Computer running slow, can I fix the taskbar?

December 17, 2009

I recently bought my first laptop used from a friend of mine who really tricked it out. He is very knowledgable but we use the computer for different things.The computer is so slow to load, and it is mostly due to our wireless internet service. I get it free so I’m not complaining. But I want to boost my performance with what is in my control.

My taskbar (down by the clock) shows 10 icons all the time. I have been told that this bogs up the computer. Trouble is, I don’t know what I need, and what I can shut off, perhaps even remove from the computer. I figured out how to hide them when they are inactive, but I’m not sure that hiding makes any difference in the processing speed if they are all working in the background. After I figure out which ones I want to come on automatically, and which to activate as needed myself, I would like to change the settings so they don’t keep coming back on and slowing things down. What should I do? Thanks for your help!
Southernbelle, you are my geek in shining armor. I appreciate your quick and thorough answer, I did what you said and things are much speedier. For the other techies in the house, I’m sure I will have other questions about the unchecks and reactivating certain ones. For now, however, the question is closed and southernbelle will get 10 well deserved points. Thanks again!
Southernbelle, you are my geek in shining armor. I appreciate your quick and thorough answer, I did what you said and things are much speedier. For the other techies in the house, I’m sure I will have other questions about the unchecks and reactivating certain ones. For now, however, the question is closed and southernbelle will get 10 well deserved points. Thanks again!

An error occurred. Help to fixerize. Windows XP registry?

July 8, 2009

I downloaded an XP registry cleaner… in a series of tasks designed to improve my computers operation speed and power. But when I completed the registry cleaner program, my windows popup no longer functioned correctly. I included a link to a photobucket image of a screen shot… to show you what my computer is doing now.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b249/LindySoul/problem.jpg
It used to have a dark region on the top left-half of the menu, where other operations used to be. The bottom left-half was devoted to recently ran programs. But now the entire left half is recently ran programs.
deedles… system recovery isnt the solution to every problem. Id rather not have to restore years of work and software installations just to recover from a minor tweak. If it got this way simply, it can be fixed simply… and some geek has got to know how.