Computer so bogged WoW isnt fun

[Twili]

My computer used to run WoW normal, i could turn the settings up or down, play in windowed mode or full screen. Now, everthing is at its lowest setting, and if I try to change them, the whole program shuts down. WoW is slow, laggy, and basically not even fun anymore. I keep asking for a new computer, or to get a laptop, but we have to make due with the computer we got. Anyone else have this problem?

[HHSmanfunnyxgz]

Try to

1- free up diskspace
2- try System Mechanic 6, or another PC performance enhancing utility
3- Go to start-run- type in MSCONFIG and press ok. From there go to startup and uncheck all things you dont need or want and enable the setttings. Sometimes many programs run on startup that you dont see and or want.
4- maybe try getting a compressed air can, opening your computers case, and blowing out all the dust and lint, especcially in the exhaust, it really builds up.
5- Get more RAM (it worked wonders for me!) crucialmemory.com
6- lower windows settings to free up ram, and make the pc overall less laggy, may enable you to raise WoW's settings.
7- Run virus scans, bugs, virus's, and other types of things can slow the computer.
8- Dell sells pretty good cheap PC's

Alot of things can make your computer slow over time, I thikn your best bet is to free up space and set the things you want to run on startup.

[JaedxRapture]

Clear out viruses, malware, adware, spyware, etc. Make sure you're defragging and cleaning up on a regular basis. And stop looking at pr0n.
Computers don't just **** out, stuff happens.

[Twili]

[QUOTE=HHSmanfunnyxgz;3836010]
6- lower windows settings to free up ram, and make the pc overall less laggy, may enable you to raise WoW's settings.
QUOTE]
How do I do that?

[daisetsu]

I would actually recomend just completely reinstalling windows. It's too much work to try and remove viruses, rootkits, spyware, and just junk that was left over after uninstalls. Windows has background processes that just leave junk after a while(months/years). A freshly installed version of windows will make your computer run like new. Remember to back up your files first. Here's a pretty good guide. http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

[Twili]

I would actually recomend just completely reinstalling windows. It's too much work to try and remove viruses, rootkits, spyware, and just junk that was left over after uninstalls. Windows has background processes that just leave junk after a while(months/years). A freshly installed version of windows will make your computer run like new. Remember to back up your files first. Here's a pretty good guide. http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

I highly doubt I have the original disks that came with my computer. We got it about 5 years ago. Not to mention my Nero burning rom is messed up, so it wont let me burn anything onto CDs (its nero, other programs let me burn just fine)

[HHSmanfunnyxgz]

go to "control panel" from the START at the task bar, then click System, and go to the Advanced tab. click Settings under Performance. Now there are some options you can check and uncheck, be aware that at best performance the windows xp theme goes away and looks like windows 98 or something, so its best to remove visuals you dont need. I currently have my virtual memory at 1500 (set it at the advanced tab in the window you just opened.) wich may help. Oh and if you back up all your files, reinstall windows, then put the files back on, wont the adware, spyware and viruses go back onto your pc?

[Tanitha]

You generally backup data files, not executable files HHSmanfunnyxgz. While it's possible (Remember the old Macro viruses?) it's not that usual to get them in data files. Then you simply install your software from the original CDs, restore your data and you should be good to go again.

Twili, try running WoW with any AddOns disabled. There's a handy Disable All button that might improve matters a little bit.

[ChaosSaber]

...Not to mention my Nero burning rom is messed up, so it wont let me burn anything onto CDs (its nero, other programs let me burn just fine)
If nero worked before it could be another sign of system-wide problems. Such a dramatic reduction in performance can, in my opinion, only be reversed by a complete system wipe.

If you don't still have you original CDs let this be a lesson to always keep everything your computer came with in a safe place. If you know your Windows CD-Key (should be on a sticker somewhere on your computer) you might be able to use a friend's CDs to re-install Windows.

[HHSmanfunnyxgz]

I sorta beg to differ, before i got my shipment of 512MB of RAM, and having 25 gigs of space, I could hardly play games like halo without freezing my system, and start up took like 10 minutes. I would reccomend a system restore to a far back point, if you have one, rather than a memory wipe.

and.. BAM!

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1590

Just knockin it up a knotch. That site has alot of tips for you and your pc, as well as tips to (if u get ur system better) make it stay that way, and make it so that you can return to that point.

[Twoflower]

if it worked before, and does not work now on the SAME hardware, your operating system is clearly gone fubar. Upgrading hardware etc will not solve the source of all problems.

which probably is that you dont take care of your computer.

So, make a fresh start, reinstall windows. then make sure that you defrag your pc regulary, taht you use a firewall, virus scanner, adaware, spybot etc.

[Twili]

if it worked before, and does not work now on the SAME hardware, your operating system is clearly gone fubar. Upgrading hardware etc will not solve the source of all problems.

which probably is that you dont take care of your computer.

So, make a fresh start, reinstall windows. then make sure that you defrag your pc regulary, taht you use a firewall, virus scanner, adaware, spybot etc.

I agree I didn't take care of it, but none of that stuff came with the computer. Virus scanners, adaware, those things dont come with computers (or at least didn't when I bought this)
Thats like buying a car and it doesnt come with seatbelts. Why arn't they packaged in?

EDIT: I have a disk, called "Medion: Product Recovery CD-ROM" Is this the disk that contains windows?

