Multiple users on Windows XP / Professional PC & Laptops

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Leostar

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Does creating more than one user account on a PC/Laptop running Windows XP / Professional degrade performances?

The machines are really really slow. Cup of coffee slow.:mad:

I am using Bid defender antivirus that slows down the opening of the windows in the morning when booting up. But there must be something slowing it down as it takes longer than usual to open up for business.

Any good websites where I can run free diagnostics to improve performances?
 
It will only degrade performance if you use the "Switch User" function, since you would then have two sessions running at the same time. Other than that multiple profiles will not impact performance. Download and Autoruns from www.sysinternals.com and see which applications are set to run at startup and disable those which you do not require.

Stay away from apps that claim to make your machine work faster - most of them are junk....
 
What are your disk space looking like?
When you start to run out of space, especially C:, you'll see the system going for a dive.
 
Leostar said:
Does creating more than one user account on a PC/Laptop running Windows XP / Professional degrade performances?

The machines are really really slow. Cup of coffee slow.:mad:

I am using Bid defender antivirus that slows down the opening of the windows in the morning when booting up. But there must be something slowing it down as it takes longer than usual to open up for business.

Any good websites where I can run free diagnostics to improve performances?
Click to expand...

Check your scheduled tasks. You could be having weekly updates/actions that are kicking in. Also leave your PC on over night as you might find that some tasks fight for resources, back off and then try again latter.
 
Conradl said:
It will only degrade performance if you use the "Switch User" function, since you would then have two sessions running at the same time. Other than that multiple profiles will not impact performance. Download and Autoruns from www.sysinternals.com and see which applications are set to run at startup and disable those which you do not require.
Click to expand...


No, this is at start-up single user. Using Windows task manager only (no other apps open or used) I can see many "system" applications open and running. I am happy to delete stuff like messenger media player etc as I know what they do. But will I run a risk of removing something really useful and used by the OS ?

Thanks for the link will check it out. :)
 
Nod said:
What are your disk space looking like?
When you start to run out of space, especially C:, you'll see the system going for a dive.
Click to expand...

Hard drive less than 50% used. Used 33.3GB with 41.1GB left.
Run scan disk and defrag every now and then.
The PC is used by children for games face book internet searches etc?
Perhaps the Safe mode or anti Phising settings slow it down?
 
cbrunsdonza said:
Check your scheduled tasks. You could be having weekly updates/actions that are kicking in. Also leave your PC on over night as you might find that some tasks fight for resources, back off and then try again latter.
Click to expand...

Will look and leave it on. I run bit defender full deep system scans overnight. WIll try to leave the PC standing in the corner overnight LOL :)
 
add more RAM to the laptop and defrag the hard drive.

Try re-installing windows with a fresh copy.
 
Garyvdh said:
add more RAM to the laptop and defrag the hard drive.

Try re-installing windows with a fresh copy.
Click to expand...

Done the defrag and more memory bit.
Fresh Window copy? Re purchase a new one or re-installing the original one?
 
Leostar said:
No, this is at start-up single user. Using Windows task manager only (no other apps open or used) I can see many "system" applications open and running. I am happy to delete stuff like messenger media player etc as I know what they do. But will I run a risk of removing something really useful and used by the OS ?

Thanks for the link will check it out. :)
Click to expand...

You're welcome. Autoruns has an option to disable startup options; if you break something simply go back and re-eable it. It is highly unlikely that you will bugger your system up from using autoruns.

Perhaps do a print screen of the task manager performance tab and post it here....
 
Leostar said:
Hard drive less than 50% used. Used 33.3GB with 41.1GB left.
Run scan disk and defrag every now and then.
The PC is used by children for games face book internet searches etc?
Perhaps the Safe mode or anti Phising settings slow it down?
Click to expand...

Use JKDefrag instead of the Windows builtin version. I got much better results from it, and it is free too.
 
Conradl said:
You're welcome. Autoruns has an option to disable startup options; if you break something simply go back and re-eable it. It is highly unlikely that you will bugger your system up from using autoruns.

Perhaps do a print screen of the task manager performance tab and post it here....
Click to expand...


screen shot of lap as test as laptop is faster. Took screen shot nd saved via paint into my album. Not sure if it will be clar enough??

897
 
Conradl said:
Yes its clear enough to read. Now do one of the broken machine ;)
Click to expand...

Thanks will do tomorrow as kid is doing home work on it. Also close to heros time.

Also busy cutting cd disks for charity organisation. So much to do and so little time. Thanks for help and will sent it tomorrow. Took a bit of trail and error to load the pic here as it was asking for url etc. Had to copy paste and create album first :) :D
 
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