What's wrong with my computer? Not enough RAM or the Processor or what?

rocket1406

In Runtime
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Hi. My computer has trouble even handling a Shockwave game + MSN Messenger running at the same time.

I was hoping you guys could help me. Prior to one year ago, I remember everything working fine. But I'm not sure if I had Windows XP at the time.

Here are pictures of my CPU usage (Graph of Memory Usage and List of Processes):

http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=7/20407481288.jpg&s=x1
http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=7/20407481932.jpg&s=x1
http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=7/20407482658.jpg&s=x1

Maybe you guys can tell me if the RAM is too low or something, or if the processor is broken/old, or if I'm just running too many background processes (which ones can I disable and how?)

My specs:
Compaq Presario 5330US:
Pentium 4 1.7 GHz
512 MB SDRAM
80 GB Hard Drive
64 MB nVidia GeForce2 MX card

Thanks so much in advance guys. This PC is really ticking me off.

**Note: I can get an additional 512 MB SDRam bought and installed for $120. But if RAM isn't the problem in your opinion, then I don't want to waste the money.
 
dont pay to install ram first off, u just pop out the old stick and stick in a new one, or in that case u pop the new one in beside that stick thats it. im thinking too many programs running in the background. i would get rid of alot of crap on that computer. download and install these programs.

adaware se
spybot search and destroy
CCleaner

they will get rid of alot of useless crap on your comptuer that is making it not run as good. do those programs and then respond to how its working now
 
K thanks.

I will do that... (I run these programs already once in a while, well Adaware and Spybot at least)

***One note I want to make:

I ran the computer in Selective Startup, disabling all non-Windows programs, and I still could not play a simple Shockwave game (INKLINK) without it lagging and freezing and slowing down and catching up.



I will run the programs suggested though, and get back to you guys.

Should I reformat? I'm thinking about reformatting.
 
well if u already wanna reformat thats what i'd do but only after you try these..i figure too much background programs if this doesnt work. make sure you have all the updates too btw
 
How do I use CCleaner?

I was just reading reviews of it, and it said not to use the Registry Cleaner, because it can corrupt your Windows.

Should I do everything besides the Registry Cleaner?
 
It could be a virus too. Should not be about the amount of ram, 512 should be enough. Well what ever it is, reformatting should help.
 
OKAY GUYS I'M DONE REFORMATTING!

I've deleted all partitions and installed WINDOWS XP HOME onto the clean hard drive.

I have installed all recommended updates.

The only programs I have installed are Mozilla Firefox, and the Shockwave / Flash Player Plugins for Mozilla Firefox.

I STILL CANNOT PLAY THE STUPID INKLINK GAME!! MAJOR PROBLEM HERE! Please help me guys ....

HERE ARE THE NEW SCREENSHOTS (AFTER REFORMAT):

http://img164.imageshack.us/my.php?image=list3kd.jpg
http://img164.imageshack.us/my.php?image=untitled0is.jpg

Those are the pictures... do they tell you what the problem is? It can't be spyware/viruses. It can't be number of processes.
 
It's not the hard drive.

If it were the Hard Drive, it would make like a clicking noise right? Or files would not be accessible...

***POSSIBLY IMPORTANT: Somewhere from one to two years ago, the power supply crashed and my whole computer shut off. It would not turn on... I had CompUSA put in a new power supply for me.

Now I don't know, but is it possible that the crash fried or damaged either my processor or my RAM?
 
How much would it cost to buy a similar computer these days?

It's a Compaq Presario 5330US:

Specs: Pentium 4 1.7 GHz, 512 MB SDRAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, 64 MB nvidia GeForce 2 Mx 440 Video Card

*** In other words, is it even worth repairing?
 
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