How do you keep your computer running?

[beddo]

Since I just received my new Sony VAIO today, I was wondering how you guys and gals keep your computers running? Do you have a lot of background programs running or do you keep them to a minimum?

As of right now, I'm confuzzled as to why my laptop refuses to use the internet connection more efficiently than it does. Counter Strike Source is downloading at an amazing 12.5KB/S! -_- So in a way, this is a way for me to see how I can improve my computers own performance and hopefully some other people will get some ideas as well! (This laptop also refuses to install AIM onto my computer it tells me to use the /NCRC command but even when I use that, it still doesn't work and gives me the same pop-up as if I never used the command in the first place)

I stop all unnecessary programmes from running. I hate the way all programmes pre-load into the system because you're not going to use all of the in one session.

As for internet speed, well that depends on all types of things. Your ISP, time of day, server you are downloading from etc.

I don't know about AIM, you haven't said what OS you're running or anything.

 

[Ridley200]

I just got a new GTX 260, and live in south east queensland, so i keep it running with air-con on whenever i play Crysis, and make damn sure to keep Everest and RivaTuner running in the background so i can alt-tab to make emergancy changes

 

[Galletea]

I have to feed the hamsters inside it every single day. Mittens and Flopsy do enjoy their pellets.

Ah, you beat me to it. Mine are called Megatron and Mr. T though.

Anyway, I try not to have too much stuff running at any one time. I usually have i-Tunes on and then try to limit it to four tabs at any one time. Unless I'm doing lots of things at once in no great hurry.

 

[fix-the-spade]

Easy, keep it clean, keep it up to date, have as little running at any one time as possible.
Buy good quality parts.

In march it will be 5 and still going strong.

 

[AuntyEthel]

As of right now, I'm confuzzled as to why my laptop refuses to use the internet connection more efficiently than it does. Counter Strike Source is downloading at an amazing 12.5KB/S!

Doesn't it often depend on the server on the other side? I have superfast Virgin broadband, but some things still download at 5kb/s, while others at 500-1000kb/s.

 

[Azhrarn-101]

Background programs:
Logitech control panel (G15 keyboard and G5 mouse)
Firewall/Anti-virus
ATI CCC

and that's it generally, I keep it to a minimum, although I tend to have a Firefox 3 session open at all times. The PC is somewhat older (approaching its 3rd year), but runs smoothly.
Defrags done every 10-14 days, virus scan and spyware check every week. Fans and heatsinks cleaned out every month or so.
Only thing that died sofar was the 7600GT I bought it with (voltage regulator for the VRAM blew up) haven't had any other issues with the PC.

 

[Mr.Pandah]

To answer most questions posed towards helping me (Thanks guys), I am running Windows Vista 64-bit. Its literally a brand new laptop, no viruses or anything. It just got to my house yesterday via FedEx. I tried the speedtest and it said its at 512kb p/s. If its the wireless card that already went out, I am going to be pissed >_< but if it downloaded that fast for the speed test, I don't see how it could be the wireless card. I have even tried hooking it up through wired internet and it still comes out with the same results.

Once again, thanks for actually caring. I'm also getting ideas as to how I should keep my computer running otherwise as well, hopefully this is helping other people too!

 

[Seydaman]

i keep the power cord in the outlet. and it works great!(sarcasm)

 

[_Janny_]

I keep my computer running with prayer. Literately, my computer is six years old and I'm incapable of getting a new one, so basically every day I pray to the computer gods that nothing is broken.

Same here, although I think my PC is even older... Sometimes Windows doesn't even kick in if I don't pull the plug half a dozen times. I'm surprised it still works after all these years, it's like it defies all logic. I'm just scared that one day the poor PC just explode or something.

 

[Nimbus]

Let's see... I usually try to keep things to a minimum, but there are things I will run at all times. Torrent and Mounting software, as well as some Logitech apps to keep you keyboard and mouse working right. Other than those background processes, I run pretty clean.

 

[sirdanrhodes]

To keep it running, I gave it legs.

 

[Nimbus]

Yeah, I really spend a lot of time and effort keeping my computer's applications running at a minim...wait what:

Sidebar is using 5%...

Ho-li-shit!

To keep it running, I gave it legs.

Pfft, screw that. Mine has wheels.

 

[sirdanrhodes]

Yeah, I really spend a lot of time and effort keeping my computer's applications running at a minim...wait what:

Sidebar is using 5%...

Ho-li-shit!

To keep it running, I gave it legs.

Pfft, screw that. Mine has wheels.

If it has wheels, it isn't technically "running".

 

[Nimbus]

But you can keep a car running.

