This Website is short of memory capacity

I use Linux no problems at all, you don't need a state of the art computer,no virus problems and you don't deal with Microsoft
shenanigans. "Just saying"....

There's only one problem here and it's not Microsoft!

A lot of times it is not a memory problem but a Windows problem and a simple fix. I am running 1 gig of memory the past 7 years on my laptop, never upgraded, still running strong. Just got a new laptop at work and that one is much slower then what I am using at home.

Two of these steps require a little PC knowledge.

Cleans your files daily, you can set this to perform automatically

Defrag at the least, monthly.

Back up and Clean up your registry - be VERY careful or have a professional do it. There are some good programs as well.

Stop extra programs from running in the background, this is one of the biggest issues for a slow computer. To do this you need to go into Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services, there you will see what is running in the background that you may not even use but it is draining a lot of your computers memory.

Now that I'm retired, I am planning to learn how to do some of this stuff.
My boss always did that, because I didn't have persimmons, I mean "permissions".

Chilimon wrote:A lot of times it is not a memory problem but a Windows problem and a simple fix. I am running 1 gig of memory the past 7 years on my laptop, never upgraded, still running strong. Just got a new laptop at work and that one is much slower then what I am using at home.

Two of these steps require a little PC knowledge.

Cleans your files daily, you can set this to perform automatically

Defrag at the least, monthly.

Back up and Clean up your registry - be VERY careful or have a professional do it. There are some good programs as well.

Stop extra programs from running in the background, this is one of the biggest issues for a slow computer. To do this you need to go into Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services, there you will see what is running in the background that you may not even use but it is draining a lot of your computers memory.

I don't want to start a big argument, but I'm not a believer in registry cleaning. This is actually pretty dangerous, very subtle problems can result that you might not see for some time. Yes, there have been programs around that do this for a long time now, but I would not use them. The best recommendation for registry cleaning that I know of is re-installing (which also requires a backup *smile*, and will really speed up your computer). In general, the amount of performance increase you get from registry cleaning is just not worth the risk.

This isn't just my opinion, this is also what I've read from Windows experts that I have a lot of respect for, so caveat emptor.

One more comment, adding memory and/or changing your OS drive to an SSD are about the best "bang for the buck" performance improvements you can do. Memory is very cheap, and has been for years now. One thing, I wouldn't put an SSD is a computer running an OS before Windows 7, though, since that's where Microsoft put in the SSD wear-leveling software (using the TRIM command). And Windows 7 and later also don't offer SSD's for scheduled defragmentation (which is something that you should never do with an SSD).

Or ...

You could just use FREE Ubuntu (PC Linux) and forget about Windoze and MacRippoff.

RogerSC wrote:
I don't want to start a big argument, but I'm not a believer in registry cleaning. This is actually pretty dangerous, very subtle problems can result that you might not see for some time. Yes, there have been programs around that do this for a long time now, but I would not use them. The best recommendation for registry cleaning that I know of is re-installing (which also requires a backup *smile*, and will really speed up your computer). In general, the amount of performance increase you get from registry cleaning is just not worth the risk.

This isn't just my opinion, this is also what I've read from Windows experts that I have a lot of respect for, so caveat emptor.

I would not call it dangerous, been doing it to multiple computers for 20 years now. Reinstalling is very time consuming and unless you do a complete format, you are cluttering up your hard drive. Yes I did take computer classes and I also rebuild computers. I do it as a hobby and do it free for those who cannot afford a computer, I buy them cheap, rebuild them and give them away, most people are very appreciative. I see no risk involved in doing anything to a PC, you must always remember to back up your system frequently. That's why I recommended having a professional do it. Remains of a virus are left in the Registry a lot of times, even after a virus removal, take a look at a teenagers computer sometime, not all teenagers though, believe me when I say I saw it all. There are good reasons for doing it.


I would switch to Linux if I did not have to use programs that were tied into the other fields I work in which require Windows or Mac. Oh well, maybe when I retire and give everything up if that ever happens.

Pugsy wrote:Avi...that's the message I was talking about that I get sometimes when I am either trying to use the forum search function or the member search for posts or whatever. Seems tied into the search function near as I can tell. It's intermittent and usually short lived though I did have it happen during one period of time where it took several minutes before the search would function properly.

On large bulletin boards, the database used for search is often a problem. It often gets very large. Also, depending on the software, the database often gets "dirty" and needs cleanup or even rebuilding. This can take a lot of CPU power, or may even require shutting down the bulletin board for a while. There's also some risk of breaking things when trying to clean up the database.

It takes a good administrator to do it right and strike the right balance of pros and cons of maintaining the database for a large board like this. Sometimes, there's no good answer. Quite a few large boards have their database get worse and worse until it either gets so bad they have to fix it, or it crashes and they have to try and fix it, often losing data in the process.

Personally, I haven't seen many problems on this board vs. other large boards I use.

what else do you expect me to do with programs on my computer?

