Hi brainy people. Can somebody hold down my PC while I kick the sh-t out of it. I am not pc literate so please be gentle. I have recently tried speeding up a slow pc (bad broadband line 450 kbps) via removing startup and service programmes (no change) and using CCcleaner/ Spybot and all the normal cookies removal etc. I can live with a fairly slow speed (had it for 5 years) but recently when downloading e.g AOL search or Ebay pages etc etc, they freeze whilst loading for up to a minute and its driving me nutssss. Any advise in easy terms if poss... thank you big time.

Hi steveb561...Welcome to D-A-L forums...

How much RAM do yo have installed? Can you pleas run the D-A-L Hardware Scan...you can find a link in my signature or on the Banner at the top of the page.

This will give us your PC's specs. Please post back your results...

Thanks for response. Downloaded info but dont know how to send it. INFO = total memory physical 0.50gb total virtual 2.00 gb max mem 1.00gb sdram speed 333mhz capacity 0.50gb Think I have 256ddr ram? der...my brain hurts.

Sample template for the DAL Scanner

You have 500MB RAM out of a possible 1GB. In other words you could double your RAM.

On another tack see if there are any errors in your Event Viewer that coincide with these freezes:

Event Viewer
--------------------------------------------------
Check your Event Viewer via Administrative Tools.

Open the System as well as Application tabs and look for red X errors that coincide with your problem. Details here:

How to view and manage event logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP

Basic information on Event Viewer errors can be found here: EventID.Net

Also when was the last time you opened the case and cleaned the computer inside?

OK mr genius, your quite right. I checked the Event stuff and had auto live update errors on application and service control manager errors on system and I have never cleaned inside the unit since new. I have been mucking about for a few days so I will see if the errors continue unless you would advise otherwise and if I could trouble you to advise on increasing my RAM size if you think it relevant or helpful. PS Brilliant stuff and thanks.

As jephree stated...the scan shows that you have 512MB installed out of a possible 1024MB (1.0GB). I would definitely upgrade asap from 512MB to 1.0GB. This upgrade would help your PC out immensely. The scan also shows that you have a 2.66GHz which means that your FSB (Front Side Bus...if your care to know what this is click here) is 533MHz so unfortunately your PC can only handle a Maximum of 1.0GB otherwise I would recommend you upgrade to 2.0GB.

I've linked to Kingston's and Crucial's site for the RAM for your PC...
Kingston Technology Company
Crucial)

Crucial also has a scanner => Crucial:Media Toolbox

You would need to buy the "512MB DDR333 Module". You should be able to p/u that up locally from any computer store for real cheap...around $25.00. If your leary about adding the RAM yourself or you don't know a friend that could do it for you then I recommend that you printout the Kingston and Crucial pages on your RAM type, then bring the your PC to your local computer store and tell them that you want to upgrade the RAM from 512MB to 1.0GB. Give them the printout to show them what type of RAM you need.

HTH...

Interesting...

It's your call but it does show that people with PC's just like yours have upgraded to 2.0GB RAM (1.0GB in each RAM Slot) with success even though the specs says that you cannot do this. Probably due to the fact the PC is 5 yrs old and this specs are 5 yrs old...

Anyways here's the thread on the discussion...
Dimension 4550 RAM Upgrading - DELL COMMUNITY

To dobhar and jephree. Once again thanks for existing. I have attempted to learn about my front side bus but it would seem that in terms of evolution I must fall bang in the middle of you two and a sabre tooth tiger, so I will take all the information provided and find a local boffin who can sort me out . I may return to you about the said errors on my event viewer if they continue. How brilliant that in difficult times there are people who can spare a moment and share their knowledge with the needy,and ironically that is the essence of human evolution, sharing information.......where are the tissues..... I'm gonna start crying......