Category: Geeks r Us
Is there a way for me to return a laptop to the way that it was when Windows was first installed? I mean, can I delete all the updates? I want to do this with the old one that's running XP cause I'm afraid that they're taking up too much room on the hard disk and slowing down the machine. Any tips would be appreciated.
Explain what it is that you want to do. Do you want to uninstall the updates from your system, or reformat and do only certain updates? I ask because your issue seems rather vague. You can leave the updates on your system, but take away the files that allow you to uninstall them. This however isn't exactly recommended. On my system, the files that have the update info are close to 400 mb for everything. Also deleting them is a security risk, not going without them is a security risk.
I want to uninstall the updates. Hmm, not sure if 400mb would effect things but still.
I don't believe it should affect things, much if at all. Can you explain why you believe that the updates are slowing your system down? What issues do you see, and why do you believe that they are at fault?
I'm not sure that they're at fault. The machine is ridiculously slow to be running HP in the first place. the cpu is only 363 mhz and there are only about 4gb free on it and there's hardly anything in it. So that could be it. But today, while I was taking my Greek lesson, it was trying to update and I could barely work in Wordpad. I had to wait for them to finish and then restart, to get rid of that annoying window asking me if I wanted to restart, in order to continue my work. I also know that at least one of the updates that I've had on my laptops, the one for Service Pack 3, took a very long time to download and to install, and that was a relatively fast machine. So I'm worried that it might come up on this one and take up way more space than is necessary and perhaps slow it down. This one isn't mine. It's my boyfriend's, and I want to give it back to him as I got it, not worse than when he gave it to me. He'll be getting a new one soon but still, it'll be nice to surprise him with a bit more speed than he's used to on it if I can. I used Windows Cleanup on it and also did a defrag and that seemed to help last time.
I'm not sure that they're at fault. The machine is ridiculously slow to be running HP in the first place. the cpu is only 363 mhz and there are only about 4gb free on it and there's hardly anything in it. So that could be it. But today, while I was taking my Greek lesson, it was trying to update and I could barely work in Wordpad. I had to wait for them to finish and then restart, to get rid of that annoying window asking me if I wanted to restart, in order to continue my work. I also know that at least one of the updates that I've had on my laptops, the one for Service Pack 3, took a very long time to download and to install, and that was a relatively fast machine. So I'm worried that it might come up on this one and take up way more space than is necessary and perhaps slow it down. This one isn't mine. It's my boyfriend's, and I want to give it back to him as I got it, not worse than when he gave it to me. He'll be getting a new one soon but still, it'll be nice to surprise him with a bit more speed than he's used to on it if I can. I used Windows Cleanup on it and also did a defrag and that seemed to help last time.
That's odd, but you can disable the autoupdate service, though this is also not recommended, until you're sure that you've gotten all updates. I would say, that yes the proc is at fault, it is slow to be running xp. I'm not saying it cannot be done, but since the machine isn't yours, then the settings i've made to mind wouldn't make any sense in your situation. Never mind that those aren't easy to apply, and remove allot of xp's stuff. And some you do direct changes to the system services which is playing Russian Rulette with windows. It can be done, I'mused to it for my system config, but my ysstem config isn't yours.
Would a simple system restore do it? Also, since we're talking about speed, I know that I can run a 1.6 ghz cpu with no problems, but what about 1.4, 1.3, 1.2 and 1.13 ones? I've seen several laptops on ebay with XP and these speeds and want to know if it's even worth it to go below 1.4 or not?
No, you'd have to completely reformat the machine, reinstall everything and reupdate from scratch. The reason I'm suggesting this is because as you install and uninstall software, the system becomes less and less stable. It is called software rot. There is a script to get all windows updates for you, the name of it is wsusoffline update. I would advise you get it, and download the updates that way. Then reformat the machine with sighted help, and reinstall using those updates, then reinstall all applications. This way you know the system is clean.
As for your second question, stick with 1.6 ghz laptop proc, do not go below it, the speed does matter. Also try to get at least 1-2 gb ram for XP to run with any kind of stability.
