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Computer Tune-up Utilities
Does anyone have any experience with a good tune-up utility for an Inspiron 8600.
I downloaded a utility named TuneUp Utilities Startoberflache. I have it in trial version.
It seems to do everything that anyone would want. It found numerous errors and problems with my registry, and offered to fix them. It gives control over what starts and what doesn't. It also monitors memory usage.
What seems too good to be true often is.
After running the software in trial mode, and allowing it to fix my registry and tune up my memory, three of my most important programs (including DeLorme Street Atlas) just refused to work. They had to be reloaded.
Also, my boot-up time is now about two minutes while the computer sits on the "Welcome" screen of Windows XP Pro while it thinks and thinks and thinks.
I would appreciate any feedback on this specific software, this subject, and how to reverse any damage without formatting the hard drive and starting over.
622
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Posted March 2nd, 2004 22:00
first off, if you haven't already, you should wipe your computer....meaning format and then reinstall. Dell puts all kinds of junk on the computer that you don't need. all that stuff takes up room. get rid of it. What and how do you reinstall?
Well, first download the newest drivers, from the dell site, to your computer. save the drivers to CD. Also save the Dell folder (and all its contents), which is at the root of c:, to the CD. Further, backup any of your data and store it to CD.
Then format your computer! Then load the following:
1. Windows XP
2. Drivers (which you downloaded the newest versions of and copied to CD BEFORE you formated)
3. ALL windows updates.
4. Microsoft Office, or whatever word processing application you got with your machine
5. then, to answer your question, i recommend that you PURCHASE and, of course, install Norton Systemworks 2004. This is a great program for "tuning" your pc. however, you do need to be familiar with it and how to use it. if you know how to use and and to schedule events, "tuning" events, at night, you can definately benefit from this $49 purchase.
At this point, your computer should be SIGNIFICANTLY faster then it was before. However it may take you time to do the aforementioned steps, and as such, you may choose not to. If you know computers well, it should take no more than 2-3 hours at best...that is assuming you have a high speed connection for the windows updates.
good luck.
cazint.
622
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Posted March 3rd, 2004 03:00
i cannot stand any product from norton/symantec especially system works and internet security. what a load of cr ap. they are a huge pain in the as s to remove (of course i could be biased since i have to support "IT professionals" who scr ew up their systems with this garbage everyday)
03/26/02 Main System Sits in the Dock
Dell Latitude C840 BIOS A12, WindowsXP Media Center Edition, 15" Ultrasharp, P4 2.5GHz-M, 1024MB DDR, 60GB 7200rpm, 60GB 5400rpm, 40GB 5400rpm, USB2.0 Enclosure, 8X/24X Combo, 24X CDRW, 1.44MB Floppy, 66WHr Battery x 3, GeForce4 440 Go 53.03 StarStorm, 1300 802.11b/g, USB2.0 PCMCIA, IEEE 6-pin PCMCIA
01/30/04 Sits in the Corner
Inspiron 8600 BIOS A03, WindowsXP TabletPC Edition, 15.4" Ultrasharp, P-M 1.6GHz, 1024MB DDR, 60GB 7200rpm, 40GB 5400rpm, 4x DVD+R/+RW, 1.44MB Floppy, ATI Radeon 9600 Pro Turbo w/ Omega 54.14, 1300 b/g
02/02/04 Dell Auction for $511.01 - Work System
Latitude L400, XP Pro, pIIIm 700MHz, 256MB, 20GB 4200rpm
09/19/02 Old School System
Latitude X200, XP Pro, pIIIm 800MHz, 384MB, 30GB 4200, TM1150
11/15/03 New School System
Latitude X300, XP Pro, P-M 1.2GHz, 640MB, 40GB 5400, TM1300
02/03/04 Just for Kicks
Axim X3i, Windows Mobile 2003, 400MHz, 64MB ram, 64MB rom, integrated 802.11b
02/12/04 Axim X3i Redux
Axim X3i, Windows Mobile 2003, 400MHz, 64MB ram, 64MB rom, integrated 802.11bMessage Edited by mnguyen281 on 03-02-2004 11:17 PM
622
0
Posted March 3rd, 2004 15:00
Hi,
IMHO: Call me fat, dumb and happy, but I am in my third version (3+ years) of Norton SystemWorks Pro (currently 2003); I use it daily and have had no problems and though I have no way of proving it I think it saved my system many times.622
0
Posted March 3rd, 2004 19:00
You're probably not fat dumb or stupid - you're probably just using it correctly
03/26/02 Main System Sits in the Dock
Dell Latitude C840 BIOS A12, WindowsXP Media Center Edition, 15" Ultrasharp, P4 2.5GHz-M, 1024MB DDR, 60GB 7200rpm, 60GB 5400rpm, 40GB 5400rpm, USB2.0 Enclosure, 8X/24X Combo, 24X CDRW, 1.44MB Floppy, 66WHr Battery x 3, GeForce4 440 Go 53.03 StarStorm, 1300 802.11b/g, USB2.0 PCMCIA, IEEE 6-pin PCMCIA
01/30/04 Sits in the Corner
Inspiron 8600 BIOS A03, WindowsXP TabletPC Edition, 15.4" Ultrasharp, P-M 1.6GHz, 1024MB DDR, 60GB 7200rpm, 40GB 5400rpm, 4x DVD+R/+RW, 1.44MB Floppy, ATI Radeon 9600 Pro Turbo w/ Omega 54.14, 1300 b/g
02/02/04 Dell Auction for $511.01 - Work System
Latitude L400, XP Pro, pIIIm 700MHz, 256MB, 20GB 4200rpm
09/19/02 Old School System
Latitude X200, XP Pro, pIIIm 800MHz, 384MB, 30GB 4200, TM1150
11/15/03 New School System
Latitude X300, XP Pro, P-M 1.2GHz, 640MB, 40GB 5400, TM1300
02/03/04 Just for Kicks
Axim X3i, Windows Mobile 2003, 400MHz, 64MB ram, 64MB rom, integrated 802.11b
02/12/04 Axim X3i Redux
Axim X3i, Windows Mobile 2003, 400MHz, 64MB ram, 64MB rom, integrated 802.11b
PSMINN
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158 Posts
622
0
Posted March 2nd, 2004 21:00
You could run system restore...
Pam