Right chaps I could do with some advice. I'm at the end of my patience with my desktop PC. I have gone down all the usual routes prior to asking this question (removed programs, defragged etc etc) but my PC is running so so slow. It has taken 7 minutes from pressing the on button to being able to open this window to type this message. Loads of crap running in background, HD is going berzerk. Normally I would save pictures and music and business stuff to my ext HD and then do a full system recovery and start again but for some reason, I can't work out why, I have lost my HP recovery partition on my HD

So what options do I have? When I bought the PC it came with Vista home basic installed and the product key on a label on top of the housing. I have no Windows CD. Can I get a copy and re-install Windows and just enter my product key? Or is it not that simple? Anything else I can do? I'm at a loss and the PC is becomming unusable it is so slow!

Cheers in advance.

 

Yes you can reinstall from any Windows disk but it needs to be the correct version, so probably in your case Windows XP OEM. Then you can activate it with your product key. So, if you know someone that has a Windows disk that came with a PC then it is probably the correct version.

I have a Windows 9-in-1 disk here which was all versions of XP on it, so they do certainly exist, then you can choose the correct version according to the label colour/style on your machine.

HTH.

 

Sorry, just read you're on Vista, but still roughly the same applies.

 

I know on most machines now they don't come with recovery discs, however you have the option to burn your own, which is something that may be worth doing if you can.

The option is in the start menu somewhere.

 

Lee......

Once your up and running again it would be best to have everything stored onto a seperate Hard drive, thats what i do so that the PC is empty of pictures, films ect so it can run faster......

dont know about the other thing as thats what my mate is for.....PC geek...lol, I stick to plumbing

 

Personally, back-up anything that you want to keep (pics, vids, music etc...) and I'd scrap Vista as it's a poorly made operating system with more flaws, defects and annoying things than a Renault.

Depending on the spec/speed of your pc I'd 'obtain' a copy of either Windows XP Pro (+ Service Pack 3), or Windows 7 Ultimate (these *CAN* be 'obtained' for free, but I'm not going to publish on here how to do it) and do a fresh install of one of those operating systems. Much better than Vista....

To put it into Perspective:

Xp Pro = CVH - classic but runs good and can be tuned
Windows 7 = Zetec - Newer, Quieter but requires more 'spec' to run good
Vista = OHV Endura E - Just not worth bothering with....

For best performance once you've done this, as posted above, either make a separate partition on your hard drive (one for windows - and one for downloaded stuff). Or Install windows on your current hard drive, and buy a large secondary drive for all your downloaded stuff. And don't install anything on your computer that you do not use. This will keep it running good. Always use up-to-date drivers for your equipment from the manufacturer of the device, rather than the standard windows drivers.

Drivers are essential when it comes to motherboard chipsets & graphics cards - it's like sticking a piper cam in!

As for stuff you might want to install, I recommend AVG free 2011. (FREE Antivirus and doesn't hog your pc performance).
Theres a program called Piriform CCleaner (spelled CCleaner - not a mistake) that you can install and run once a week/month to make sure your PC is clean of Unneeded Sytem/Temp files & Unneeded Registry Entries. Good bit of kit.

If you need any specific advice PM me. Happy to advise whichever you choose.

 

I run ccleaner and AVG2011.....all my PC's and Laptops run superb with a scheduled scan once a week to keep them clean

 

I would strongly suggest dumping Vista. Even going back to XP is farrrr superior to that shit.

 

Vista = diesel with no turbo lol

 

Just wondering why people hate Vista so much????

all my PC's and laptops run vista and seem fine and quick......Never had an issue tbh....

 

The only issue's with vista I've heard of is compatibility with printers / software etc.

I know many people that run vista and haven't heard of any other problems!

 

because there clueless is the simple answer, while i don't run it and never have i went from XP straight to 7 in terms of performance they all have there quality's but at the end of the day there all very similar and you would hardly be able to tell between them all, imo its just which you prefer in terms of looks and use

 

I'm going to have to buy a proper computer instead of this shit slow laptop.

 

So you went from xp to windows 7, never run Vista and yet you call people "clueless" but with no expirience of it yourself???

