So I have noticed that this computer I am fixing for a friend works better if I don't install any updates. So my question is do I really need to update the machine? As long as I use a good anti virus solution shouldn't I be OK?
This is a fresh install, only a few days old, the only software installed is Firefox, Thunderbird, and iTunes. I guess I will try your suggestion, maybe this weekend.
I did set the paging file to 4 GB, but right now it's only using 1786 MB.
I would think with these numbers this system would be OK...
based upon the windows score of the components, I would suggest turning OFF the windows aero.
harpo
I would think so too, Kona. Something is wrong there.
I might look into turning off Aero. It has a PCI Express slot for a low profile card. I'm just not sure what card to put in there. Any recommendations? Something low end that can handle Aero and cheap?
just about ANY of the pciexpress low profile vga cards should be a significant improvement eg an ati 5450 or geforce 620 would be suitable and give the entire system a boost due to the shared ram buss effect for the onboard videos.
Yeah but I don't want to buy a PCI Express 2.0 only to find out the slot only takes a 1.0. I need to know what this system can take.
the best advice I could give is to go to the motherboard maufacturer's website and check the motherboard manual. the best ways to find the motherboard brand and model is
1 open the case and look at the motherboard (largest board in the case) for the brand and model,
or
2 download and install CPUZ, then run CPUZ, click on the motherboard tab, and note the brand and model,
or IF you have an itemised invoice from the computer build(assuming it was a custom build), then look in the invoice
hope this helps
Not quite.
There are two ways:
Read this article: http://www.ghacks.net/2013/07/30/how-to-disable-javascript-in-firefox/
Firefox 24 might just have "a mind of its own" and turn javascript on willy nilly.
If you add the NoScript, I believe it should solve the problem of vulnerability through infected javascript applets.
You're stuck between a rock and a hard place: Either a good, proactive security suite (which might not prevent infection as their definitions 'lag'), or the browser option. Or, you could get a more modern machine and ditch Vista/XP (sorry) for a more modern and secure OS:
"Important notice for users of Windows XP: To continue receiving security updates for Windows, make sure that you're running Windows XP with Service Pack 3 (SP3). The support for Windows XP with Service Pack 3 ends April 8, 2014. If you’re running Windows XP with Service Pack 3 (SP3) after support ends, to ensure that you will receive all important security updates for Windows, you need to upgrade to a later version, such as Windows 8."-MS
Good luck, either way.
You have the system. Assuming you can read you can locate each and every part make and model...and then Google for specifications.
In 'theory' you are far better placed to solve your own question than anyone else...
i was under the impression that all (pcie) cards will fit into the slot. they just won't take advantage of the extra bandwidth.
my motherboard has pcie 1.1 (it's that old...).. and i've stuck a 7770 on it... which is pcie 3.0 (only because i somehow killed the old 5770 when air dusting it or something.... not exactly sure how... wasn't cooled properly? wrong kind of air? )
aside from cpuz there's gpuz... which gives more info gfx-wise... not sure if it only works when a card is in the slot though... because it's reporting what the card is doing, not the slot.
Doc - I'm running Windows 7 Ultimate on the machine. And it turns out I do want javascript enabled, Facebook will not run without it. I will look into turning it off for other websites.
Guys I was under the impression if you use the wrong PCI Express version in the machine that the video will not work and may even fry the machine.
Thanks for all the help guys.
well...
only thing i can say is that i can stick a pcie x16 3.0 card into a pcie x16 1.1 slot. worked fine for a couple or so months so far i think. before that, i think it was a pcie x16 2.1 card into the same slot for a couple of years?
no doubt someone would know more about this. the motherboard i have is a P5N32-E SLI.
not sure about the low profile bit for your machine.. probably easier if you find out your mb model.
Try disabling schockwave/FLASH in IE. It can slow down your IE enormously, even on a high-end computer.
Disable as many addons as you can.
Also disable automatic startup of any programs that start automatically when window starts, like Steam, Openoffice etc. Those programs slow down your startup quite a bit.
Let me ask the obvious. If you stay offline, is the PC slow?
Kona.. really.. there are way too many bullshit answers/suggestions here and you are going to spend 3 times as much time exploring some of them.
The issues started when you ran windows updates and installed them. Your culprit lies there. Did you perform the updates AFTER you installed FF, Thunderbird and iTunes or before? If you installed them after the other software and things slowed down then start there.