(no subject)

[minervasolo]

This might appeal to the LovecraftFen among you.

My computer is still going slowly, particularly the internet. This is after freeing up another 4GB of space on the hardrive. It seems like it's the RAM that's struggling, which isn't good. I'm still quite enjoying watching the words appear.

Anyway, campus-ho! For a new NUS card and to pick up hte magazine. Then I shall try and finish my essay today. What fun.

Comments

[zombie-thing.livejournal.com]

RAM is usually the culprit for slow-running computers. It's not very expensive.

[minervasolo.livejournal.com]

But how to easily attach it to a laptop, when both of my USB ports are in regular use (one in constant) and I only have one other free port (for what, i don't know).

[ultharkitty.livejournal.com]

The link didn't work :(

Hmm, I still need a new NUS card, I really better get one of those today.

[zombie-thing.livejournal.com]

Um, RAM goes into your computer, not via USB. You take the case off and plug it into the motherboard (basically).

[minervasolo.livejournal.com]

I've tried to work out how to take the case off the laptop... I don't think it's meant to. I think it's possible to get external RAM (I know it's possible to get exernal ROM, I'm not sure if I'm confusing the issue though), but I don't think I could attach it. So basically, no more RAM.

[almighty-frog.livejournal.com]

The link is just <a href="">. No worky. :(

Easiest way to tell what's going on with the speed is to bring up the task manager via ctrl+alt+delete, click on the "processes" tab, and take note of what it says down at the very bottom. If the CPU usage is too high, check what processes are using a lot in the CPU column. If the commit charge is too high, check what programmes are using a lot of memory. If you don't recognise the process, type it into google and it will let you know whether you can safely shut it off or if there's a known problem with it and how/if it can be fixed. :D

[almighty-frog.livejournal.com]

Also - if, under the "user name" column, it does NOT specify your log on name (e.g. on my computer it's "Me", if I had another account named ribbit it would be "ribbit") then DO NOT END THE PROCESS unless you know what it is. You can seriously muck up your machine by doing that. Sorry, I forgot to say that before! ^^;

[holy-monkfish.livejournal.com]

im pretty sure that external ram would be impossible. the machine would try to load the processess necessary to use the usb ports into the ram but then would be unable to do this until the processess had been loaded, if you see what i mean.
i've never fitted ram into a laptop myself but know that it is normally possible, but you do have to be extremely careful with static otherwise much frying of components will occur.

[minervasolo.livejournal.com]

I'll have to keep an eye out. It's reached the point where I might as well just uninstall SP2 and leave it til I get another computer.

Poor, abused laptop.

[minervasolo.livejournal.com]

The main thing taking up processes is the task manager, usually. There's nothing there gobbling loads, and those that are at it keep changing. Turning off non-essential services and startups (leaving those I don't recognise still gave me a nice chunk to remove) doesn't make the computer any faster, and stops it recognising my printer or MP3 player. I had to turn them all back on last night because I couldn't find which combination would make the printer go.

[almighty-frog.livejournal.com]

Hmm. If this happened since SP2 was installed, either it's coincidental timing and you've got hardware playing up (the processor sounds like the best bet) or SP2 is interfering with the computer's access to the hardware. Either way, I'd say log a call on the Microsoft support website, since anything else I could suggest to you would probably involve violating the warranty. ^^;