[Twoflower]

agreed, they dont come whit the computer, but no producer on this world can select the programms you need for your PC out of the millions of billions of gazillions programs that exist. you will have to do some work on your own :)

take it as a lesson, reinstall windows and dont make the same mistake again. I know that is realy easy to get lost on this, and the sheer endless possibilities for something to go wrong whit your PC is scary. Best thing would be if you have someone who will help you whit it. But this is far too complex to write down everything here. Find someone who is willing and able to help you reinstall windows and who knows what you need to prevent this from happening again. If you found someone, treat him nice, cause you will call this person often for the first few years whit many questions :)

this is actualy not WoW related at all, it is rather general PC support.

and i dont know what medion is. maybee the producer of your computer ?

[Twili]

My computer doesnt have a good graphics card in the first place, so I really do need a new computer. The problem is, this computer is our family computer, and I have a younger brother who downloads all this crap on here. I plan on getting a laptop near may, so I guess I have to wait until then to play... Well I can play now, but something feels not right when I do it :(

[Herald of Doom]

The problem is, this computer is our family computer, and I have a younger brother who downloads all this crap on here.
:duh:

Alright. First of all, tell your brother to stop doing that. If possible, give him a regular User account which prevents him ****ing up windows ;)

Secondly, dont think of virusscanners etc as seatbelts. Think of them as yearly checkups in the garage to keep your car running.

Things you need:

Virusscanner (a good one, get a subscription, free ones are decent but obviously not as good) and make it do at LEAST a weekly scan. Mine scans every sundaynight and thursdaynight.

malware-spyware: I am actually very impressed with Windows Defender. Ad-aware is pretty decent. Spybot search&destroy is what I used before switching to Windows Defender, worked better than ad-aware for me.

Oh,and Medion is indeed a brand, I think I remember seeing them in the Aldi or the Lidl ^_^

HoD

[Twili]

:duh:

Alright. First of all, tell your brother to stop doing that. If possible, give him a regular User account which prevents him ****ing up windows ;)

Secondly, dont think of virusscanners etc as seatbelts. Think of them as yearly checkups in the garage to keep your car running.

Things you need:

Virusscanner (a good one, get a subscription, free ones are decent but obviously not as good) and make it do at LEAST a weekly scan. Mine scans every sundaynight and thursdaynight.

malware-spyware: I am actually very impressed with Windows Defender. Ad-aware is pretty decent. Spybot search&destroy is what I used before switching to Windows Defender, worked better than ad-aware for me.

Oh,and Medion is indeed a brand, I think I remember seeing them in the Aldi or the Lidl ^_^

HoD


Do you suggest paying for Adaware? I currently have the free version.

[Herald of Doom]

Nah, not really. I would actually suggest you try windows defender first ( :: shock gasp:: thats like the first time in years i recommend a windows product lol ). The thing you need to pay for is the virusscanner and preferably a hardware firewall if you really want to be safe.

HoD

[Twoflower]

antivir is a free virus scan and it does the job. no need to pay.

edit : and i never had any problems whit the service pack 2 firewall either.

in fact, i never payed for any prog that runs on my pc... but that is another story.

And, if you want to buy a new computer anyway, leave the old one to your yonger brother and dont ever let him touch your new PC. Sounds like he is to blame for the state of your comp :) If there is no way to keep him away from your PC, make him a user acount whit literaly NO rights whatsoever and keep the password for your admin acount save and hidden.

[SwervinCL]

I agree I didn't take care of it, but none of that stuff came with the computer. Virus scanners, adaware, those things dont come with computers (or at least didn't when I bought this)
Thats like buying a car and it doesnt come with seatbelts. Why arn't they packaged in?

EDIT: I have a disk, called "Medion: Product Recovery CD-ROM" Is this the disk that contains windows?

Yes.... Throw it in your cd rom. restart your computer and follow the on screen prompts....

Before you do that though..Make sure you back up all your stuff that you want to keep.

[sheepe2004]

run an anti-virus, a malware/spyware scanner or two and defragment your hard drive.

free anti-virus: avg
free spyware scanners: spybot s&d, adaware

just google for them, download, install and follow the instructions.

To defrag your computer just look in the start menu, accssories, system tools. It could take ages if youv'e never used it in 5 years but definately still worth doing overnight, the longer it takes the more good its doing :p

edit: also make sure you have a firewall, i think zonealarm is a free one you can download or just use the windows one.

[jonba]

These software fixes are all good ideas. Personally, if i were you, I would back up the things you want to keep (and don't have disks for)... pics, movies, resumes, homework stuff like that. I would then try the recovery CD and see if it lets you do a full "wipe/reinstall" of windows... complete with a reformatting of the drive. This will essentially erase EVERYTHING from the Hard drive and load a "clean" copy of windows.

This route accomplishes a couple of good things. It allows you to establish a good "clean" platform to build your new security upon. This means that you can be sure there is not any underlying damage to the registry or other critical code due to the viruses you had previous. This ALSO will end up saving you some effort (probably not time), and maybe some headaches. Sometimes AV solutions can find viruses, but cannot clean them... meaning it leaves it upto you to delete them... which can be worrisome for a person who is not computer savy. This route WILL probably take longer as you will have to reinstall programs (wow + patches = too long)...

If none of these solutions fix it for you, then you should really take a look at buying more memory. Your processor is not likely to be the "bottleneck" when it comes to performance... it is most likely your RAM that is holding up the show. I would try this if all the software solutions fail to yield results. I know many places will allow you to return your memory if it still does not fix your problem... www.cdw.com is one that i know of that does not charge a restocking fee as long as you tell them the memory was bad... they don't check... i may have worked there??

[Xlorep DarkHelm]

Silly Windows user.