Slow page loads and slow exits?

[WizeOne]

Still working on the the old Dell XP machine. It is a 2.4 gh Celeron with 125 mbs of ram and a 40 gb hard drive. There are not many programs loaded beyond some of the stuff Dell bundled.

The machine is real slow to load program pages or internet pages and is real balky (leaving temporaryy residual bits of screens as you close them or looking like you are lowering blinds as they close.

I have done all the updates and run various different spyware and virus scans, all finding a few minor things but nothing serious. I have not yet run a defrag.

This thing acts like it is compromised a bit.

Does this sound like it's time for an OS reload or could there be some slow hardware. It seems, for what is on it, it should be reasonably zippy.

 

[HopeSheFloats]

Re: Slow page loads and slow exits?

I'm no pc wiz, but if that's not a typo, I would say you need more ram, {512 minimum for XP I believe}...let the pro's here say for sure though

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Slow page loads and slow exits?

I would guess that you meant "512" Meg RAM.
Still not enough, I'd double that and you'll be fine.

If you actually meant 128 meg, I am surprised that it runs at all.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Slow page loads and slow exits?

I went back and checked the RAM. It is 128 mb. It even took about 12-15 seconds to open the System Properties box when I right clicked on MY COMPUTER.

Interesting that you say that you are surprised that it runs at all. Unless there is a defective stick of ram (I haven't cracked the box yet) this is the way it came from Dell. I used to always try to help my FIL(blind leading the blind) on computer issues. He was in his 80's when he got this thing, but I guess I never really realized how slow it was.

I'll crack open the case and see if I have some spare RAM around to install. I hope the RAM type is identified on the stick.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Slow page loads and slow exits?

Come on now....MEMORY is dirt cheap now..... fill that puter and it will run better....... it will go Fast Fast Fast

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Slow page loads and slow exits?

I went back and checked the RAM. It is 128 mb. It even took about 12-15 seconds to open the System Properties box when I right clicked on MY COMPUTER.

Interesting that you say that you are surprised that it runs at all. Unless there is a defective stick of ram (I haven't cracked the box yet) this is the way it came from Dell. I used to always try to help my FIL(blind leading the blind) on computer issues. He was in his 80's when he got this thing, but I guess I never really realized how slow it was.

I'll crack open the case and see if I have some spare RAM around to install. I hope the RAM type is identified on the stick.

I never claimed any expertise with these $%#@@!$% computers....they are the spawn of the Devil...or something... ...but i went to XP on a Win 98 machine and it was slower than [insert metaphor of choice]
I had 512 meg RAM, went to 1024, night and day!! I still use that machine.

I am sure that will solve your problem.
Any chance someone borrowed memory from that laptop? or was it a Win98 M/C to begin with?

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Slow page loads and slow exits?

Well Tim, this one is a PC and no, no one has tampered with it. Since I last posted I opened the box and there are two RAM slots. One was empty and the other had a stick of 128 in it. I have no doubt that is the way my FIL got it from Dell.

I am trying to identify what type it is to see if I might have some lying around. If not, I will buy some. I am trying to determine if this computer will be suitable for a video security computer. I will check on that before I spend any money to upgrade it. At minimum I would need more RAM and a bigger hard drive.

But in the mean time, hoping I have some proper RAM at hand, I want to confirm if increasing it deals with the issues I mentioned above.

EDIT: I just found the original invoice for my FIL's Dell 2400. Indeed it only came with 128 mb of ram. That is the minimum. 1024 is the maximum and it is PC2700 333mz DDR. Me thinks I will have to buy a couple of 512's.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Slow page loads and slow exits?

Did it have Win98 as the original O/S?
Two 512s and you'll really be happy with the performance, I think.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Slow page loads and slow exits?

Did it have Win98 as the original O/S?
Two 512s and you'll really be happy with the performance, I think.

No, TF, it came with XP Home addition. There is even a reload disc with all the paperwork. I would go thru his computer stuff (back then) and put like and kind documentation and software in gallon sized ziploc baggies, like I do with my stuff. It is the only way to keep all the odd sized stuff organized. It sure paid off this time

The computer was originally purchaced in May 04. My FIL passed away in Oct 05. He didn't use it a whole lot as he was in his 80's before he even started with computers. It was a bit baffling to him.

