How Can I Make My Computer Faster

alright the home computer at my house is a:

4550 Dell
Pentium 4 processor
CPU 2.00GHz
60Gb hard drive
1256mb of ram
Ati 9600xt 128Mb Graphics Card

my question is how can i make this computer faster. we thought that buying more ram would help speed it up. I know a few things about computers but im not expert. Please help me out

thanks,
Reaper

 

Run cleaning programs to help optimize your computers performance. Also check for things like spyware which could slow it down. Was it ever faster in the past?

 

You could always overclock =)

 

Yup, i havnt done a full system dump since the spring of 05 i thin. right now i know theres a few bugs in my computer because sometimes my norton antivirus works then others it says reinstall norton antivirus it has incountered and internal program error. i just started using the home computer now, because of im ipod. Also we just bought the 1gb of ram not even a week ago and the computer is still slow. its pissing me off and my parents

 

Buy more RAM. Another gig, or even another 512 MB, will make a huge difference.

Edit: Just make sure you buy the sam speed RAM you have now.

 

What version of XP.

Code:

1.99Ghz + 256Mb Of Ram

What does that mean? What i'm understanding is just that you have 256 of RAM.

Well you said you beought more RAM You didn't buy enough. I'd say with windows + other processes you'll need 200mb of RAM min. You have 256, get at least 512 maybe or a QUALITY 1gig stick of ram.
To really speed up a computer, it's more of a physical change required than software things.

 

Registry Mechanic. With this tool I made my computer much faster than what it is. Just scan your computer and fix everything. Optimize your registry, and compact it. Disk Clean Up your computer and defrag it. This is optional but it makes things faster.

1. Right click My Computer and click Properties.
2. Click the advance tab.
3. Click settings on the performance part.
4. Choose Let Windows Decide Whast Best For my Computer.
5. Click Apply and ok.
6. Goto you control panel
7. Click Sounds, Speech, and Audio Devices.
8. Click Change Sound Scheme
9. On the sound scheme menu goto the drop down menu and choose No Sounds.

This is known to make things faster.

 

S1lence i have 1 stick of 1Gig and a stick of 256mb

I have windows xp home edition

 

then you should have written 1256mb ram. 1gb and a 256mb stick. not the 1.99ghz crap cause thats the speed of your processor.

also he cannot overclock becuase he has a dell. other than tune up programs your only real way is to upgrade.

 

thanks .Defuzion

 

1 Gig + 256 MB is not 1256 mb. 1 gigabyte = 1024 mb, not 1000.

 

Wow.....I just did this and it really worked.

Also, I am trying to make my computer ffaster. I have a Dell 4600...and am going to put 4GB of RAM into it...

 

^^Put 2. 4 is just a waste of money, nothing can utilize it.

 

My processor is a 2.66....so I think i'll get 2 for now.... thaks for the advice

 

Put the extra money into saving for a new mobo/processor or a new Graphics card.