Slowdown question

[Tireisias]

Good morning!

I have read that having a lot of files on one's desktop can slow down Windows XP, since all of the files will be loaded into RAM.

1. Is this true?
2. Does it apply to all of the desktops (at system startup, I suppose), or only to the desktop of the user who is logged in?
3. Does it apply only to files directly on the desktop, or also to those inside folders on the desktop?

Thanks.
T.

 

[gavm99]

This is a myth in my eyes.

Having lots of files on your desktop simply makes it a 'messy' computer, but if you can live with clutter then your fine!!

The main thing to slow down a computer is generally a lack of RAM, more RAM = a quicker computer.

There could of course be some sort of virus or spyware causing the slow down, so a full scan with decent product is an easy thing to do.

Hope that helps.

Thanks.

Gavin Moorhouse

http://www.lucidcomputersolutions.co.uk

Interested in my personal blog?

http://www.thelucidview.co.uk

 

[Grenage]

It's a myth, aye.

"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into the area" - Major Mike Shearer

 

[TheLad]

If you are on a company XP Workstation, having lots of items on your desktop can slow down your login and logout times depending on the size of the files as the desktop is classed as part of the profile and will therefore be copied down from the server during login and uploaded back to the server during logout.

So depending on how a company has their profiles configured, having lots of sizable files on the desktop can slow down login and logouts, apart from that (and if you are on a home XP workstation) I agree with the posters above.

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"Insert funny comment in here!"
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[Tireisias]

No, I've got a standalone machine and I'm pretty sure that it's not infested.

Could lack of RAM alone be the problem? I've got only 512 MB, but Windows Task Manager seems always to show some still available - while I'm looking, anyway.

On the other hand, the system seems fine when I first start up and log in, and seems to get more bogged down when certain applications are left open for a while, such as Open Office 3.0 Writer and Foxit Reader.

In short, lack of RAM?

Thanks again.
T.

 

[Grenage]

XP does generally run a lot quicker with 1GB of RAM. With current prices, it would certainly be good 'bang for buck'.

"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into the area" - Major Mike Shearer

 

[BadBigBen]

Grenage - that would depend on what type of RAM he has, e.g. DDR2 is CHEAP these days, but DDR is still expensive (less and less are being made) in comparison...


Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.

 

[Grenage]

You can probably get another 512 for under a tenner on ebay, or £20 from an online retailer; a valid point though.

"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into the area" - Major Mike Shearer

 

[Zelandakh]

I've just got a couple of clients to upgrade from 1GB to 3GB for around £25 / $40 per computer. It makes an enormous amount of difference.

Plus I have a big tweaking document on tips and tricks to make XP go faster. Running that makes even more difference.

512MB RAM these days is not enough.

 

[BadBigBen]

I agree there Zelandakh and Grenage, that more RAM is the way to go...

DDR2 prices are dirt cheap, with them being around 10 Euro in Germany (depending on make and model)...

DDR1 is by comparison, tripple that now a days...

below are some examples, by NewEgg in the US:

G.SKILL 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory - Retail $10.99

Kingston ValueRAM 1GB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Desktop Memory - Retail $38.99[link]


Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

[url=http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375]How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.

 

[Tireisias]

Plus I have a big tweaking document on tips and tricks to make XP go faster. Running that makes even more difference."

URL, please?

T
T

 

[linney]

I agree with the extra RAM suggestions.

FAQ779-4784 may help.

windows XP running very slow
thread779-796508


Disable, not uninstall, any unused network adapters