Fresh XP home install runs slow as dirt.

I did a fresh install of windows XP home on a Dell Dim 2400 And its runs slow as dirt takes minutes to open Firefox or anything else and runs low on virtual memory when i even have it set to 3000mb's. This dell has a 2.4ghz Celeron and only 128mb ram so its low in ram and a 40gig hdd but i got XP settings set all the way back for proformence and its still slow, browsing the web its slow on 3mb DSL and locks up and unlocks and after you look at afew pages a windows message pops up saying running low on virtual memory and windows is increasing it. How can that be when i already have it set to 3000? I have done everything i can think of. This is a fresh install with only Firefox, Avast, And Spybot installed.

This problem makes me think back to another problem i had where i was installing windows XP home on another computer and it was taking hours to format and install and in order to fix that problem i had to remove the Bios Battery for it to install at its normal speed..

 

Well, the gf has a Dell laptop with 128MB and the thing is as slow as frozen molasses. Yes FF takes a couple of minutes but once on it's not too bad, even youtube plays OK. I am worried about your virtual memory though, something wrong there but I don't have an idea of what it could be.

By all means get some extra RAM, even another 128MB stick will help greatly.

 

Well try your CMOS battery thing ... but ... it sounds like its hardware so for starters stick your XP cd back in press r when it prompts you and type;
C: cd
chkdsk /r
fixmbr
fixboot

Remember to check your Bad Sectors! Then restart into Safe Mode and open CMD and type sfc /SCANNOW with your disc in the drive.

After that's finished download memtest86 3.6 and run it through a couple of pass' on a normal boot. Check for any errors.

The two detailed are the most common Hardware errors that will still cause a computer to run but at an extremely slow speed. ALSO, sometimes memtest will not show up bung modules on your RAM chips that "aren't" interfering with the computer ... they actually are ... check how much RAM you actually have (by inspecting their sticker) and then see how much your System reads. (I have that exact problem with my Toshiba Tecra A8 at the moment ... i have 1024mb but its only reading 999mb and each stick tested individually shows no errors with memtest but the system only reads 504mb a stick ... weird ay ... I'm buying a new DDRII SODIMM 667 2GB chip real soon.)

 

I think I need to go to bed ... I thought he said he had 1024mb of ram not 128mb ... meh ... goodnight

 

See the thing is this computer is 150miles away from me i'm siting at it now but i don't have no software with me at the moment and i know this thing needs more ram but i seen a computer run XP home with 64mb ram and not be this slow. I am gonna try some of the things said and i will report back.

 

Tests came back clean just got to run the memtest

 

Windows XP recommends a minimum of 256 ram, 512 preferred. I'd definetly get more memory. The fact you got it to completely load with 128 is astonishing, must be an older version.

Your Dell should be able to hold up to 2gb max, you can go to www.shop.kingston.com and get 2 - 1gb sticks for between $50 and $80, maybe cheaper, with free s&h for all orders over $25

 

Well believe it i done it on afew systems where the people did not want to upgrade from there 500mhz 64MB ram system but wanted XP Home so i made it work and it worked it was slow but it worked and it was not as slow as this system.

This is Windows XP Home with SP2 you can get XP to load on just about any system. Ifs not my dell its my girlfriends aunt's. She won't let me take it home to upgrade it so i do what i can while i am there.

 

I told them they can upgrade or put up with it. But don't tell me what will and won't because i done it. I did not say a computer with 500Mhz 64mb ram came pre-installed with XP them systems came pre-installed with 98se and people came to me wanting XP on the systems without upgrades 90% of the computers here in my county are 1.3ghz or less. It can be done and when did my "girlfiend's Aunt's computer" become my "sister's aunt's friend's relative's system"??
I been doing it for years so don't tell me it can't be done. First thing a computer person would tell you is to *never* say "it can't be done." There is something else wrong with this Dell it might be the install of XP was bad. But oh yea this system spec's are as follows Windows XP Home SP1, P4 Celeron 2.4ghz, 40gig HDD and 128mb ram with 8mb shared for the on-board Video and thats how it came *FACTORY* from Dell. next time i am in Savannah i am gonna try reinstalling XP and see if that does anything

 

Well... when I purchased a Dimension 2400 XP Home in 2003, XP Home, Dell said that 256 MB would be sufficient. It proved not to be true since I added additional stuff (scanner, better speakers) and software. Therefore, added another 256 MB of RAM to it and it worked better. A year later purchased my current Dimension 4600i, XP Home with 512 MB. I was told by Dell that 512 MB RAM would be sufficient. Added last year 2 GB of RAM.

In my experience and IMHO 512 MB is the minimum for XP if additional hardware/software is wanted/needed.

 

I always say atleast 512mb for basic systems but theres people that think they know and only want what they have already. I wish they would listen to me and let me install more but they won't let me and i know it should run alot better than it is.

I know what i know and you know what you know i seen things that should not be like that battery trick and so have you. BTW some call them P4 Celeron's because they are the P4 socket 478. I still get the Duh look from people when i say Socket 478 around here ebcause our area code is 478. We will just leave it at that because i think we could go at it all night on what can work and what won't.