Computer as secondary memory

[Louis]

My current compter is running pretty slow these days probably due to too many programs running in the background and the antivirus and spyware programs. I have the opportunity to acquire an additional computer (surplus from the wife's office) and was wondering whether linkng the two would alleviate the problem. I'd use the second computer to store files and programs and leave the primary running only the basics of Windows XP and perhaps spyware.

Would this work?

[sao95]

2 computers are always better than one :wink: :D it'll give you more space, which is always a plus, but what's taking up the most space is probably your antivirus and spyware, so if it's still running on the main I don't see it helping relieve the problem that much. what I would do is go to
start>run> and type in "msconfig", click on the startup tab, now uncheck everything except your antivirus. Your spyware I wouldn't leave running, it takes up alot of resources on some of those types of programs, close it out so that it just opens when you want to run it, that's basically what unchecking that stuff will do, stop it from starting as soon as you boot your comp. Also go to start> all programs> accessories> system tools> disk defragmentor and run that
also how big is your harddrive and is it partitioned? (if you go to my computer, how many hard disk drives are listed), if you have alot of space and no partitions that can slow ya down a bit....

Also get the free computer and maybe the RAM will match what you need and you can strip it down. you could also just take the harddrive out of the other computer and put it in yours, that could help you out quite abit. the problem with networking is opening programs through the other computer, depending on how good it is could create more lag , by hooking the harddrive up to your secondary IDE everything will run a bit smoother.

[SGTDad]

How much RAM does your main computer have? In my experience, adding more RAM is the number 1 performance improvement for the dollar.

[seattle]

My current compter is running pretty slow these days probably due to too many programs running in the background and the antivirus and spyware programs. I have the opportunity to acquire an additional computer (surplus from the wife's office) and was wondering whether linkng the two would alleviate the problem. I'd use the second computer to store files and programs and leave the primary running only the basics of Windows XP and perhaps spyware.

Would this work?

Running progams across the network would be slower. I would and have setup both computers with a KVM so you only need on keyboard, monitor and mouse. Then I would load some programs on one pc and some on the other pc. My main computer is Email, Internet and files my second PC is for games and other programs.

[Jackson's Dad]

Antispyware? Antivirus? Defrag harddrive?
Oh right, PCs. :wink:

Seriously, slow running is due to (a) not enough RAM or (b) too slow of a processor (some program is taking too much bandwidth). Moving files off the harddrive won't do anything to help -- unless you use a program like Photoshop which uses a lot of virtual memory (where is uses some harddrive space to act as extra "RAM").

[sao95]

Seriously, slow running is due to (a) not enough RAM or (b) too slow of a processor

your wrong JD, I don't know much about mac's, but I'm thinking they don't have the same problems as windows based systems. The biggest thing that slows down the average users pc is spyware, ad-aware, trojans and virus's. I have three nice systems from people who upgraded because their comps slowed down, I cleaned them and they run great. Also most programs that are windows based automatically throw themselves in the startup menu, so you probably have enough RAM, but those programs are taking it up when you don't want them to, improper ventilation could slow a computer down if the CPU is getting too hot (doubtful, but could happen). If at one time you had enough speed, and you haven't become a graphic designer and loaded you comp with macromedia products and are trying to run flash, dreamweaver and photoshop at the same time, then it's not your comp, it's the crap on it.

some very good free spyware detectors are, and I strongly advise having all of them
spybot search and destroy http://www.spybot.info/

ad-aware http://www.lavasoft.de/software/adaware/

hijackthis (ESSENTIAL!!!) http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Popup-Ad-Spyware-Blockers/HijackThis.shtml
then paste your log in here and it will help you determine what is bad
http://www.hijackthis.de/index.php#anl

this one you might want to check out, but becareful of what you delete
rootkitrevealer http://www.majorgeeks.com/Rootkit_Revealer_d4652.html

this is CWshredder, checks for coolwebsearch spyware, it will slow a comp down http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4086.html

trend micro is good as well http://www.trendmicro.com/spyware-scan/

and regscrubxp, it cleans your registry, odds are fixing everything won't be a problem, but if you do have one everything is restorable http://www.sofotex.com/RegScrubXP-download_L7528.html

[Jackson's Dad]

The biggest thing that slows down the average users pc is spyware, ad-aware, trojans and virus's.

That stuff slows you down because they are basically programs that are constantly running. Each one each some of your processors bandwidth, so the less bandwidth you have, the quickly your system will get swamped.

On the Mac there's an app called Activity Monitor -- I assume there's a comparable one for PC -- that lets you see all processes (apps, macros, etc.) that are currently running, and how much of the processor (in %) they are using. This is always a great tool to see what is going on. If you are experiencing a slowdown, you can run the Monitor and see if anything is eating up too much processing bandwidth.

Dan

[sao95]

On the Mac there's an app called Activity Monitor -- I assume there's a comparable one for PC -- that lets you see all processes (apps, macros, etc.) that are currently running, and how much of the processor (in %) they are using. This is always a great tool to see what is going on. If you are experiencing a slowdown, you can run the Monitor and see if anything is eating up too much processing bandwidth.

Dan

control/alt/delete and you can see what is running, and % used, but I don't think it tells all when dealing with spyware....

[Louis]

Update on the Computer.

I fiddled with the MSConfig settings as Sao suggested leaving only Kaspersky checked. Oddly enough it's icon is not on the bottom RHS.

Don't notice much of a difference. Pages do tend to refresh a bit quicker though. Must be the moist towlettes I feed through the coffee pot holder.

On to details.

80530 processor 2.4 G, 512K, 533, Socket N, Decision one
Dual In Line memory Module, 128, 333M, 16x64, 8K, 184
Hard Drive, 40 GB :shock: I, 7.2K, 2MEGB, Maxtor Apollo
Card (Circuit) Graphics, 64MB NV18

[sao95]

more RAM

scratch that, start thinking about building a new one....

[Louis]

yeah :lol: With you on that!.

Get ready to build the Super Sao.

[sao95]

:lol:

really though, I'm guessing you have the cd/rw and floppy in your old one, and you can reuse the case and power supply, harddrive, video card and OS, so just get a new motherboard, processor and memory, you could have a nice system for probably $240 bucks :D

[Louis]

nah.... this'll go to the wife who needs to run excel and surf HSN.

I'm talkin super cooled baby! A$$ kickin heart pounding, super modular and next generation

[sao95]

something like this setup http://users.bigpond.net.au/wishart/images/smilies/hail[1].gif


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131568

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103545

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148134

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827249003

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227210

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835181004

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106992

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817159056

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102685

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811146007

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835185020 :D

or a dual opteron :D

[Louis]

Now see... that's what I'm talkin bout

But maybe this dual core instead
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103608


:shock:

ok maybe a little too much jalapeno... one up over the 4400

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103544

[sao95]

:lol: I had edited when you were posting :lol:

that would be a sweet setup :D

[sao95]

Louis, if your wife really lets you get that dually 64 setup, ask her if she will become a polygamist and will take in another husband :lol: