virtual memory

[llamekuf]

My friend's 5 year old computer is very slow.
According to the computer there is space on the Hard Disk.
A message, ' your system is low on virtual memory, windows is increasing the size of your virtual memory '
appears at the bottom of the screen.
Any help to speed up the computer would be helpful.

.

[Ethel]

If she is prepared to spend a few pounds, adding more RAM could make a big difference - depending how much RAM it has now.

She needs to use the scan tool on this site:
http://www.crucial.com/uk/systemscanner/

She doesn't have to buy from that site, but she will get a lot of useful information.

Adding RAM is an easy and straightforward thing to do

[Ethel]

She may have too many programs starting automatically every time she turns her computer on. This is a waste of resources if she does not intend to use them.

Start - run
Type

msconfig

in the box, and click the 'startup' tab.

Untick all the programs you recognise as programs that aren't needed. Satnav software, mp3 players software, office software - all that sort of thing may be starting automatically needlessly.

Reboot.

[ACtheTROLL]

I fink it depends what you are saying ...
is it ... 5 year old pc is slow (and we all say ... yes they are!)
(more memory may help 512 to 1Gb is plenty - don't go mad)

or are you saying that it's slowed down of late?
if its just started to go slow
windows likes plenty of space ... save all your music photos etc to CD/DVD and

download http://www.ccleaner.com/download
run with the defaults
then
run the disc checker and finally defrag (both in disc properties (do it for all your discs)

[llamekuf]

My thanks for your replies.
I will be trying your suggestions.
Thanks again.