DIM4500 -- disk cleanup problem

Question

Hi -- I visited the forum about three years ago. Got a lot of good info. So thanks in advance for any help you may provide.

I have a DELL DIM4500

windows xp professional ver 2002 w/SP3,

512 mb memory

intel pentium 4

38 gb disk (55% free)

cpu speed 2.39 ghz

My computer has been getting slower and slower as of late. I searched through all of the forum discussions I could find

to get some FAQ info, but after about 90 minutes of searching, I thought it best to post my question.

I can temporarily speed up the computer by running the disk clean utility, but it always scans the system, reports that I can save a bundle

of disk space (like 2,796,979 kb) by running it. The lions share of the savings comes from "compress old files".

I run it, but it does not compress the old files.

I still end up with 2,796,894 kb in the "compress old files" entry. If I run it again, it reports that I can gain 2,796,925 kb in the

"compress old files" entry.

The computer runs a bit faster for about a day or two -- slows down again -- I run disk cleanup again -- it does not compress

the old files again -- I reboot again -- and runs a bit faster for about a day or two -- etc....

Can anyone help.

thanks

Steve the elder

fireberd · Answer

Compressing files is not a good idea, it will cause a slight slowdown in operation. If you need to access data that is compressed it has to first be "uncompressed" before you can use it.

You have 512MB of RAM which is OK for basic Windows XP Operations. If you want very many programs open at one time you will need to upgrade memory.

A 40GB hard drive, with current hard drive sizes is a very small drive. But, if you have 55% free you are not in any immediate danger of running out of hard drive space.

The best thing you can do to "speed up" the old PC is a complete reinstall. I realize this is a hassle but after the reinstall you will be amazed at how fast and well the old PC runs. Give serious consideration to this. A "registry cleaner" will not speed it up (and can cause problems).

HERE is the Dell manual install instructions.

fireberd · Answer

There are commercial programs for backing up, but in your case just copying whatever user data you want to save is all that is needed. You can do it to floppies, CD's or a flash drive (if you get it working).

You can't backup Windows updates (unless you have, for example a complete and separate download of SP3 and in that case you could burn a CD of the SP3 to use later). Same way you can't "backup" programs as you can't "copy" them back to the hard drive and work, Programs will need to be installed. But, if you have downloaded a program you can save the download and copy it back to the hard drive to install.

In reference to the flash drive that doesn't work. With XP most flash drives need drivers to work since most are not Windows XP plug and play.

steve the elder · Answer

Thank you for the rapid response.

I am open to trying the reinstall.

However -- I have not backed up my computer for quite some time and I think I should do so first.

This leads me to another question -- Every time I attempt to backup, I get lost and end up quitting.

Is there a nice easy way to do backups?

I am not very computer literate.

Can I backup onto a flash drive? I have tried but to no avail. (I have a 16gb flash drive).

My DIM4500 also has a 3 1/2 inch floppy and CD drive.

I don't keep any significant data files on hard disk. I keep them all on floppy or CD.

-- can I backup the system only?? -- including all of the downloaded updates from and security

updates??

Is there a way to selectively pick which programs are to be backed up??

Thanks again for any help you may provide.

Steve the elder

steve the elder · Answer

Thanks again. You're the best!

I read thru the Dell manual reinstall instructions and printed it out.

I did not know about the "plug and play" issue with flash drives and XP.

About three years ago I had a system crash -- ended up replacing my memory to solve the problem,

then I had to put in 113 Windows updates (lots more by now) and had a real problem getting it to work.

I ended up getting help from Microsoft (they volunteered to help since security updates were involved).

I suppose I'll have to go thru the same process again. I'm sure I printed out the procedure. I'll look for it

and have everything in order before I proceed.

Thanks again.

Steve the elder

maxd · Answer

since your system is quite old it might be a good idea to first run the diagnostics on your hardware. Disk Cleanup is quite limited in increasing speed and deleting temp files and the like is not that relevant to your system. i would run chkdsk /f from a command prompt and after that completes run XP's defrag program. Also, verify that your Prefetch folder is alive and working. if you deleted the ini file, manually or with a registry cleaner recently, that could be your problem.

btw, there is a 'fix' for the Compress Old Files pop-up; do back up your registry in the unlikely event that that creates a problem; i suggest ou don't attempt the manual method in the MS link

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/812248

steve the elder · Answer

Thank you for the help.

I followed the MS link and used the "fix it for me" option. I then ran the disk cleanup utility --

and it ran about 1,000 times faster than before with no reference to "compress old files".

I'm thinking this may have solved my problem with speed.

I'll wait a few days and see.

Thanks again.

Steve the elder

Windows General

DIM4500 -- disk cleanup problem

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