Why Is My Notebook So Slow???

So I recently purchased a Toshiba satellite a135-s2386, and yes it only has 512 mb of RAM and is running vista home basic. So my question is what can I do to make it run faster? RAM? My mom's old pentium 3 will run circles around this thing! I needed a computer for school but one that I could afford. I'm really considering returning this one considering it takes me 7 mins just to shut it down. Any help would be great!!!

 

much more ram would help. a lot in your case. 1 gb is really a minimum for vista, and 2 gb is recommended. you should also consider readyboost options, perhaps.

also, you should close programs that are wasting resources that you don't need.

 

Toshiba's are famous for installing bloatware (unneccesary programs, files, settings etc.) that you don't need or use. Most of them have restore discs that only put the same stuff back on if something happens. Vista Home Basic is the lowest version of Vista available and is designed to run on mimimal settings, but even if you upgrade your ram, you are still looking at a slower than normal computer. The reason the old computer ran better is because XP doesn't require the same cpu and memory resources. You should be able to go to best buy and pick up a good core duo to turion 64x2 for around 599.00, then later on you can upgrade the memory for pretty cheap and you would be set. Try the MT6705, core duo, 1gb, vista premium, best buy had it for 599 this past weekend.

 

I'm pretty sure I have a lot of unnecessary programs running. Is there a easy way to remove these without doing any further damage to running speed? Also my laptop here has a 1.73 intel dual core. I'm kinda new to the detailed specs of computers so is it a decent processor?

 

The processor is definitely good enough to run Vista Basic so scratch my first idea. (Taking it back) :smile: To get rid of the bloat, Go to http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/?p=547&page=1 and you will see a step by step walkthru of doing this. You have to download a couple of free programs, but I have used both of them and they work great. Post if you have any questions with the guide.

Edit: Best Buy has Ram on sale this week so you may pick up a 1gb stick or a 2gb set (75 bucks I think) and that will definitely help out. Even just the 1gb will help.

 

Thanks, I actually found a site that has a crucial 2gb PC2-5300 667 mhz kit for $75. So I'm thinking I might go for that. Gotta watch these pennies while in school!

 

you should also take a look at the hot ram deals thread

 

I work full time and I still watch my money :laugh: . That is a good price for memory and will definitely go a long way in making that computer usuable. You still should do that bloatware fix I posted which will help out no matter how much ram you have. Good luck, post if you have any problems and welcome to NBR.

 

Why do I have a feeling your moms PIII runs win2k...meaning it uses about 1/4th of the RAM vista uses.

I hate running XP with 512mb or ram, Vista is absolute suicide.

I will say that the difference between 512 and 2gb will be light night and day, but that's and understatement.