skip to main content

Question about my Laptop

14 years ago

I have a Dell Laptop with Vista Home Edition (3.00 of ram) and two Dell Desktops XP Home Edition with (2.00 ram each)...I have a Wireless router and Cable hookup. This is my question....why is it sometimes my Laptop is slower then my two Desktops that are located in an upstairs bedroom..My laptop is in my Breezeway downstairs...The router is upstairs with the Desktops. Why would my laptop be slower then my Desktops....only sometimes?

I clean,defrag, scan...often...remove cookies etc.on all the computers. I have Microsoft Essentials for security on all three computers....If you need more info ...please let me know. Thank you so very much for any input you may have. Marie

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

ravencajun Zone 8b TX
14 years ago
you mention you have Vista but did not say what service pack have you done your service pack updates and all other windows updates on Vista because on that OS the service packs were very important and helped improve performance.
bpgreen
14 years ago
Are the desktops connected wirelessly or are they connected by a wire?
Related Discussions
New Win8 laptop; questions about video streaming/downloading
Q
Comments (1)
Just curious does the hotel tell you that when you check in? We mostly stay at red roof a lot and I watch Netflix on my tablet or laptop all the time at their hotel with wifi and other hotels and never ran across that situation. Netflix is streaming only so you can't download from them to watch off line. Someone else will help you with downloading as I stream all my movies while traveling and staying in hotels. Mary
...See More
? about how photos appear on new laptop
Q
Comments (3)
In AOL I clicked "settings", then "internet (web) options", then something like "do not compress graphics". I think I did that on the regular computer when I first got it because the photos on my eBay listings weren't good, and that fixed it. That doesn't seem to have helped on this one.
...See More
Replacing laptop battery questions
Q
Comments (7)
In numerous cases, Dell in particular, if you flip over the laptop there is a pushbutton on the battery and a series of LEDs that light up to indicate the level of charge when you push the button (assumes the charge circuit is operational and that the battery can hold a charge). I would start by checking Dell's website to see if the battery is part of any recall, many were. If you rarely use it on battery I wouldn't spend any extra on a larger capacity one. Third party ones should be used with caution, quality is often lacking. Personally I have used Lenmar replacements, for laptops and camcorders, when competitively priced. So far I have been lucky, some reviewers seem to diss them. I would definitely factor in the cost of a new battery vs purchase of a new warrantied unit also.
...See More
Connecting my laptop to my televisions
Q
Comments (3)
For sure you need to select the right output on your computer, in Windows that's often done by right clicking the desktop and selecting "Properties". In one of the tabs you can select an external monitor. Sound should work without changing any settings, try with a headphone first if your audio is switched on. About the RCA plugs: red and white are audio, yellow is composite video. Hope this helps at least a bit.
...See More
Cricketm
Original Author
14 years ago
I have Service Pack 2 for my Vista Home Edition..and always update when necessary...My Desktops and Laptop are connected wirelessly..Linsky Wireless router and always have EXCELLENT connection... Also...I use I.E 8.0 for all three computers.
mike_kaiser_gw
14 years ago
First off, you need to define "slow". Memory is just one of the many factors that influence a computer's performance.

Frequent defragging, clearing browsing history, caches, and cookies will have little effect on performance on a day-to-day basis.

Frankly, things that happen "sometimes" are very difficult to troubleshoot, especially in an online forum because there are so many variables.
Cricketm
Original Author
14 years ago
When I say "Slow"....when I click to open my Home Page it opens immediately,...but sometimes it takes a while ....not all the time....I notice it happens certain times of the day. The reason I am asking...I think it is the cable connection even though it says excellent connection. When I run upstairs to my desktop and open my home page it opens immediately....soooo.....the problem is with the Laptop.

Frankly, I am only curious...no big thing.....Posters at the Computer Forum always come up with a reason......Thank you!
mike_kaiser_gw
14 years ago
There's a number of components that influence how fast a page opens on your computer but they are sufficiently variable that at any given moment a page may open more slowly than the next or last moment in time. The things you can control are the performance of your computer, the speed of your local network, and the speed at which you connect to the Internet.

Computer performance has a huge number of variable, from physical hardware, operating system, memory, what's running in the back ground, what software you're using, etc. If you want to compare the performance of two computers you really need to use some kind of benchmarking software.

Wired connections are almost always faster than wireless connections. "Excellent" signal strength doesn't necessarily mean the fastest throughput. Lots of thing influence the performance of wireless networks, including those the networks of your neighbors.

Obviously you can pay your ISP for a faster connection but those are theoretical maximums and real world performance will be less and highly variable.
Cricketm
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you...you explained it so well.....I think I got my answer from your post.

Related Stories

LIFE The Beautiful Thing About Dad's Chair

By Mitchell Parker

My father had his own spot in the house. His father had his own spot. Now I have mine

GREEN BUILDING Let’s Clear Up Some Confusion About Solar Panels

By Mariana Pickering (Emu Building Science)

Different panel types do different things. If you want solar energy for your home, get the basics here first

Easy Green: 6 Must-Answer Questions Before You Buy

By Laura Gaskill

Thinking about buying ecofriendly furniture? For a truly environmentally conscious home, ask yourself these questions first

WORKING WITH PROS 10 Questions to Ask Potential Contractors

By Ventana Construction LLC

Ensure the right fit by interviewing general contractors about topics that go beyond the basics

MOST POPULAR 8 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Meeting With Your Designer

By Kelli Kaufer Designs

Thinking in advance about how you use your space will get your first design consultation off to its best start

ORGANIZING Pre-Storage Checklist: 10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Store

By Laura Gaskill

Wait, stop. Do you really need to keep that item you’re about to put into storage?

REMODELING GUIDES 9 Hard Questions to Ask When Shopping for Stone

By Ventana Construction LLC

Learn all about stone sizes, cracks, color issues and more so problems don't chip away at your design happiness later

GREEN BUILDING Considering Concrete Floors? 3 Green-Minded Questions to Ask

By Melanie Loftus

Learn what’s in your concrete and about sustainability to make a healthy choice for your home and the earth

EXTERIORS Curb Appeal Feeling a Little Off? Some Questions to Consider

By Becky Harris

Color, scale, proportion, trim ... 14 things to think about if your exterior is bugging you

REMODELING GUIDES Considering a Fixer-Upper? 15 Questions to Ask First

By Sarah Phipps Design

Learn about the hidden costs and treasures of older homes to avoid budget surprises and accidentally tossing valuable features

Sponsored

Moda Kitchen and Bath

36 Reviews

Loudoun County's Custom Kitchen & Bath Designs for Everyday Living

More Discussions

Windows 10 Support Going Forward

9

Computer Keeps Disconnecting from Wi-Fi While Uploading Garden Photos

1

Not a Computer, But Mobile Phone

5