Hi,

I was looking for some advice to speed up my older HP laptop. I only use this for work---running things like Google Chrome, Outlook, Word/Excel and some applications like Neat Receipts but nothing too taxing.

This computer is maybe 3-4 years old and runs terribly slow. I know it's not a great PC, and it wasn't great when I purchased it but I paid nothing OOP after redeeming Staples rewards (from recycling ink cartridges I bought in bulk). I have no desire to sink money into it and will admit I probably am guilty of not treating it properly in regards to downloading too much unnecessary shit over the years.

Here are basic specifications:

cpuspec.png


I've done things like running basic onboard tools like disk cleanup and defrag. I am using a freeware tool called "PC Decrapifier" to remove bloatware that I should of taken off day one.

I tried to remove a bunch of stuff manually but accidentally deleted some drivers for the network card and blu-ray drive.... ooops.

Is there anything else I can do? I'm not great with computers but I'm good at following along.

 
Thanks for all the suggestions---I'd love to switch to a SSD but I think I'd prefer just to buy another computer. I know I could get a cheap SSD for ~ $100 as I wouldn't need a lot of hard drive space but for the little power I require to do browsing and basic tasks what I have in front of me "should" be adequate.

I am still removing programs with the PC Decrapifier [I'm at "P" and have removed about 40 programs so far] application and crossing my fingers I didn't remove anything essential that would require running system restore.

While that is doing its thing I downloaded and ran CCleaner and it said it deleted 16GB of temporary system files ( ~ 16,xxx,xxx kb; not sure if the conversion was right). That's a lot right?

I'll know after a few restarts if things are working better.

 
I know this isn't the answer you're looking for, but the best way to keep Windows feeling fresh is to reinstall every 6-12 months. Most recently, I ran windows from May 2011 to November 2013 for work. During that time, I think I did 4 reinstalls. It takes about 2 hours to install Windows, and another 4 or so to get your programs back. After that, it runs as well as ever. Plus, if you're currently running the copy that came with your PC, a fresh copy will get rid of all of the crap you don't need.

Again, probably not what you're looking for, but I'll suggest it just in case. :)
 
I think neat receipts might be your issue. It runs a 'lite' version of ms SQL server that uses a ton of resources even when the scanning app isn't open.
 
Definitely run CCleaner again after you finish Decrapifying. It'll clean up some of the junk that ends up left behind, especially in the registry.
 
Access_Denied said:
I know this isn't the answer you're looking for, but the best way to keep Windows feeling fresh is to reinstall every 6-12 months. Most recently, I ran windows from May 2011 to November 2013 for work. During that time, I think I did 4 reinstalls. It takes about 2 hours to install Windows, and another 4 or so to get your programs back. After that, it runs as well as ever. Plus, if you're currently running the copy that came with your PC, a fresh copy will get rid of all of the crap you don't need.

Again, probably not what you're looking for, but I'll suggest it just in case. :)
Click to expand...
Yeah, this. I have a Dell Inspiron going on 6 years old that is running Vista. I usually reinstall Windows at least once a year. It still runs like the day I bought it. I keep it hooked up to my TV via HDMI to stream stuff, and it has no problem with anything, including browsing, iTunes, and whatever else I do on it.

 
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Since a lot of people are suggesting clean installs of Windows 7, like I would as well, it's well worth putting in a new SSD at the time you do the new install of Windows 7.   A fresh install of Windows is a great time to install a new SSD and it will make a world of difference on general PC speed.

NewEgg has a 120GB Kingston V300 SSD on-sale right now for $60:

http://promotions.newegg.com/NEemail/May-0-2014/Storagesale_22/index-landing.html?nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL052214&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL052214-_-EMC-052214-Index-_-E0_-Upgrade&et_cid=7953&et_rid=69225

They also have a Crucial 240GB M500 SSD on sale for $110 after a $5 coupon code, if you need more storage space.

Back up any data to DVDs or flash drives, then just do a clean install of Windows on the system, though you'd need a Windows install DVD which you might not have received from HP.  If you haven't, then do a reinstall from the reinstall media, then immediately run PC Decrapifier and CCleaner to clean up the system.

EDIT: I just noticed that it was an i3 320M.  I installed a SSD on a laptop I have that is an i5-540M with a clean install of Windows 8 and it was night and day difference with the SSD installed.    Windows 7 and an i3-320M won't be quite a fast, though you will see a real, measurable difference with a SSD installed on the system and a fresh install of Windows 7.

 
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GBAstar said:
Hi,

I was looking for some advice to speed up my older HP laptop. I only use this for work---running things like Google Chrome, Outlook, Word/Excel and some applications like Neat Receipts but nothing too taxing.

This computer is maybe 3-4 years old and runs terribly slow. I know it's not a great PC, and it wasn't great when I purchased it but I paid nothing OOP after redeeming Staples rewards (from recycling ink cartridges I bought in bulk). I have no desire to sink money into it and will admit I probably am guilty of not treating it properly in regards to downloading too much unnecessary shit over the years.