Here is a question for you: I use a Toshiba Satellite A505 for my laptop. A few days ago I placed a CD in the built-in CD Drive with a piece of piano music on it (played by my granddaughter). The next day when I opened the CD Drive door (cover) the CD was not there. When I placed another DVD in the Drive I could feel friction when I closed the Drive, and the DVD did not play. When I removed the DVD, closed the Drive door, and next pressed COMPUTER after START, then the CD Drive icon said that there is no disc inside. I tried to look inside the CD Drive with strong light but could not see a CD. Even when I used a set of tweezers to feel for it I could not feel anything there. Then I placed a DVD again and it played OK as usual. Question, is it possible that the original CD was pushed in and came out from the other side of the Drive housing, and to get to it, the Laptop bottom needs to be unscrewed?

Avi,
That's pretty unlikely. Most laptops I've looked at have a completely isolated CD/DVD drive ... in fact in many of them you can remove the drive (with the computer off, please) without so much as removing a single screw.

Does you laptop have a CD drive that requires you to pop the disk on top of a spindle with a few ball bearings that hold it in place (typically on this type you can see the laser device as well)? Or is it just a drawer that opens and closes.

If the former, I would think you'd have to have dropped it for the disk to come loose, and still I wouldn't expect it to go inside. If the latter I can see how it might get loose...

Ah, or maybe yours has a feed device that 'eats' the disk and (usually) returns it? I have seen those jam.

In any case, most laptops are so dense internally that it wouldn't be possible to find room for a CD to get pushed out the other side.

Quite a puzzle you have....

I also do NOT have any problem logging onto this forum.

However, starting a couple of days ago, I no longer get E-Mail notification of new posts to threads I have subscribed to.

I went into the Control Panel & checked my settings.
All of the threads I have subscribed to are still listed as being subscribed to.
But, I checked a couple of the threads, and they do have new posts to them - but I have not been getting E-Mail notifications of those new posts.

khauser wrote:Avi,
That's pretty unlikely. Most laptops I've looked at have a completely isolated CD/DVD drive ... in fact in many of them you can remove the drive (with the computer off, please) without so much as removing a single screw.

Does you laptop have a CD drive that requires you to pop the disk on top of a spindle with a few ball bearings that hold it in place (typically on this type you can see the laser device as well)? Or is it just a drawer that opens and closes.

If the former, I would think you'd have to have dropped it for the disk to come loose, and still I wouldn't expect it to go inside. If the latter I can see how it might get loose...

Ah, or maybe yours has a feed device that 'eats' the disk and (usually) returns it? I have seen those jam.

In any case, most laptops are so dense internally that it wouldn't be possible to find room for a CD to get pushed out the other side.

Quite a puzzle you have....

Thanks.


Reply,

The CD Drive's drawer slides out and then I place a CD on top of the drawer's shelf and slide it back in. It's as you posted:
Does you laptop have a CD drive that requires you to pop the disk on top of a spindle with a few ball bearings that hold it in place (typically on this type you can see the laser device as well)?

Here is a similar case:

http://forums.toshiba.com/t5/Computer-T ... td-p/66684



Re: Cd disc came out inside my A505 laptop; how to get it out

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‎12-07-2009 07:26 AM


You do NOT need to disassemble the laptop. I recently had the same problem with a client's A505 Toshiba. Here's what I did about it: Remove the small bezel strip between the keyboard and the speakers/power bezel, remove the four screws holding the keyboard in place, fold the keyboard back onto the palm rest, being careful not to disconnect the keyboard cable. Now look into the opening on top of the optical drive case to the right. You will see the inside edge of your CD. Slide it toward the side of the case. Now turn on your laptop, open the drive door, and continue to ease the CD out. It may catch on the right side of the tray opening, but you can work it out of there. Now close the drive. Turn off the laptop. Secure the keyboard and replace the bezel strip. Be sure CDs are seated firmly in the tray in future. Toshiba needs to address this defect, So calls to tech support are encouraged. See Steps 1 through 4 of the disassembly instructions in the following link, noting in step 4 the exposed optical drive where you can see your stuck CD. http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/T ... rive-1.htm

I assume you tried the gravity idea.

I think if you believe the piano music disk is in there you ought to pursue retrieving it. It'll most certainly cause damage over time if left there. If you feel competent doing so yourself and the warranty is no longer valid or you don't care, go for it. Alternatives might include taking it to Staples, Best Buy, etc. They all have repair abilities...

khauser wrote:I assume you tried the gravity idea.

I think if you believe the piano music disk is in there you ought to pursue retrieving it. It'll most certainly cause damage over time if left there. If you feel competent doing so yourself and the warranty is no longer valid or you don't care, go for it. Alternatives might include taking it to Staples, Best Buy, etc. They all have repair abilities...

Thanks, I just followed the above instructions and retrieved the CD with the piano music. After lifting the keyboard the CD was laying there, and I could nudge it out toward the Drive door. Except that two of the 4 tiny flat head screws flew up toward the ceiling and I doubt it if I could find them in the room. Also, next time, I'll have to get a demagnetizer for my tweezers and the small Phillips screwdriver.