Many Computer Problems!!!

I have had my laptop for 4-5 years. It is extremely sluggish at times, working for a short period and then stalling for a longer period. I have defragged it numerous times as well as removed unnecessary programs and run CCleaner.
Also, the other day, I smelled something burning around my headphone jack. I turned my computer off, and turned it back on a few days later. It works, but it makes an awful buzzing sound. I took my computer apart trying to figure it out with no luck. So I unplugged my speakers and it doesn't do it now. I tried to record something by plugging my guitar into the microphone jack, and all I got was buzzing, whereas it has worked in the past. I don't know if this is my sound card or what has happened. Also, how in the world can I speed my computer up??? Thanks in advance!

 

Can you tell us what operating system you are using, how much RAM you have, and what programs you have used for degfragging?
There are a lot of good freeware programs listed on this site.

 

I am running Windows XP. I have used the standard defragger that comes with Windows XP. I have 192 MB of RAM. My processor is Mobile Intel Celeron CPU 1.80 GHz. Thanks a lot!

 

192mb of ram is not all that much, and could cause the sluggishness that your computer is having.

 

What do I do to increase the amount of RAM I have? And is this expensive? Also, still don't have a clue what is causing the buzzing sound. Is it my sound card, and if it is, what do I do?

 

When you hear the buzzing sound, is it coming out of your speakers or the computer itself?

I typed a long paragraph about desktop RAM before I read you had a laptop. Anyway, google your laptop's model number and you should be able to find a spec sheet detailing what kind of RAM it has and how much it can take. Take that information to newegg.com and shop around. I would recommend a minimum of 512MB for windows xp.

 

Thanks a lot for the help so far! The buzzing I hear is coming from the speakers. I took my computer apart and unplugged the speakers and it stopped making that sound. But if you plug headphones in, it still makes the buzzing sound. Also, when I plug my guitar into the "Line In" and record, all it records is buzzing and I have never had anything but crystal clear sound before.

 

I wish I could give advice about the sound problem, but that is something I don't know about.
Definitely more RAM would be good. RAM should not be too expensive, but be sure you know what kind of RAM, how much your laptop can take, etc.
Have you been able to find out what kind of RAM you have? If you have not found anything google searching by entering your laptop make, model then you can still download BelArc Advisor, which is on the download part of this website. BelArc will help identify the kind of RAM, how much you have now, but you will still need to know how much you can put it.