Slow speed.Compaq EVO-N610 c

my laptop is working very slow since long.especially on boot up .my notebook brand is Compaq EVO N610c.I reformatted twice and installed windows xp professional twice,but still same speed. I have 30 gb hard disk with 512mb ram.
I called Compaq/HP and told them about my problem.they charged and sent me three new system backup bootup windows xp cds.i installed 3 cd in about one hour.After that i still has same problem.very slow.
Please give me a good suggestion.Do I need wind xo prof,service pack 3???.Is this notebook compatible with it?? Or do I need to install windows 2000
Do I need to add memory? Please tell me which memory this notebook uses? Is it DDR or DDR2 PC133 or others ,please??

my email is
[email protected]

 

Your memory is DDR-266 (PC2100). I doubt adding more memory will greatly increase your boot time, XP works quite well with 512mb of ram. Likewise with SP3, you will not notice a speed increase.

Have you defraged your HD lately? Might give that a try. As well as check for viruses, you know, standard maintenance or preventative checks. I would also run a chkdsk on your HD.

Do you have a virus program installed, if so, what?

How long is your boot time?

Is everything slow, i.e. applications, internet, or just internet?

In Device Manager, in the IDE ATA/ATPI controller folder, right click on the Primary IDE Channel, select properties, Advanced Settings. What are the values under Device 0 for "Transfer Mode" and "Current Transfer Mode"? If "Transfer Mode" shows PIO Only, set it to DMA.

 

I did defragmentation once every week.I have antivirus AVG full updated and scanned.I do have antispyware applications.
Boot time is about 20 seconds.during normal operations and online,speed is lower.
Thanks

 

I'm sorry but I don't understand in what areas you feel your computer is slow. You mention "my laptop is working very slow since long.especially on boot up" but you indicate that your boot time is about 20 seconds. I would really like my computers to boot up in 20 seconds (so would many others), mine take a minute or more

You need to provide more concise information about what or where you are experiencing slow computer issues. A boot time of 20 seconds is not slow.

 

At least get another stick of 512 ram. There is a HUUUUUGE difference of 512 vs 1 gig.

I'm with 1.5 gig and it runs amazing (laptop in my sig)

 

Try getting more RAM to start.
Adding more RAM makes a big difference, to a certain limit depending on what applications you use.

 

Remember his machine is older and was designed for XP. The system shipped with 256MB of Ram (Max is 1GB). He probably has 2-256MB sticks installed so he would need to replace all his memory with 512MB sticks. Depending on his applications it might not make as much difference as one would think. I just hate to see him waste his money.

My desktop computer running XP had 512MB of ram and when I upgraded it to 1GB (Max) I didn't much difference at all except with Photoshop and Illustrator. It was fast before and still is.

Of course installing more memory is only a positive but I would still like to know what area of his system he considers slow, it can't be a 20 second boot.

 

I estimated it to be that.But over all compared to my p4 desktop at home it takes 5 times more in start up and shut down procedure.Also it is slow in running different applications and internst.
Some one is saying that windows 2000 will work better specially on this notebook?????

 

In my opinion XP Pro is a better OS than Windows 2000. I have a friend who had Windows 2000 on an older Sony Vaio he purchased used. We installed XP Pro SP2 on it and it ran much better and was more stable. That choice is yours but I would stay with XP. You could try installing more memory as was suggested also.

Did you ever check what "Transfer Mode" your HD is running in that I suggested a few posts back, that will make a huge difference if it is set incorrectly?

What processor model is installed in your laptop. P4? Celeron?

 

Thans for an early reply,
Regarding your suggestion""" In Device Manager, in the IDE ATA/ATPI controller folder, right click on the Primary IDE Channel, select properties, Advanced Settings. What are the values under Device 0 for "Transfer Mode" and "Current Transfer Mode"? If "Transfer Mode" shows PIO Only, set it to DMA."""",I checked it is already on DMA mode.
I agree with you ,I will keep win xp prof. with sp1 with all microsoft updates.
I installed service pack2 but it slow down my two desktop computers while on internet.Do you suggest that I should install service pack 2 or just keep updated service pak 1 /
My laptop is Compaq evo n610c.Pentium mobile4 . It has two memory slots,each 250mb.So currently it has512 mb( two 250mb each).
Do you think i shoul replace one with 512mb???
My hard disk is 40 GB.

 

I would install SP2 and see how it performs. If you think the performance suffers, I doubt it, you can always use System Restore and restore the system to just prior to the SP2 install. That will put you back to where you are now. Of course SP3 has been available for some time now. You could install SP3 which includes SP2 + more. SP3 gives me problems on my Sony Vaio desktop, so I had to stay with SP2.

I wouldn’t just replace one, if you decide to replace the RAM replace both at the same time and go to 1GB. I still don’t think you will notice a huge difference but if the price of the RAM is within your budget you could give it a try.

I notice that your particular notebook came with HD’s in two different speeds 4200rpm and 5400rpm. If you have the 4200rpm drive that could explain a lot of the difference between your desktop and laptop.

 

According to your advise I installed service pack 3 ,winxp-prof.
Amazing.It doubled the speed performance of my Laptop.No prblem.running smooth.
Thanks

 

Thank you very much Mr. deeastman (Notebook Evangelist)
My Laptop is running smooth now.faster than before.it was all possible,due to your comprehensive suggestions.