Here are basic specifications:

cpuspec.png


I've done things like running basic onboard tools like disk cleanup and defrag. I am using a freeware tool called "PC Decrapifier" to remove bloatware that I should of taken off day one.

I tried to remove a bunch of stuff manually but accidentally deleted some drivers for the network card and blu-ray drive.... ooops.

Is there anything else I can do? I'm not great with computers but I'm good at following along.
Click to expand...
You've got an i3, 4GB RAM...here's what I recommend:

-Look for a program called Ninite. It is a FREE downloader that takes legitimate, free programs of all sorts and compiles them into a single, nifty installer/updater. It's the surest way I can recommend you getting some actual tools without getting the right program from the wrong site. https://ninite.com/ Use this one. Then, click and get the following programs: Auslogics, Glary, Malwarebytes, Revo...depending on your anti-virus, running MSE, Avast or Avira's solid enough for a free AV (Avira cannot exist with Malwarebytes, oddly)...also, make sure you check all the Runtimes stuff to make sure you're updated on all that...

-Auslogics is a solid disk defragmenter. Glary Utilities is a program that does registry, junk files, some spyware (its like CCleaner, which is also good to use and another freebie). Malwarebytes is a second-opinion scanner that does a lot of malware checking. Revo is a solid uninstaller that not only tries to remove stubborn programs that do not uninstall (but may still be seen in Programs/Features), but also removes their registry and program data with Advanced scanning. Obviously, MSE, Avast, and Avira are all anti virus programs, all free (Avira and Avast, like Malwarebytes, all have paid versions that work very nicely). And Runtimes are your Adobe, Java, .Net, Silverlight stuff...basically makes sure Windows runs with smoothness.

-Run all of these programs (do full scans the first time around to be sure), make sure you clean up everything you do not need...there's some other advanced stuff that isn't too difficult to do, but better to have a tech monitoring to be sure nothing odd is going on. If worse comes to worse, backup personal data (your User folder for whatever login you use has about 99% of what you should be concerned about; 1% lies elsewhere, but is usually product keys or misc stuff) and reinstall Windows 7.

 
Download less porn and clear out the ones you don't watch anymore. Don't you know that you can stream it in hd now? :lol:
 
Last edited by a moderator:
dohdough said:
Download less porn and clear out the ones you don't watch anymore. Don't you know that you can stream it in hd now? :lol:
Click to expand...
Downloading porn is so "Kazaa".

But back on topic-----Can someone please help explain this? It seems like every time I run CCCleaner I run into a situation where it is removing a MASSIVE amount of temporary system files (see below).

CCCleaner.png


I literally ran it a few days ago (last time I used this computer) and it removed (1,xxx,xxx KB [correct me if I'm wrong but isn't that ~1GB of data?]).

Today, I ran it again after only having my computer on for a few hours and it had to remove 726,734KB of data (again I could be doing the conversion wrong but isn't that 700+ MB?).

Is this normal? If not I wonder if that is the reason for why this computer is running so slow. I honestly get about 30 minutes of normal use out of it before it starts to crawl. I've done most of the steps/suggestion in the first few posts including disabling/removing non essential programs and bloatware and because it initially runs well and progressively slows each session I wonder if there is a bigger problem

 
GBAstar said:
Downloading porn is so "Kazaa".

But back on topic-----Can someone please help explain this? It seems like every time I run CCCleaner I run into a situation where it is removing a MASSIVE amount of temporary system files (see below).

CCCleaner.png


I literally ran it a few days ago (last time I used this computer) and it removed (1,xxx,xxx KB [correct me if I'm wrong but isn't that ~1GB of data?]).

Today, I ran it again after only having my computer on for a few hours and it had to remove 726,734KB of data (again I could be doing the conversion wrong but isn't that 700+ MB?).

Is this normal? If not I wonder if that is the reason for why this computer is running so slow. I honestly get about 30 minutes of normal use out of it before it starts to crawl. I've done most of the steps/suggestion in the first few posts including disabling/removing non essential programs and bloatware and because it initially runs well and progressively slows each session I wonder if there is a bigger problem
Click to expand...
Temp Files are nothing to worry about other than taking up space you could be using for other things. Everytime you download any type of file, but don't save it, Windows places it into your system's temp folder. Now, when the PC reboots or whatever you're running is closed, you'd have to go and dig into Temp folder to find it and run it again since Windows does not immediately clean out Temp folders. 700+ MB is correct.

As for your PC crawling after 30 mins, it can depend on what you're running. Essentially, an i3 is a good entry level dual core, but the one you've got is about 4 years old; 2.27 GHz is a modest speed (not the best, but modest). 4GB is enough for RAM to start with.

Are you downloading anything like Windows Updates, applications you run briefly by clicking Download on its download page and then clicking Run (instead of Save/Save As), or other stuff? Cause that's usually where it winds up.

 
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