I have run xp now for many years (as we all have i guess) when i went to vista i found it, flakey and unstable and not easy to pair against some hardware,after a very short time i went back to xp as its probably one of the most stable platforms made by Microsoft,although i can't,nor will comment on Windows 7 as i havent used it, but that doesnt make me clueless now does it??

 

i dont use it personally no i didn't say i had no experience of it, i have used it many a times not to mention read just about every benchtest/review conducted on vista vs xp/7 and theres nothing in them all really,

the clueless bit comes with people slating vista when the only thing you can slate about it is its look but thats just personal preference vista is not flakey or any more unstable then the rest sorry to dissapoint

 

Seems I've opened a can of worms here.

Been messing with operating systems since I was a nipper, from Spectrum 48k BASIC to Amiga Workbench to DOS to Windows. And can speak from experience here with plenty of computers running all sorts of stuff.

Lets put them Microsoft ones in order:

Windows 3.1 - Like a Fiesta MK1 - old, but did it's job at the time.
Windows 95 - Wow! A car with power steering....
Windows 98 - Like a 1400cvh on a carb. Does enough until you get bored.
Windows 2000/ME - A 'chrome/blinged up' 1400cvh on a carb. Nowt special.
Windows XP - 1600cvh. Cant beat it for reliability.
Windows Vista - Erm... lets just say 'french', eh?
Windows 7 - Like a duratec, pig to fit, but runs real nice with the right kit.

I've tried all types of operating systems on my PC's over the years and Vista was the biggest mistake Bill Gates ever made. If you like Vista and the layout of Vista, get a copy of Windows XP Black Edition. Nuff said.

I dont hate Vista - i just really really don't recommend it. You pays yo money, you takes yo choice. Each to their own and all that.
If anyones gonna question or argue with advice, then don't ask for it?

 

But in the real world its shit, that why it had such a short life span, that why Microsoft pulled the plug because it was shit>not selling>dumped

 

eh? it last 4 years before they went to windows 7, XP only lasted 5 years and just... and im sure windows 7 wont be any longer then either of them, as for not selling i think it doubled the XP sales in the first month with 20 million, and while microsoft dont like to gives figures out we know it went past 180m copies

so your opinion on short life span and not selling might be slighty different to others

 

Yeah and 19,999,999 took thier copies back for a refund and while microsoft dont like to give figures out as we know, its more like 179m copies

 

That must be a tool I know someone who has a Windows 7 one

Before you start aquiring anything, you need to know what Vista you had, generally green / purple stickers are OEM. So you would need an OEM version of Vista Home for example, then when installing it you use the cd key on your computer so it activates it.

There's a lot of "already activated" copy's of Windows on the net, but very rarely do they work 100% so i'd steer well clear of them.

 

To be honest I havent heard a good word said about vista. I use my PC for mainly gaming, and the lads I know who installed vista had endless problems with drivers etc etc.

I skipped from XP ( very good Imho ) straight to 7 ultimate and to be honest it was a really good move. Driver support is excellent and with my machine it flies.. and for an operating system I thought it was pretty cheap

I know how frustrating it can be with a slow PC, im sure loads times seem longer than what they actually are.

I use to buy pre built systems but I found that they were just cases full of not very good components. I prefer to build my own systems now ( not the cheapest way ) but at least you can spec them to exactly what you use a computer for.

If you want you computer to run fast then take a good look at what components you have inside.

 

I still have xp pro on my pc(Q6600, 3GB ram) flies along and everything works fantastically first time, i used to game on it but that was about 1/2 years ago, havent bothered so much since and i dont really have the time/money to plunge into a computer, if i did id probably have to have win 7 to keep up with the times in gaming as you need it for the latest version of direct x etc.

The misses laptop uses vista and it runs nicely and never had a problem with it, apart from the fucking annoying little "windows has dectected/blocked certain programmes from running" message popping up every 5mins if anyone knows how to get rid of it let me know, ive tried turning it off in services but that didnt work?

 

Cheers for the advice guys. TBH, I prefered XP pro that I had on my old PC. And I have XP on my laptop. I'm sure I have a XP pro disc and key TBH. Might try to find it out and install that!

 

If you haven't lee, i can get you any kind of software you want just drop me a pm

 

Cheers pal. Have found it though and have saved all my files and am now installing XP pro. See how that goes