Performace related to Maintenance
 

My current computer: HP custom built online
850 MHz Athlon
512 MB RAM
40 GB HDD
Geforce2 VC
Crappy generic sound card
8x/4x/?x CD burner
10x DVD burner
Windows 98SE then upgraded to XP (best 100 bucks spent)

Runs very fast for what I do (AOL/IE/Windows Media/KaZaA Lite, light games).
I take care of it (delete uncessary programs, update software, defrag, run Scandisk, you get the picture.
Absolutely no problems with it (computer is base computer of home wireless network)

Friends computer
Same only a lil better specs, but only Windows ME.
Faster processor, smaller HDD, but does not take care of it. Computer is shit, when you minimize programs they disappear, some programs stop working, freezes up, all sorts.


Could performance be dictated by specs AND the way you keep the computer in shape?

well, one thing glares out at me.

that's the fact that your friend uses winme.

System maintenance allways helps out when you do it. It sound like your doing all the right stuff, but do you scan for virus or spy-ware? Spy ware can really slow your system down alot. I use Ad-Aware and Spybot-S&D to check for spy-ware each weak. Also keep up with the windows patches, their so many new virus out where that everyone should turn on Auto Update or go to Windows Update at least once a week.

The maintenance you perform does not make your computer faster, it just prevents it from getting slower.

Good idea for sure. For me, I rebuild my workstations every six months. Nothing quite as fast or efficient as a freshly built OS.

Your friends problem revolves around one thing and one thing only:

ME. Single worst OS microsoft has ever offered.

-bear

I have told ihm to fix all his problems all he has to do is get XP, I dunno.

I run 2 different virus scans (Norton and a freeware)
I use ad-aware every week