I always remember that his computer was a bit slow and balky but never had any time to wonder much about it. I just thought it was a low end computer.

 

[ehenry]

Re: Slow page loads and slow exits?

XP loves 2 gig of memory, likes 4 gig even better. With 2 gig you'll swear you have a new machine. Memory is cheap now just like DASD is.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Slow page loads and slow exits?

Instead of 2 512s put in 2 1Gb.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Slow page loads and slow exits?

Instead of 2 512s put in 2 1Gb.

This is a Dell Dimension 2400 with a 2.4gz Celeron. The manual states that RAM capacities are 128 to 1 gb.

Wouldn't 2 gig be a waste of money?

...and ehenry, what is DASD?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Slow page loads and slow exits?

http://www.crucial.com/store/mpartspecs.aspx?mtbpoid=2E949DC6A5CA7304
http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts4_dell2400.aspx?model=Dimension 2400 Series

States that you can put 1 Gb in each slot.

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim2400/en/sm_en/specs.htm
States maximum memory = 2GB

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Slow page loads and slow exits?

http://www.crucial.com/store/mpartspecs.aspx?mtbpoid=2E949DC6A5CA7304
http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts4_dell2400.aspx?model=Dimension 2400 Series

States that you can put 1 Gb in each slot.

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim2400/en/sm_en/specs.htm
States maximum memory = 2GB

thanks for the links bruceb. I do not think the manual showed the last line of "maximum' memories. It only showed the 'memory capacities' of 128. 256 and 512.

What do you suppose the difference is between 'maximum' memories and 'memory capacities' is.

None the less, I will redirect my quest for 2 gb's.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Slow page loads and slow exits?

Not sure how old that computer is but maybe 1GB modules weren't available then or maybe they weren't common.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Slow page loads and slow exits?

Not sure how old that computer is but maybe 1GB modules weren't available then or maybe they weren't common.

The 'puter was purchased in May of 2004. Since you brought up the prospect of 2 GB I looked on ebay and there is a quantum leap in prices between two sticks of 512 each and two sticks of 1gb each.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Slow page loads and slow exits?

Be aware that you can buy pc3200 and it will work fine. Sometimes its harder to find the slower memory since they don't make it anymore and the faster is actually cheaper.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Slow page loads and slow exits?

Be aware that you can buy pc3200 and it will work fine. Sometimes its harder to find the slower memory since they don't make it anymore and the faster is actually cheaper.

Wheras my manual calls for non ECC PC2700 333mhz DDR ram, will non ECC PC3200 400mz DDR ram work?

 

[j_martin]

Re: Slow page loads and slow exits?

On another angle to slow page loads.

T-storms came through here in spades Friday night, and took out some infrastructure in plymouth, where my ISP is based. After the main gear got back up, the primary DNS server was down, but the secondary DNS server was up. At that time, I couldn't get anything internet, but IP services like a VPN I use worked fine. I did some basic diagnostics.

By pinging them I found the primary DNS server was down, and the backup secondary was up. The IP gateway was up, and I could ping other known internet sites by address.

I found on my work station, the DHCP provided DNS servers were the router and the primary server.

On the router, I found the DNS was both acquired and delivered automatically.

I reconfigured my Actiontec modem/router DHCP server to deliver the primary and secondary DNS server ip addresses, and rebooted everything. It then worked well even though the primary DNS server was down.

In summary, the configuration of your dsl modem/router may be limiting your actual access to DNS (address lookup) service to 1 server, instead of the recommended 2 or more. In practice, if the primary DNS server takes more than a half of a second to respond to an inquire, your browser fires off a request to the secondary server. With the limited configuration, you will always have that delay, and it'll hang big time if the primary DNS server is busy or down.

Hope it helps
jm (the network guy)

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Slow page loads and slow exits?

JMartin, your disertation has pushed me beyond my capabilities here.

Suffice it to say, the issues I described for this 2.4 Celeron unit are not just related to internet performance. They affect the loading and exiting of pages for imbedded programs as well. When it is connected to the internet, it is running thru the same internet cable, router and switch as is my primary computer which is running perfectly.

Back to ECC ram that I referred to in another post. Should I stay away from it for this Celeron unit in question. You can sure pick it up cheap. And yes, the ECC ram I found was advertised as having been used in a server.