The mind boggles.

 

[Evil Scotsman]

I like hitting mine with a hammer. It works most of the time

 

[iseko]

I pay the electric bills.

 

[Uncompetative]

Since I just received my new Sony VAIO today, I was wondering how you guys and gals keep your computers running? Do you have a lot of background programs running or do you keep them to a minimum?

As of right now, I'm confuzzled as to why my laptop refuses to use the internet connection more efficiently than it does. Counter Strike Source is downloading at an amazing 12.5KB/S! -_- So in a way, this is a way for me to see how I can improve my computers own performance and hopefully some other people will get some ideas as well! (This laptop also refuses to install AIM onto my computer it tells me to use the /NCRC command but even when I use that, it still doesn't work and gives me the same pop-up as if I never used the command in the first place)

I have a Sony VAIO too, which is ten years old. I recently went into a local computer shop for some advice on how to re-purpose it as a word-processor by buying whatever I needed to get it to communicate documents with my main computer. Despite being prepared to buy cables, USB flash memory cards, PCMCIA WiFi cards and upgrade the OS from Windows 98 First Edition, the guy in the shop basically wrote it off as obsolete, saying that "it was a waste of his time"...

A bit upset that a computer that I had paid £2000 for was fast becoming a purple magnesium paperweight, I resolved to fix the problem without spending any money if I could help it - just to show to myself how wrong he was (he obviously wanted me to buy one of his netbooks).

My brother had visited with a 512 Mb USB Flash drive with some holiday photos on it and said it was so impractically small I may as well keep it (he's generous like that...), however when I tried this with the VAIO it soon became apparent that Windows 98 First Edition was pre-flash. Given that I needed to upgrade to at least the Second Edition and then install a bunch of generic drivers which were not guaranteed to work I felt that a better course of action would be to obtain a torrent of Windows 2000 Professional. This got burnt on my last remaining CD-RW (as I have since moved onto DVD-R) in my Mac's Superdrive, just fitting within the 700 Mb limit of the disc.

After a lengthy installation I had only to reset the display resolution to 1024 x 768 and I now had a fully 32-bit OS with NTFS.

The USB Flash memory stick was recognized automatically via Plug & Play and I have had no problems using it for basic writing purposes as I only need the ability to create .rtf files and data-interchange with the Mac works fine - whilst the Flash serves as a backup if the rather old hard drive were to crash.

Windows 2000 Professional
333 Mhz Intel Celeron
10.4" TFT LCD display
6.4 GB hard disc
64 Mb RAM
512 Mb Flash
2 Hour battery, but used off Mains
separate CD-ROM & Floppy drives


Cost = £0
Weight = 1.2 kg

Who needs Vista?

 

[mokes310]

I'm running a vintage Toshiba Satellite circa 2002, so I'm basically forced to keep the majority of my files on an external HD. It only has a 20gig HD, 128 ram, 16meg video card, and a 8x dvd rom. Talk about a beast of a machine.

In any case, I minimize the amount of active programs that I have, since SP2 has crushed my performance. When it all gets to be too much, I just pop in the reboot discs, and start over with my ghost image.

I'd buy a new comp, but I really don't use it for anything other than web surfing and writing papers for school...I guess, if it aint broke, don't fix it!

 

[Slayer_2]

I press the power button and enjoy. Fire and forget, baby. However, around once a month I do a VERY thorough scan/clean-up. Deleting old files and games I don't want. Clean up my file structure and run three virus scanning programs. Then I defrag and run Crap Cleaner.

 

[mokes310]

I'm running a vintage Toshiba Satellite circa 2002, so I'm basically forced to keep the majority of my files on an external HD. It only has a 20gig HD, 128 ram, 16meg video card, and a 8x dvd rom. Talk about a beast of a machine.

In any case, I minimize the amount of active programs that I have, since SP2 has crushed my performance. When it all gets to be too much, I just pop in the reboot discs, and start over with my ghost image.

I'd buy a new comp, but I really don't use it for anything other than web surfing and writing papers for school...I guess, if it aint broke, don't fix it!

If all you're using it for is web surfing and writing papers, may I suggest that you try using some form of Linux? I'd suggest taking Ubuntu, and installing it with XFCE or something along those lines. It'll run a lot smoother than Windows XP.

I did try Linux before, but there's one game that I still play on PC: Tropico. It had quite a few issues when I was trying to run it on Linux, so I switched back to XP. I do like Linux quite a bit though. Very slim, easy to use, and other than a few games, I've never had a problem with it. I have it installed on my "trial and error" PC. Pretty sure I fried the mainboard though, cuz she's not wanting to power up for me...