Speeding up my Laptop

[Joshimitsu91]

Hi all,

So I have had my laptop for just over 2 years now, a Sony Vaio CW1S1E with spec's:

Processor: Intel Core2 Duo P7450 @ 2.13GHz
RAM: 4GB
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 230M (512MB)
HDD: 320GB

I've been fortunate not to have any problems with the laptop, but this also means I've never re-installed Windows (I'm also abit forgetful when it comes to de-fragmenting...). So the hard drive is full of countless programs and games that I rarely use, and it has gradually slowed down to the point where it takes a good 10 minutes to run smoothly after booting. It also has trouble running CS:S nowadays, when it used to handle Crysis on medium settings!

Anyway, I'm wondering if a simple re-install will help get it back to normal? But there are a few problems:

. Will I be able to re-use my Windows OEM install? (There is a "Product Code" on a label on the bottom of the laptop)
. Will I be able to find compatible video card drivers? (I've never been able to upgrade my drivers as the installer doesn't recognise the card, something to do with Sony I believe, can't find working drivers on their site either!)

After the re-install I'll mostly be using it for Web Browsing, Word, Excel etc. Ideally I'd like it to handle a bit of light gaming (CS:S mainly), for when my girlfriend has stole my PC to play the Sims...

I'm also wondering if it's worth getting a 120GB SSD, since the laptop only has SATA2? (I presume.)
If so, would a SanDisk Extreme or Mushkin Chronos be better?

Thanks,

Josh

[JustJoe]

Fresh install would help. SSD would make a massive improvement. I'd go for the Mushkin I have the 120GB its the dogs dodas.

[Joshimitsu91]

Fresh install would help. SSD would make a massive improvement. I'd go for the Mushkin I have the 120GB its the dogs dodas.

Yeah I have a Chronos in my PC I wasn't sure if they were still as fast in SATA2, but I guess it's still miles better than a HDD.

[JustJoe]

Yeah even on SATA2 they will out perform a Mechanical drive any day.

[BigIan88]

Without spending a penny, the obvious option is to give it a spring clean.

Format and reinstall windows and start from scratch (make sure you have a drivers disc before doing this) or if your reluctant to format, remove any unwanted or unused programmes, use ccleaner to scan your registry and clear anything thats using space for no reason then give it a thorough defragging. After that install the latest drivers and enjoy a bit of a boost in performance

[Joshimitsu91]

Without spending a penny, the obvious option is to give it a spring clean.

Format and reinstall windows and start from scratch (make sure you have a drivers disc before doing this) or if your reluctant to format, remove any unwanted or unused programmes, use ccleaner to scan your registry and clear anything thats using space for no reason then give it a thorough defragging. After that install the latest drivers and enjoy a bit of a boost in performance

Yeah I don't mind formatting, it's just I'm worried I won't be able to find any graphics drivers that work.

[BigIan88]

Visit the manufacturers website and download all of the drivers from there, once its back up and running windows update and the software provided with the drivers (gpu for example) will make updating them a doddle

[Sarky]

Another free method you could try (whilst you're reinstalling actually) is short stroking the hard drive, there's a guide here http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...-hdd,2157.html

Basically what I did with my laptop is setup two partitions using Easeus partition manager, one on the inner tracks of the drive, another on the other. Meant that the OS was installed on the fastest part of the hard drive and data that didn't really need quicker access on the outer tracks. Spead up my laptop a fair bit, it was noticeable.

[Sniperdude]

if it had windows pre-installed when you got it restore from the recovery partition

on sonys its normally f10 on boot to start the recovery program (ALL DATA WILL BE LOST BACKUP FIRST)

(recovery partition restore will format and reinstall the OS with all its drivers like a brand new all you do then is run windows update)


SSD would be the best upgrade you could make

Yeah even on SATA2 they will out perform a Mechanical drive any day.

even a SSD on Sata 1 does.

[michaelkenward]

Without spending a penny, the obvious option is to give it a spring clean.

Seriously, do try this wise advice as a first move.

If you still find the thing is slow after the housekeeping, then consider a reinstall. If possible, create an image of your existing drive before you do this, just in case the sky falls in.

Think twice about changing disk drives, which is not easy in a laptop and could break the bank. You already have a 320GB drive. How full is it? Will 120GB be enough? Or is your laptop one of those big buggers with room for an extra drive? My Vaio isn't.

[Joshimitsu91]

Thanks everyone for your input!

Seriously, do try this wise advice as a first move.

If you still find the thing is slow after the housekeeping, then consider a reinstall. If possible, create an image of your existing drive before you do this, just in case the sky falls in.

Think twice about changing disk drives, which is not easy in a laptop and could break the bank. You already have a 320GB drive. How full is it? Will 120GB be enough? Or is your laptop one of those big buggers with room for an extra drive? My Vaio isn't.

I have about 90GB left, but that is soley because I used to use it for gaming and so there are lots of games installed that I never use I'm sure 120GB would be fine for documents, a few programs and 1 or 2 games. I don't have a huge library of music and any videos I have are stored on my PC anyway.

The Vaio is quite small (14" screen), so I doubt it has room for a second drive I would have thought that changing the HDD would be easy provided I could get the drivers/OS to work? (I've built a couple of PC's so I'm used to tinkering with desktops). There is a 2.5" drive shaped piece of plastic on the bottom so I'm guessing it's under there..

[Joshimitsu91]

There is a 2.5" drive shaped piece of plastic on the bottom so I'm guessing it's under there..

I was wrong! Lol, it was the RAM Anyway, I took off the other panel and found the HDD, mounted with four screws to a bracket which is mounted by four screws to the chassis (two of them through the plastic cover panel). I've encountered a problem (I think), one of the chassis screws will not come out It just turns and turns either way! Is there something I'm missing?

[Sniperdude]

try lifting the screw with something as you unscrew it

[Naphta]

or putting a small flat head under the edge of it so it gets a grip

[Joshimitsu91]

Thanks I will try it out