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?
Having worked customer support at one point (in other words, a newbie with Google) I forgot the number one troubleshooting step (in other words, keep the customer busy while I Google this). Did you check to make sure the PC is plugged in?
Well I think I will try it. I'm just afraid the wrong card with fry the motherboard.
My motherboard is a emachines WMCP78M.
I need Shockwave and Flash to be on for Facebook. I'm having issues with the computer stalling when I scroll the Facebook news feed because Facebook has to connect constantly to the web to show more of the news feed. It's never an issue on my quad core machine.
Every unneeded add on has been disabled.
Every program except MSE has been disabled at startup.
Not really. I can easily play Command and Conquer Red Alert 3, listen to iTunes all at the same time with no issues at all. I really think this may just be either a Facebook issue or a IE/Firefox issue.
I installed Windows, then installed updates. The slow down occurred after I installed SP1. I installed the other programs, along with a few games yesterday, after installing Windows updates.
Yeah, it is. I'm typing on it now, LOL!!
And there you have your culprit. No need to chase all these other things around. You'll drive yourself into a frenzy.
Is this a name brand or home built system. Apologies if I missed that info somewhere.
Phoon...are you suggesting running Windows without the updates and going online? Or, are you suggesting the SP1 update was fouled somehow?
Doc ...probably the latter.
A screwed SP1 update can mangle a system right royally.
I'll refrain from The IT Crowd's standard response...."have you tried turning it off and turning it on again?" ...
Name brand. Emachines model EL1210-09.
Emachines. Had one once.
Once.
Well, let's be honest shall we....
A emachine is pretty much a disposable pc. Without digging too deep I see that this model goes for around $300.
I'm assuming that you installed the chipset driver for Win7 ( that's the only driver that shows for that OS on the emachines support site).
It is a very real possibility that this system will not be usable with Win7 SP1. It came with Vista originally didn't it?
I have a Dell Latitude D830 that came with XP. The hardware is completely capable of running Windows 7 but the video drivers will not stand for it in any fashion, and there are zero options for that. So, if I want a usable device I have to stick with the original OS flavor.
If this system came with Vista, put Vista back on it and call it a day.
Yeah I put all the drivers on that I could find for Windows 7. Looks like it is just slow on Facebook, I've been running some tests. Even if I wanted to put Vista back on the machine I wouldn't do it. Vista is a curse, and I don't have any of the original recovery discs for Vista, and there is no hidden restore partition on the hard drive.
I think what I will recommend to my friend is a cheap upgrade of the CPU to a dual core Athlon II X2, video card, and low profile video card. Maybe a bigger hard drive. That should cure all the problems.
Odds are, a PSU upgrade would be needed also. They come with the absolute minimum needed to run them in stock form.
By the time you spend that much on parts and labor, you could buy a much better used unit that would need no upgrades.
.... by the time you've changed all that you are probably better off just buying a new one
Looks like it is just slow on Facebook,
Now wait a minute... I reply #7 you said:
now your saying little faeries came along and made it all better except for facebook? I smell the ass leavings of a male cattle!
And when that doesn't solve the issue will he/she still be your friend? The problem may be elsewhere, like Motherboard. (and will the existing motherboard accommodate the Athlon II X2 , and/or can you even put a non emachines MB in to this system...)
[quote who="Wizard1956" reply="57" id="3402557"]By the time you spend that much on parts and labor, you could buy a much better used unit that would need no upgrades.
and why the fuck is this quote stuff messed up!!! AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Yeah, nested quotes are a mess on this site.
For an example, locally on Craigslist: $225 will get you a used eMachines with:
CPU-AMD Athlon X 2RAM- 4 GGigs DDR2Hard Drive- 500 gig Brand New Seagate15 In 1 Memory Card ReaderDVD Reader WriterWindows 7
http://bn.craigslist.org/sys/4086479854.html
$300 from a local repair shop gets you a custom built used rig with:
Processor: Core 2 Quad Extreme 2.2GhzRam: 4GB DDR3Hard Drive: 320GB Graphics: 8800GTXOptical: DVD-Writer
http://bn.craigslist.org/syd/4103096213.html
Use the other rig for a doorstop. You could spend $500 on upgrading it and still have a $200 PC. (if that)