[joanofarctv]

I can't stand it when I upgrade to new software and my computer slows down. I think it's a conspiracy where the software mfg keep increasing memory requirements for their products and then you have to eventually upgrade your computer hardware and memory because your computer slows to a crawl! Anyone else notice this or is it just me?

[buzzy]

Of course you are right. Happens all the time. Not a conspiracy, though. It's just progress.

[Mikeod]

Originally Posted by joanofarctv

I can't stand it when I upgrade to new software and my computer slows down. I think it's a conspiracy where the software mfg keep increasing memory requirements for their products and then you have to eventually upgrade your computer hardware and memory because your computer slows to a crawl! Anyone else notice this or is it just me?

Many programs add pieces to your start-up folder that are really unnecessary and will slow down start-up and slow your computer down by hogging memory. Disabling these should speed up your system and not affect the operation of the installed program. Access your start-up folder and look for new items added by your new program.

If you don't know how to do that, I suggest getting and installing CCleaner from Piriform. It is free. One of the Tools is a section on start-up and allows you to disable items. If you find one of the items you disable is really necessary, you can enable it again.

CCleaner also is good for clearing out extraneous files from your system. (Its name stands for crap cleaner!)

[tumbleweed]

Another free utility worth checking out is Soluto at Solouto.com. This program specifically focuses on startup and related issues. It will diagnose what is happening during startup and even clocks how long the steps and processes take and then identify/suggest possible changes that can be made with very little effort/knowledge required on the part of the user. As most of us don't really understand all the ins and outs related to such processes it is helpful to see what the implications are as well as to see how most users handle the esoteric matters.

Soluto has other features, but this is the one I found most useful.You may be surprised as to how little latitude there is in reducing startup times unless one is willing to eliminate almost all of the non-system programs/routines.

[OldDave]

This seems really unfair, but my experience over 30 years of buying and replacing computers for my business taught me a pretty hard lesson. While you should be able to load new software on your computer. I would strongly discourage you from updating the OS or something major like a new version of Office. If you put the next version of Windows on a computer you already have had for a bit, you can almost always be guaranteed to lose a lot of performance. And honestly you don't really gain much from a new version of Windows or Office...you just have to learn how to use it again.

Now for what is the hardest thing to accept. If your computer is 3 year old its done for. Yes, I know it works fine, looks gone, but it is now outdated. Any new software just won't work well. The good news is that 15 years ago the cost of a moderate computer was in the $1,000 to $1,500 range. They are now cheap. And the new version of Windows that will come on it is much cheaper than buying it alone. The last desktop I bought was an eMachine from WalMart. That used to be a terrible brand, but it was purchased by someone else who upgraded the guts. I spent less than $400 and it is a beast that runs any game or graphics app without trying. It came with Windows 7, so it's good for another year or two.

Funny thing if you haven't noticed, every other OS update from MS is crap, and the alternate one works. Vista is horrible, 7 is great, I hear from Beta testers that 8 is a disaster.

So when yours slows down try the suggestion the other folks have made and you might have some luck, but put $500 in your budget every 3 years. Don't buy a package. Use your old monitor and printer until they die.

Most of all research the brands available. You do not need to pay extra for a name brand. But you do need to make sure if you buy an eMachine for example that the current reviews (not from 2 years ago) are positive. AND, if you can have your own Matthew...my 27 year old son, the programmer. lol

Good luck.

[CFrance]

Or our Joshie (38 and a whiz)...