Adding RAM for Performance enhancement - system is very slow?

Question

Hey all,   I have a Del Inspirion with 256mb RAM.  The Dell support website indicates that I only have 18% free when running only the browser.  The system is very slow and seems to access the hard drive almost constantly.  My question is; is 256mb enough RAM to prevent constant use of the swap file?  I am considering adding another 256mb for increased performance.  I'm hoping to get a lot of 'bang for my buck' so to speak!   I have assembled several desktop units and upgraded memory before but have zero experience with a laptop.  Is is hard to do ?   Thanks in advance for any advice.

SR45 · Answer

First and foremost, windows xp likes 512 mb on its own to run at its best, even though Mr. Bill Gates has stated that it will run with 256 mb. Yes, add more memory and this will help, but other things might be slowing the system down as well. If you have only the integrated video, that also will take memory from the 256 mb you have, leaving you will even less. Have you done a virus scan ? Have you updated the virus software lately ? Have you downloaded and used a spyware program and used it. Spyware will slow the system down a lot as well. Have you Defraged the Hard drive, used your Disk CleanUp program ? We don't know what notebook you have, its not listed, but memory should not be difficult to add. You should also go to the inspiron board and post some of your question there for a better response.

Below are a list of sites you can download some good spyware programs. You can install more than one of these, since just one may not catch all the spyware.

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/          Spyware program
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html           Spyware program
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html           Spyware program

Dim 4400 ( 2002 )
2.6 Ghz
Bios A06
768 MB DDR 2100
Windows XP Home
SP-2
1703 FP LCD monitor
Windows XP Firewall
Nortons Anti Virus 2005

Message Edited by SR45 on 02-12-2005 02:33 PM

robs67 · Answer

Thank You for your quick response.   Yes I have:     - defragged the hard drive(this morning)   - ran Ad-Aware(helped a little)   - ran Yahoo's Anti-Spy (only found 15 cookies)   - ran a disk scan with Norton's Anti-virus.  no viruses found.  This is my daughter's laptop and she gets automatic updates over her college campus network.    - At the direction of the Dell support staff, I blew compressed air throught the vents to clear out the heat sink and a significant amount of duts DID come out.  The system was shutting down earlier without explanation.  He felt that it was heat buildup.  I think he was right.   After all that, it is a 'little better' but the hard drive runs almost alll the time, which also drains the battery quickly.    Thanks again.

robs67 · Answer

I wanted to add that my system is a Inspiron 1150 with 256mb RAM.

SR45 · Answer

Nortons will also slow the already slower entry level system notebook somewhat.  Its a resource hog of sorts, even on some of the better systems.  If your daughters system has a Celeron cpu, integrated graphic's, and 256 mb of ram, than you would be served to up the ram to 512 mb.  This will alow for more applications to open and a little faster.  Your integrated video cannot be upgraded on that system, I believe, so she is stuck, but the ram upgrade will help.  Each and every week, use the can of compressed air into the vents to clean it out, so dust build up will be avoided.  Always us a spyware program as well, which will help.      I hope some of the suggestion will help...Let us know and good luck

robs67 · Answer

SR45,

Thanks for the knowledgable advice. I will order the additional RAM and install it ASAP. As for the NORTON, she has no choice. Her university(ONU) mandates that she use it on their network. The spyware and adware stuff only gets checked when she brings the laptop home to me! I will have her trained before the day is done on how to do it regularily.

Thanks again for all of your help.:womanvery-happy:

robs67

NS_MaNiAc · Answer

There are two battery packs for the 1150, you may want to look into getting the larger 12 Cell battery... Its the exact same 12-cell that the 5160 used.

SR45 · Answer

@robs67 wrote:

SR45,

Thanks for the knowledgable advice. I will order the additional RAM and install it ASAP. As for the NORTON, she has no choice. Her university(ONU) mandates that she use it on their network. The spyware and adware stuff only gets checked when she brings the laptop home to me! I will have her trained before the day is done on how to do it regularily.

Thanks again for all of your help.:womanvery-happy:

robs67

Its too bad that she cannot get a free three months version of Trend Micro PC Cillin that is rated higher than Nortons, which I am using now and well pleased thus far.. Good luck to you and your daughter and please train well on the spyware programs that will run in the back ground but need to be updated every few days to be current.

Dim 4400 ( 2002 )
2.6 Ghz
Bios A06
768 MB DDR 2100
Windows XP Home
SP-2
1703 FP LCD monitor
PC Cillin Security- free version for three months

pjl112 · Answer

I just changed memory on an IBM laptop and it was easy - Dell is probably just as easy . I also changed memory on a desktop recently and found it to be easier to access the laptop slots.   I went from 256 to 512 and it made a big difference - assuming no other issues such as virus, spyware, etc.   Check Dell support pages for the specific memory requirements and installation instructions. I imagine it is all clearly explained.   This might be a good starting point   it is the DELL memory selector page.You may have to cut and paste the link if it doesn't work by clicking.      http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/memconfig.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs   Good luck

Windows General

Adding RAM for Performance enhancement - system is very slow?

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