Computer gurus- I too have a question.

[Redleg]

My work computer (Windows 2000) has been very slow when I use windows explorer. It takes a long time for explorer to open and then to show the drives, folders, etc. It is even worse when I use it to view the contents of data CD-ROMS. Any suggestions on how to speed it up?

[SlavesandBulldozers]

1. some tips

start/run/ type "msconfig" / click startup. eliminate non-essential programs from the startup list. keep your eye out for stuff like "gator" and anything that says the name of whoever manufactured your computer for instance "compaq Speedemon" or "Dell Tool Belt" or some other such ridiculous bullshit, anything with a manufacturer name in it. Run a search in google for essential windows tasks, and eliminate anything not on the list.

Also you should scandisk/defragment (preferably in safe mode). Update Virus Scanner and run it.

[TrogL]

proprietary systems monitors

Those Compaq or Dell systems monitors are actually useful.

Compaq manufactures their own hard drives (they're actually Quantums with an extra chip) that warn you when they're about to blow so you have a chance of recovering your data. The system monitor is what tells you.

[foo_bar]

7. I don't win2k has msconfig

^think

[Redleg]

10. I cound not find "msconfig" on Windows 2000

I do have it on my home XP machine. God, I hate Microsoft and Windows!

[okieinpain]

13. i can email it too you. you have to add it in for w2k

.

[TrogL]

2. Buy more RAM

I hate to sound like a broken record...but most windoze problems are caused by lack of RAM. Windoze just does not deal well with going into swap (using computer hard drive space as a substitute for RAM).

Defrag and do all the other stuff people are recommending, but throw some RAM at the box while you're at it. 1 Gb of RAM isn't unreasonable for windoze 2000, more if you're doing graphics or like to keep lots of browser windows open.

[LTR]

3. 1 GB of RAM?

I heard that too much RAM for an older system does more harm than good.

Doesn't it cap at 512MB for run of the mill systems?

[Maine-i-acs]

4. CDROM could be dying

That could cause all the problems you mentioned. Explorer has to recognize all storage devices when it starts running. So a bum CD could be slowing it down.

[Redleg]

5. Aha- that might be it- I sure hope not.

I suspected something about needing to recognize all storage devices. Windows explorer is slow even without a CD in the drive (my CD-ROM is really a CD-R).

I can't believe it is a memory problem because my computer used to run just fine with the same configuration. Hmmmm.

[judge_smales]

6. You may also want to

look into Ad-Aware. Could be spyware on or other similar stuff on your machine too.

[Redleg]

9. I am currently using Spybot for that.

I assume it is similar to Ad-aware.

[bamademo]

8. Check the size of your pagefile

and increase it if neccessary.

Start-->Control Panel-->System-->Click on the Advanced Tab and then on the Performance Options Button. Then click the change box in the virtual memory section.

[Redleg]

11. Any suggestions on how big it should be?

EOM

[bamademo]

12. It will give you a recommended size

n/t