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So the computer finally is showing it's age

kona0197

Join Date 02/2003

+64

So the computer finally is showing it's age

It's taken me awhile to start this thread, sorry. I know this may end up in flame wars. Again I am sorry.

So everyone knows my situation. Well those close to me on this site do. My computer is finally showing signs of how old it truly is. Keep in mind my computer has a Pentium 4 processor so I am guessing this setup to be almost ten years old. The problem, even after a few friends helped me here with a new hard drive and more memory, is the rest of the system. The processor can't keep up with the newer operating systems. I'm having a hard time just running XP. Found out the other day my DVD Burner drive is almost dead as it will read disc sometimes and other times it will not. Monitor is on it's last legs as well. Hard to read anything and the brightness is going out. It's an old CRT Dell monitor that is almost as old as the tower.

As Starkers had told you this computer is my main way to communicate with the things that are important in my life. So I was hoping someone out there had a few newer parts I could install to extend the life of the machine a bit. Nothing special. I already have DDR2 memory and a newer hard drive. Just need a few other things.

So carry on. Discuss I guess.

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What extensions and add-ons are you running with FF, kona. Have you actually timed it and have you done so with a bare bones install of FF or with the portable version?

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AceMatrix

Join Date 01/2010

+196

Quoting Wizard1956,

reply 676

What extensions and add-ons are you running with FF, kona. Have you actually timed it and have you done so with a bare bones install of FF or with the portable version?

Yep , that would definitely be something to investigate. I don't use Firefox myself, but I do use iTunes (only because of my iPhone), and it's true that iTunes on my machine does have an extremely long start-up time after a reboot. -- Ace --

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kona0197

Join Date 02/2003

+64

I will post some times after work today. Thanks guys.

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CarGuy1

Join Date 03/2007

+543

iTunes is a finicky piece of software and is normally slow to open. If you want to speed up the load time, wait to plug your synced devices in until after it's open. If you open the program with a device plugged in it tries to read the content while loading which extends the load time.

As for FireFox, by default it checks for updates to its self and it's plugins which extends the load time. You can go into the update options and turn those off to speed it up.

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RedneckDude

Join Date 04/2009

+1781

Quoting CarGuy1,

reply 679

Yeah, any program beginning with "i" isn't good for your PC...hehe.

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kona0197

Join Date 02/2003

+64

OK guys here are some times for you. I think I am doing OK.

From a press of the power button to the desktop with all start up programs loaded and internet conected - 1 minute, 33 seconds.

Firefox from program launch to a open web page - 18 seconds.

Google Chrome from program launch to a open web page - 22 seconds.

Internet Explorer 9 from program launch to a open web page - 8 seconds.

iTunes from program launch to being able to play music - 19 seconds.

Microsoft Word program launch to being able to use Word - 7 seconds.

Perhaps I thought the system was taking longer. These times look good to me.

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Quoting kona0197,

reply 681

These times look good to me.

They look great to me. And you wondered why some of us still use and prefer IE9. Face it, it's fast and reliable. It may lack the extensions FF and Chrome have, but I've never really found a need for any of them. All in all, I think you have a fine system now and I hope you get to use and enjoy it for many years to come.

The only thing that may need upgrading at this point would be that graphics card.

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doortech1

Join Date 12/2011

+251

Thanks Guys., I will let it be, unless I see dypsis on the street, then your lunch meat.I can pm you my adrress!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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doortech1

Join Date 12/2011

+251

It took me a half hour to load the page to comment! Those times look good to me except FF, maybe some tweaking of the program itself?

So you all know, I expected that response, people hate the word ignorant! Oh well.

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starkers

Join Date 05/2004

+1092

Quoting doortech1,

reply 683

then your lunch meat.

Nah, it's not worth it... a police record for assault is a likely outcome and like a tattoo... there for the rest of your life.

Besides, you're a good guy.

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doortech1

Join Date 12/2011

+251

Starkers, someone has been telling you lies{I am evil}! I thought that I was being nice!Well, nice for me anyhow. I was\am joking of course Dypsis!

No hard feelings here.I expected and have been called worse.

Quoting kona0197,

reply 678

I will post some times after work today. Thanks guys.

Kona, how is that work thing going?

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Uvah

Join Date 05/2006

+874

Wassup DT? Ain't seen you in a bit.

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doortech1

Join Date 12/2011

+251

Quoting Uvah,

reply 687

Wassup DT? Ain't seen you in a bit.

Put my new system together and it was to new and had issues with my modem. Was unable to stay online for more than two minutes before today. Missing everything here at WC for sure.

I think I have it fixed finally. Smokin avatar by the way, very cool!

How was my return!!!!haha, you know me, just a ball of charm!

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Uvah

Join Date 05/2006

+874

I liked watching Charmed. Smokin'! sssssst!

And how was your day.

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starkers

Join Date 05/2004

+1092

Quoting Uvah,

reply 689

I liked watching Charmed. Smokin'! sssssst!

Yeah, it was the show with most cleavage per episode back in the day... all 8 seasons of it.... then came Ghost whisperer, with even more cleavage per episode than Baywatch.

Oh how I love them supernatural shows.

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kona0197

Join Date 02/2003

+64

Work is going good. Things are looking up.

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AceMatrix

Join Date 01/2010

+196

I cannot believe this thread went on for 692 comments. Unbelievable. I've become so used to checking the comments on this post over the past several weeks that now, I'm reluctant to see it go idle. Geeeez.....I'm so sentimental. [e digicons]:')[/e] -- Ace --

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starkers

Join Date 05/2004

+1092

Quoting kona0197,

reply 691

Work is going good. Things are looking up.

That is really good to hear, Terry, I'm glad things are on the improve for you and the family.

May they keep rising for you all.

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kona0197

Join Date 02/2003

+64

I think the biggest hurdle is getting caught up on bills. Just when I think I am caught up another one shows up. That's life I guess. I'm thankful for the small things.

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doortech1

Join Date 12/2011

+251

Nobody catches up on bills, thats funny. Bills are endless! Got some extra bills lying around though if you need some more when you get caught up! Yeah Ace, me too. Like visiting an old friend , this forum{post}. Or, a soap, as the world turns, days of our lives. Sorry, my mother loved soaps.

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Uvah

Join Date 05/2006

+874

Getting caught up on bills is the fun part. Don't think so? Think of where you were then think of where you are now saying..."yeah...I can do that!" Its always fun knowing you can do something......again. I'm proof of that.

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DPCloud

Join Date 09/2008

+246

Yeah Ace, me too. Like visiting an old friend , this forum{post}. Or, a soap, as the world turns, days of our lives.

Ditto

Edit; The Never Ending Story…

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kona0197

Join Date 02/2003

+64

Well my friends the machine continues to run and impress. The graphics card has some issues while using some things like Google Earth. I am still thinking of upgrading the card and the RAM to DDR2 800, maybe 8 GB. Just for fun I am going to clock the girlfriend's laptop to see how the boot time stacks up against mine. I have been using a combination of Malewarebytes, Kingston PC Doctor, Auslogics Disk Defrag, CCleaner, and AVG to keep the machine happy and running great. No problems. I even have let AVG update itself automatically along with Adobe flash. I guess some habits do change. Still wish I could find drivers for that new sound card. Oh, and lately I have just put the computer to sleep instead of turning it all the way off.

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Jafo

Join Date 03/2001

+1247

Quoting kona0197,

reply 698

Still wish I could find drivers for that new sound card.

What's the card?

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kona0197

Join Date 02/2003

+64

ESS1988S soundcard

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