Okay. Way too much trouble. I just wanted to bring it back to factory default with no updates. *smile* In any case, I was really hoping I could slide by with a 1.4 at least, since I've heard good reviews of a few laptops with that speed. Ah well, I've seen several 1.6 and 1.8 ones out there so hopefully, one of those will do the trick. I wonder if I should send a note to my bf? I put a few 1.4s in a list of recommendations to him. He doesn't really use the computer much, only to check e-mail, to play the built-in games and to go to youtube and news sites, but those have video... Still, it's better than 363 mhz. lol I pretty much do the same, though I visit alot more sites, download programs and create videos with Debut Video Capture Software and audio files with Stepvoice Recorder.
if the comp is running slow, have you done a disk clean up, and a disk defrag? those all help too.
I actually said that I did those in post 6. Since he'll be getting a new one, it's really not worth all the hastle. Besides, if I try to get one of my parents to help me, they won't understand and would blame me for breaking it and my bf knows absolutely nothing about formatting etc.
You could download something like C Cleaner or JK defrag since they'll do a better job than the ones that come with Windows. That will help to get rid of any extra crap that's slowing down your computer. With C Cleaner, you can get rid of old registry entries that are causing problems, or are just useless.
Ooh, I never heard of those. Thanks. The one I use is Windows Cleanup! (written like that with the exclamation). It does a very nice job of deleting cookies, temporary files, history etc. It can even wipe clean all files, but, of course, I never used that option. *smile*
oh shoot, sorry, i must of missed that, sorry
lol Np. That's okay.
So how do I at least disable it from automatically downloading and installing these updates. It used to just ask about them and now it's downloading and installing them without prompting. The only choice I have is to let it restart and install them. I hope it didn't download the large one yet. This is really not good. And there's no way, without reformatting or going into the registry, that I can get the system back to factory default?
Also, what is that Windows XP for legacy machines? I just heard about it the other day and don't really even know it's name. How does it differ from the Home or Pro versions and where can I get it? What kinds of systems can handle it?
JKDefrag is now MYDefrag. I'd also reckonmend it and CCleaner.
Ah, thanks for pointing that out. I must have an old ass version haha.
C cleaner would be good. You really want to leave the updates alone period. Let it get all of them. The Anti vir program is probably Norton if that machine has one. Remove it and get something faster. Also last with 1.6 and up will be best for running XP no lower or they can be slow unless it is a dual core. I'd still stay 1.6 and up. Slows can be caused by some other factors as well, but it's not windows updates. The computer could be dirty inside even, like with hair. If you really want to do him a favor take it to a good shop and have it cleaned.
Yeah dez, head to mydefrag.com. Filehippo also has it.
actually i have had better luck running xp on the last gen of Pentium 3 processors than the first gen of pentium 4's so i personally wouldn't hesitate to use a 1.13 GHZ P3 or anything up from that. especially if you have a gig or 2 of ram in the system. Yeah like everyone said u want the updates to go through and not want to disable them putting that system back to factory defaul is the last thing you want to do especially since that machine is online. Given its age a fresh install of the OS with all the updates and just the apps you actually use should have it running better than anything else you could do to it at this point, I find in cases like this defrag and clean up makes such a minor difference that it's usually not worth it .
Really? Wow! That gives me a huge! bunch of laptops to look through. I'm about to bash my head against the wall! I finally! found the perfect machines with 1.6 and up processors, the IBM X31 and X40, and both are missing the Windows key and the x41 is missing the context menu key as well! How the hell am I supposed to open certain things and get into menus? All the others don't have serial, parallel or pcmcia, or they may have only one and no way to get the others except port replicators, which means more wires. I can handle a docking station, if I absolutely have to, but I don't want extra wires and connectors. I want everything built-in! At least, the 1.2/1.4 ghz ones might give me that and more. I don't want a huge heavy machine either. Ooh! Then I can go for a Libretto or another small machine and split it up between the two operating systems! Opa!
hmmm. no context key? hmmmm. Try shift+f10? This dell doesn't have one either and that's what I do.
I think they probably mean the applications key, which could be a very bad thing. I don't usually use the Windows key much, except to get to the desktop but still.
see above .. shift F10 has the same effect as the applications or context key.
Oh cool. Okay, I wasn't sure if I was right or not. Awesome! Now I can consider these again.