Q: I have this relatively new (two months old) Dell Dimension 2400. P4 2.2 GHz, 256 RAM, Win XP Pro and it runs a bit funny. When I “start menu” then goto “all programs” in the menu disappears but slowly. It is also a part of MS Office apps running at once, so it would soetimes Outlook, Word, Access, Publisher and open at the same time. But Ive been running at once on a 600 MHz with 256 RAM and better benefits received. And it doenst happen all the time but enough to concern me. This is a work computer and I need it to carry out top-notch. What do you think? RAM problem? Powers supply problem? (He acted just alittle funny now, but I have not been able to reproduce the bug) CPU problem?
Best Answer: Without system recovery disk set, it would be impossible. First, check on if you have system recovery files store in your hard drive. Normally, those files will be store in a drive other than C:. You can look into Control Panel window and if there is a system recovery icon, you have got it. All you need to do is to double the System Recovery (restore) icon, the process will start. If there is no such files, you will need to order the disk from Dell by providing your PC serial number to a Dell tech support. They will send you the disk with shipping and handling fee (I don't know how much they charge for the disk and XP software).
Re:I got a new Dell 8250 a few months ago for the office and it wasn't any faster than what I replaced UNTIL I install Intel Application Accelerator and tweaked the hard drive NOT to be quiet. Now it works like a gig faster rig should.
Re:Well I did try turning off all that extra animation stuff..it seems ok now but it really irks me considering there is an identical workstation sitting right next to it, running all the same programs, minus publisher, and its completely fine! but I will still try updating the video drivers and the mobo drivers as well.
Re:Make sure DMA is enabled for your hard drives. Sometimes, they get disabled for odd reasons…
Ensure you have the latest intel chipset drivers from intel.com. I forget what they call them… but a simple search will find them on intel's site.
Re:Check your video drivers. Try to update or reinstall them.
Also, try turning off the fancy features of windows xp.
Re:I would start by adding another 256MB or 512MB of memory. Here's Crucial's guaranteed-compatible modules to help with that: link
(http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.asp?Mfr%2BProductline=Dell%2BDimension&mfr=Dell&cat=RAM&model=Dimension+2400+Series&submit=Go)
Beyond that, do a rigorous antivirus scan using the latest antivirus definitions, with heuristics at maximum detection. Next, scan for spyware using AdAware 6 or Spybot Search & Destroy (link for AAW6 (http://www.tucows.com/preview/236049.html) and link for Spybot S&D (http://www.tucows.com/preview/310138.html)). If you need antivirus software to scan with, you can download a 15-day trial of Norton Antivirus 2004 from here (http://www.symantec.com/downloads/). It being WinXP, you should disable System Restore before scanning and delete all the SR files, and if it were me, I'd leave it off.
You can also choose to maximize the GUI performance, which disables all the animation junk. It would be a good idea to do a full defragmentation of your hard drive too. Hope some of that helps you out! By the way, is this computer part of an Active Directory domain?
0 Comments.