Need help super slow pc

Hi guys,I've been trying to speed up my mom's pc,it freezes on start up and is extremely slow.Now she doesn't use the pc often,and usually just to do my Dad's bookeeping and play a few games.
Please help me figure out what's wrong and instruct me on what steps needed to be taken for any logs etc...
Thanks.

 

edit:System:Microsoft Windows XP Pro version 2002 SP3
Pentium 4 CPU 2.00GHz
2.00GHz,256MB of RAM

 

Well I know that 1st off you need to add RAM to the computer. Having Windows XP Pro Sp3 is alot for your computer to have on it. Not to mention what else you have on the computer for use. Another thing is you can try http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=106650 try defrag, using CCleaner, is there anything on startup? Also sometimes if the computer itself has been okay until lately.. then could always be infected and you should go to malware section and read the "read and run" but I think right now this is where you should be.

 

Thanks for the quick reply Silas.
While I was waiting for a response,I was browsing the forum and found the
Basic computer maintenance everyone should do thread.
I followed every step and already there is a marked improvement in performance.
I did defrag-using the built in defragger though.And Cc cleaner really worked well-nifty little program that one is.
I also was finally able to get rid of the Norton Security Scan and that pesky Avast!anti virus-(trial period ended since when,I dunno)
I really had a time trying to get rid of those 2,but I found all I needed on this site,You guys are so cool.Thanks for all this help.
I don't want to have to add more RAM unless it's deemed absolutely necessary,because as I have stated,my mom doesn't do very much on the pc and she is not too internet or pc for that matter,savvy.
So I spent 6 hours at her place tonight trying to improve her pc's performance and I had posted in the forum from her place.I have set up teamview on her pc and from now on I'll be doing it remotely,to cut down on travel time and gas-she lives about 40 miles away from me.

I stumbled on this site a couple of years back and I have lurked here quite awhile and I've learned so much.The info and level of aid you guys put forth, for free I might add,is just simply amazing.Thanks.

 

Well hopefully you got some sort of improvement. And hopefully you stick around. Only reading and learning is a fun way. Also there are anti virus software that "doesnt take up to much space" for computers and still work well.

 

Maintenance is more important than most will consider. Good job on taking time to clean up and bring things around on the computer! Kudos!

RAM is a really important part of the computer, even if it isn't an expense to take. With RAM prices on older units as I am assuming yours is, you might be pleasantly surprised with a bit more RAM. Adding a stick of 512MB on a XP machine will do wonders, freeing up access time to your hard drive to store information on the page file. RAM is a like your thumb drives, instant access and no moving parts. I have seen some machines literally perk up with an addition of RAM, totaling at least 768MB (512 + 256). A college professor used to say look at the specs of the operating system and double it. XP minimum requirements are 512MB... 768 is smack dab in the middle of 512 and 1024.

 

I have the same specs on my system but 1 gig of ram...I had 512 but it was still a bit sluggish so I threw in another 512 and the difference in speed is amazing...

 

Easiest and least expensive upgrade there is.
Would improve your use of the machine a lot with better performance and responses.

 

Good advice from all.Thanks.
I guess I will add more RAM then,Thanks for the link Rick.
You see,when you guys were talking RAM,I was confusing it with the hard drive,don't ask me why.:confused

Come to think of it,she was also telling me that a window pops up every so often with the "virtual memory low" message.

By installing more memory,will this message not appear anymore?

I noticed that her video card driver was outdated,so I installed a newer version.
Another increase in performance.gotta love it.

Are there any other tweaks I can perform to further speed up the system/optimize performance?

 

Most of the time yes that will fix it. Iam sorry by only say RAM. I meant memory. Yes crucial is a very good site and I personally bought from there. And the RAM(memory) was sent quickly with no issues. It also scans your computer and tells you specifically what they recommend and the specific type ID/number its called. Also for example my computer was like yours(with that much RAM) and I ended up paying in the 70 dollar range or tad more for 3 G of ram add. Which is totally enough RAM for me and totally enough for people that game. But in the end you do not have to get what I did and get something in the middle.

 

I tried it out and found that it was very easy to find exactly what I need and it even tells me what part to buy and the prices are low.I'll be going this route for sure.
Again,Thanks for the excellent advice and help.
I've thanked you all with the thanks button

 

No problem goodluck and enjoy:wave

 

Also check if there are any unnecessary devices attached to the computer.

I very recently had a case with a friend's computer that was extremely slow; I spent many hours on that machine and couldn't improve it in any way.

We finally decided to go for a new Windows 7 computer. When we came back with the new computer, she detached the loudspeakers from the old computer, and all of a sudden all the problems and slowness went away! The old computer now works as good as when it was new...

 

Very interesting,I wouldn't of thought speakers could slow a pc

 

I never heard about speakers doing that before. I know dust builds up inside computers that can be cleaned to help out. But given the list of what it has (really small memory) and the windows that is on it.. that can be big problem fro slowness. Thats why many suggest the adding of memory/ram