please help me make my computer faster

[BillGates]

How full is your HDD and how often (if ever) do you de-fragment it?

 

[ilovesocks]

another question...

when I open a program the first time (after I start up), it will open slow. But if I close it and open it agian, it loads MUCH faster. Is this common?

Yes - I think it's because some of the program will still be in the RAM, which can be accessed faster than the HDD.

I have no idea what is going on just after start-up, the computer sounds like a bunch of stuff is happening, but the only program it could be loading is antivirus...

My Dell did the exact same thing! I think it was fixed after I formatted and reinstalled Windows to give it to my parents, though.

There aren't really any problems with upgrading a Dell; the only parts that are truly proprietary are the motherboard and Windows installation discs (copies of Windows from Dell will only work on Dell motherboards). Dell might have warranty problems with it, perhaps? The thing is, you might as well just save your money towards that build. Trust me, that will be one of the most satisfying and fun things you'll do for a while.

For now, reinstalling Windows without the Dell stuff is probably the best thing. Getting an external hard drive to back up your stuff is never a bad idea, either. USB hard drives from EDGE Tech have big mail-in rebates right now. I got this one and it's working well so far.

If you really, really don't want to reinstall Windows, you could right-click on My Computer, click Manage, expand Services and Applications, and click Services. This brings up a list of all the available services your computer has to offer. Some will be disabled or set to Manual or Automatic. Manual means the service will start when it's needed. Automatic means it will be launched upon startup. Now, you can go to www.theeldergeek.com and look up (search for) each of those services, and it will point out ones that are unnecessary. Just make sure you don't disable any critical services. Doing this got rid of a few extraneous processes and shaved off a few seconds from my startup time.

 

[sprtnbsblplya]

Sorry dude, but it doesnt matter if you remove just the software from the startup folder, you seriously gotta do a complete format and reinstall with a Dell, as I've gone through all of that in the past with the Inspiron 600m in my sig.
But once you get all the crap removed from the HD, they can be good machines, I love my Inspiron 600m, it can even play some decent games.

An external hard drive would be a wise investment if you're into music, just head over to newegg and get something like a 200 gig hard drive for like $80 and an external enclosure ofr like $30 and there ya go, 200 gig USB 2.0 hard drive and just keep all of your music on there from now on.
Thats what I do and for just playing music files it has no performance impacts (dont run programs from USB, just music).

 

[sprtnbsblplya]

Also, ilovesocks (lovin the name by the way) makes an excellent point, there is just not much point to upgrading a Dell, just save your money for a custom build.
To be completely honest, your system sounds nice (for a Dell), and could most likely net your approx. $500 on eBay from some idiot.
Then, take that money and maybe another $200 and build a completely new system that could rock that Dells world.
Case -
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811133147
Motherboard -
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813135190
Basic graphics -
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814150098
PSU -
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817153023
CPU -
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819103424
RAM -
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820145440
HD -
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822144152
DVD-Burner -
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827152058

Total = $608 from Newegg.

Sorry this isnt more in depth, I'm exhausted and this is just saved from a quick build I priced earlier and saved.
But this is just to give you an idea of what a good system could cost that could bend your Dell over and dominate it.

 

[sprtnbsblplya]

Or you could buy my desktop in my sig thats for sale . lol.

 

[Kazama]

get a virus app that Checks and repairs for free. Works quite well, and yes its a random tarding ..... D3LL!. We really need to warn people about Dell's (But there monitors are ok.)

 

[sprtnbsblplya]

See, this is why I always offer to build a person a computer for free if they even mention buying a Dell desktop (even though I love my laptop, it packs a lot of bang for the buck, $850 brand new on sale last semester).
I would rather do a build for free for someone I know than have them come ask me to help fix their Dell after they've already bought it and its showing its true colors. Do it right the first time, motto to live by.

 

[Kazama]

Your comp that's on sale now is slower than his Dell lol ...

 

[sprtnbsblplya]

Yeah, the proc is, the graphics arent though.
That was the point of the winky though, I thought it would help add to the sarcasm, just too hard to do online I guess...

 

[Kazama]

The Vid card is probaly even. By the way can you check out my thread, build or Custom build.

Ta