Here's where I show my computer dunce-ity

[next_to_normal]

I've just about had it with my computer. It's been running painfully slowly pretty much since I got it (which is almost two years ago), and doing all kinds of freezing/crashing things that make me want to just toss it out the window and buy a new one.

What pushed me over the edge was this weekend, when my parents were visiting, and I waited half an hour for the computer to wake up from sleep mode, and finally just manually restarted the damn thing (yay for Word's AutoRecovery). This should not be happening. The entire point of sleep mode is so that you can open the laptop and IT WORKS RIGHT AWAY so you don't have to wait for it to boot up every time. It's always, always slow waking up from sleep mode, but not usually that bad. On a normal day, though, even if the screen comes to life, it'll be a good ten to fifteen minutes before Firefox is usable without freezing, and Trillian always takes at least five minutes to open.

My dad was all, "Well, have you run defrag whatevers lately?" and started fiddling around with it. I don't actually know how I did this, since I barely know what that means, but apparently I have my computer set up to automatically do the defragmentation thing weekly, and it's still running like an eighty-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the leg.

I've decided the problem is Vista and RAM. I've been told that you need at least 2 GB of RAM for Vista to run properly, and my computer only has 1 GB. So... here are my questions for anyone more computer literate than I am. How much RAM should I get? Is the one additional GB going to be enough, or should I go for more? I don't do a whole lot with my computer - generally, Firefox, Trillian, and Word are pretty much it. I do store a lot on there - I have a crapload of music and some videos saved, but that's the hard drive (which is 120 GB) and shouldn't affect RAM, right? Two separate things?

Secondly, where should I get RAM? I can buy it off the Dell website (which is where I got the computer), but maybe it's cheaper to get it somewhere else (I found other websites that sell it, but I don't know if they're reliable). Is this idiot-proof, or am I better off going to a Best Buy or whatever where maybe they could install it for me?

Comments

[next_to_normal]

The processor can't be that old - I only bought the computer two years ago. It's an AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-58 1.9GHz, which means very little to me, lol, but from what Google says, is pretty much middle of the pack as far as processors go. Like I said in my post, I don't really do anything beyond basic programs, so I shouldn't need a terribly high-quality processor to manage it.

I've considered downgrading to XP - in fact, I almost chose that option when I bought the computer, but I thought it was ridiculous to pay MORE for an older OS. At this point, though, I don't really mind Vista as an OS - I just want it to run faster.

[alwaysjbj.livejournal.com]

I wasn't suggesting it was an old processor, just possibly a little slow for Vista, that's all? LOL Means nothing to me either. I have Vista on my PC and have no problems with it (except for the occasional program that it won't talk to--usually other Microsoft programs lol). But I do know that it is renowned for running slow and thought that getting your hands on a copy of XP might solve your problem for you without having to go to the expense of upgrading the computer.

[next_to_normal]

This may seem weird, but... I don't actually know anyone who has a copy of XP, lol. I don't, and my parents don't - we went right from Windows 98 to Vista, since I had a Mac in between - and most of my friends have Macs (the result of going to college on an all-Mac campus, lol, we all bought the same laptop).

It looks like the upgrade will only cost $40 if I do it myself, and probably around $90 if I get someone to install it for me. They say that upgrading memory is the cheapest way to increase performance, and I expect to get a couple more years out of this computer at least.

[rahirah]

I have a copy of XP. I intent to skip Vista and go directly to Windows 7.

[next_to_normal]

Yeah, I figured there'd be someone online who had it.

What it comes down to is that I really just don't want to downgrade. I'm not thrilled with Vista (given the choice, I'd go back to a Mac), but I don't find it any worse than XP - the only difference is that I've used XP in work, where I have an IT department to fix everything.

[stormwreath.livejournal.com]

I don't actually know anyone who has a copy of XP

You know me. :-) I never bothered to upgrade from XP, and I've no intention of doing so... by the time I need to change computers I expect Windows 7 to be out...

[next_to_normal]

Yeah, I figured there'd be someone online who had it.

What it comes down to is that I really just don't want to downgrade. I'm not thrilled with Vista (given the choice, I'd go back to a Mac), but I don't find it any worse than XP - the only difference is that I've used XP in work, where I have an IT department to fix everything.

[clawofcat.livejournal.com]

I have XP! And like rahirah and stormwreath, I don't intend to get Vista, but will wait for Windows 7. My laptop is 4 years old and hasn't given up the ghost yet, so I figure it can hold on until then.

Everyone I know that's run Vista has had nothing but problems with, unfortunately. And my college friends were pretty evenly split between PCs and macs. It was a PC campus, btw.

As for this weekend in DC, I'm having issues finding a hotel for $100 or less a night. Any recommendations? Also, would you be up for spending time with Andrew, Gus and I or would you prefer something more one on one?

[next_to_normal]

I'm not a Vista enthusiast by any means, but I really don't get all the hate. I was bitching and moaning when I first got it, but after using it for a while, I've found it to be no worse than XP. I'll upgrade my RAM so it runs faster, but that's not Vista's fault; it's something that would happen on any computer where the specs don't meet the OS requirements.

And yeah... hotel in DC under $100? Good luck. When I used to come here for work, we'd get excited if we managed under $250. If you want something that cheap, you'll have to go out to the suburbs. I'd say Rosslyn is probably your best bet - there's quite a few hotels within walking distance of the Metro (I think we stayed at the Holiday Inn there).

In the city, I've stayed at the GWU Inn, which is nice and pretty reasonable for downtown.

As for spending time, I wouldn't mind meeting Andrew and Gus, but it'd be nice to get some one on one time, too.