[LJG]

Sorry for the off topic but I would think this would be the best place to ask can anyone recommend an online/remote computer repair company?


There are so many, my office computer got real slow probably just needs some tuneup.


How is Tunepcnow.com, computergeeksonline, geeksquad.com?

 

[spivonious]

What OS are you running?


If XP, save your money and download Spybot Search&Destroy ( www.safer-networking.org ). It finds most adware/spyware.


If Vista/7, download Security Essentials ( www.microsoft.com/security_essentials ) and run that.


If it's still slow after running those, post back here and I'll try to help.

 

[LJG]

XP, I will try Spybot Search and destroy, thank you

 

[Roussi]

Other recommendations are to do disk Cleanup (from disk Properties) and defragment (disk Properties - Tools).

Last time this happened to me I found it was the fan control utility application (Biostar's SystemControl) - I had it set to "quiet" and it was throttling the cpu.

 

[justinm0424]

You should backup all your data and just reformat the pc. I find that it's a lot easier to start fresh than to try to clean your pc. Most online companies like that are either scams or super overcharge. It might be your computer is just slow and maybe think about upgrading. I find that a lot of people think somethings wrong with their pc and it's because they're using older hardware and can't handle newer software. It'll be a great reason to upgrade to win7

 

[spivonious]



Quote:
Originally Posted by justinm0424 /forum/post/18103009


You should backup all your data and just reformat the pc. I find that it's a lot easier to start fresh than to try to clean your pc. Most online companies like that are either scams or super overcharge. It might be your computer is just slow and maybe think about upgrading. I find that a lot of people think somethings wrong with their pc and it's because they're using older hardware and can't handle newer software. It'll be a great reason to upgrade to win7

I tune-up computers as a side job (day job is software developer) and I have yet to come across a PC that was so messed up it needed a reformat. That includes one that wouldn't even boot to Safe Mode. There is always a way to fix things without losing data.


With that said, reformatting is usually the fastest way to a performant PC, if you don't count the time needed to reinstall your applications.

 

[ove1]

ccleaner
http://www.ccleaner.com/

 

[K-Spaz]

The Registry in any windoze pc grows as the pc ages and is used. There is NO WAY to fix that, very serious performance hit, other than to reload the system from scratch. You can reg-clean till you are blue in the face, it will not reduce the size of the registry, nor will it affect the time needed for the system to parse all that bs. A fresh load of windoze will make any pc perform as good as its going to.


For years, I reloaded every system I owned every 6 months, but I'm a bit fussy about performance. Now, I admit I allow them to go over a year, but then I use 4 different machines at home now and none of them gets the amount of usage my main pc used to. They all still work _very_ fast.

 

[Pringals]

 Spybot S&D as recommended above, is a great tool. Others I like are Malwarebytes and SuperAntiSpyware . Another thing that can slow your computer down is heat. Heat is formed when your fans are no longer able to cool properly mostly due to dust buildup. Open up your case and just do some light vacuum and cleaning. Clean the dust buildup off your intake vents and fans. Small paint brushes work well to dust while you vacuum. You should also inspect the CPU cooling unit. If it is cluttered with dust, it would be a good idea to remove the fan or work around it and clean all the dust you can. The dust acts like insulation preventing the heat from escaping.

 

[Noooob]

All of the above are good to use, but if you don't want to mess with it, ATT Tech 360 works and is set up for small businesses. If you want more info you can email me, or PM me.


Before anyone jumps on me for spam, I do work for AT&T and I am only trying answer the original question.


Its funny though because obviously its a tough questions to answer since I bet 99.99% of people here are DIY'ers. and I am no way discounting any of the answers here.


Also I hope that this does not violate any of the posting rules here.

 

[spivonious]

The dusting is a great idea. Heat can cause the CPU to throttle its speed. Go out to Staples and get a can of compressed air. Open up the case and blow out all of the dust from the heatsinks.


Remember to hold the fans with your hand so they can't spin. I've broken a couple fans by spinning them too fast with the compressed air.


Also, go through and uninstall programs you don't use anymore.


If the computer is still slow after all this, then you might want to think about a reformat.