PC is super slow- any advise, or failing that good laptop deals.

[mattydinx]

However, a girl at work came to me with the same problem. Her laptop had become very slow and was taking literally hours to perform simple tasks. Turned out it was some sort of pre-warning that the HDD was about to give up the ghost (an option which I hadn't considered at first). Her HDD drive died completely about a week later. A new HDD and everything is running fine and dandy now!

Easy way to check this is open the Windows Event Viewer
• If you're using Win vista or 7, simply click on the start button and type "Event Viewer"
• For windows XP click on Start, Select "Run" and in the dialogue box type "eventvwr"
• You need to navigate to the 'System' event log, this is under 'Windows Logs' in vista and 7.

You're looking for items relating to 'disk' under the source column. If there's only one or two they can usually be fixed, if there's 100's then it's not good news i'm afraid.

To perform a Disk Check open a command prompt
• In XP click Start > Run > CMD and press enter
• In Vista & 7 click start > type CMD > Right click on the cmd icon and select 'Run as administrator'

• at the command prompt type 'chkdsk' and press enter
If it informs you that there are problems, backup your data and repeat the 'chkdsk' process but enter the command 'chkdsk /f /r' at the command prompt. This will attempt to fix and repair any bad sectors on your hard drive.

A computer restart may be needed to complete the check.

[Megamix]

I would agree the best way to get the fastest PC is to rebuild - or buy a mac

[Creature]

simple and exceedling cheep fix - install ubuntu 10.4 - you will be amazed at just how quick your pc actually is

the new version stay away from as big buggy at moment.

[yourdj]

I would agree the best way to get the fastest PC is to rebuild - or buy a mac

i did not want to be a snob but I have had macs since the G4 and they are quite simply superb.
You can also use windows with mac using WMware fusion (as a program - which windows is).

i put my last one through loads of abuse (used it at least 9-10 hours a day) and although the
screen has broken following being hurled 2 meters it still works a treat.

People are scared of venturing to a different OS which is fine but its so much simpler trust me.
My girlfriend is a computer dummy and it took her a day to learn it, not even that. She loves her mac.

Get on Ebay and find a decent macbook. You will not look back.
The black 2.4 gig ones are the best priced and top spec for the cash IMO.

The pro's are the best and have the new processor in.

I now have 4 in the household

[wensleydale]

Advanced System Care 5 is available as a free download.

http://www.iobit.com/advancedsystemcareper.html

I have it on all my machines. Works a treat!

I tried this and whilst it found a fair few a few issues the PC now wont reboot.
It hangs and cycles on a dos screen saying "adding index file" and counting up.
Any ideas?

[Totally Plucked]

simple and exceedling cheep fix - install ubuntu 10.4 - you will be amazed at just how quick your pc actually is

the new version stay away from as big buggy at moment.

I am correct in saying that Virtual DJ does not work on Ubuntu as it's a Linux OS ?

[discomobiledj]

Vista is not helping. It's very resource hungry. An upgrade to Windows 7 would see a massive difference.

[mattydinx]

You can also use windows with mac using WMware fusion (as a program - which windows is).

You don't even need VMware, Windows will install and run standalone on most macs with an Intel processor through Boot Camp.

[DazzyD]

I am correct in saying that Virtual DJ does not work on Ubuntu as it's a Linux OS ?

That would be my thinking, also. I'm not great on Linux but software is OS-specific (although there may be different versions released for different OSs).

[Totally Plucked]

That would be my thinking, also. I'm not great on Linux but software is OS-specific (although there may be different versions released for different OSs).

Have had a browse around the net and Virtual DJ is only compatible with Windows or Mac OS, however there are reports that it can be run on Ubuntu (Linux OS) under a programme called "Wine." Would like to know how stable it is on Wine though?