Pete S 15,516 Posted January 7, 2015 I restored an old windows pc back to it's original state so there's loads of room on it, so I stuck itunes on and I have a 28 dvd disc back up I want to put on there, but it is incredibly slow - first disc with only 800 tracks on has already taken 50 minutes - anyone know why this is? Can I speed up the process at all? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chalky 11,895 Posted January 7, 2015 Can you not upgrade the memory. go to crucial.com (think that is the URL), they scan your PC and tell you what memory you can add, or not. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pete S 15,516 Posted January 7, 2015 Can you not upgrade the memory. go to crucial.com (think that is the URL), they scan your PC and tell you what memory you can add, or not. Is that what it is, the memory - I mean it's a pretty decent pc (Sony Vaio) but usually when you reload a back up disc into itunes they whizz through, this is taking 10 seconds per track at least intel E7200 processor 3.00GB installed memory (RAM) 500gb hard drive Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Blunny 117 Posted January 7, 2015 restored an old windows pc back to it's original state When you say the above, do you mean you just deleted stuff from the hard drive or something a ot more technical, like re-installed the operating system or used a repair CD ? If it's the technical stuff, it may be that the drivers for the DVD player haven't been correctly installed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pete S 15,516 Posted January 7, 2015 When you say the above, do you mean you just deleted stuff from the hard drive or something a ot more technical, like re-installed the operating system or used a repair CD ? If it's the technical stuff, it may be that the drivers for the DVD player haven't been correctly installed. No what I did was to restore it from a disc, back to factory settings basically, it put a new version on but saved a massive folder called 'windows old' which I deleted because it was taking up most of the HD Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Blunny 117 Posted January 7, 2015 Sorry if you've already been googling the web and found these, but there's a few threads here that might help....... https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=dvd+player+copy+slow+site:www.sevenforums.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chalky 11,895 Posted January 7, 2015 Is that what it is, the memory - I mean it's a pretty decent pc (Sony Vaio) but usually when you reload a back up disc into itunes they whizz through, this is taking 10 seconds per track at least intel E7200 processor 3.00GB installed memory (RAM) 500gb hard drive RAM is your memory, usually you can get unto 8gb but more often than not couldn't take more than 4, run the scan at crucial they will tell you, any additional RAM will speed it up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Blunny 117 Posted January 7, 2015 No what I did was to restore it from a disc, back to factory settings basically, it put a new version on but saved a massive folder called 'windows old' which I deleted because it was taking up most of the HD I'd guess that the drivers have been set to standard windows drivers then and not the correct version for the particular DVD drive in the pc. If you know the make of the DVD player you should be able to download the latest drivers for it. It's a good thing to do it anyway as they might make it even faster than before Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chalky 11,895 Posted January 7, 2015 Check what programs are starting up as well and disable all you don't need. http://www.howtogeek.com/74523/how-to-disable-startup-programs-in-windows/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pete S 15,516 Posted January 7, 2015 Check what programs are starting up as well and disable all you don't need. http://www.howtogeek.com/74523/how-to-disable-startup-programs-in-windows/ Nothing running at all basically, there is nothing on here, there's an antivirus but that shouldn't affect the speed of the dvd drive surely? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pete S 15,516 Posted January 7, 2015 I've got a program called CopyTrans which is specifically for transferring Itunes libraries, I'll see if that can pull it off any quicker Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chalky 11,895 Posted January 7, 2015 Something here about Direct Memory Access and resetting/disabling...might be worth a try http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/disk-drives/f/3534/t/19406079 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pete S 15,516 Posted January 7, 2015 Thanks for the suggestions...will report back Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pete S 15,516 Posted January 7, 2015 (edited) Found a workaround - just made a folder on the desktop and dragged them into it, then imported into itunes from that - 12 minutes to import 800 tracks so much better than 1 hour! Now I have to do it with the other 26 back up discs Edited January 7, 2015 by Pete S Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris L 2,249 Posted January 12, 2015 Can you not upgrade the memory. go to crucial.com (think that is the URL), they scan your PC and tell you what memory you can add, or not. I did this, neat tool. Is upgrading a pc with increased memory easy or does a qualified IT guy/gal need to do that ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steve S 60 6,001 Posted January 12, 2015 I did this, neat tool. Is upgrading a pc with increased memory easy or does a qualified IT guy/gal need to do that ? Easy Chris, as long as you've got the right replacement memory, it's a case of undoing the clips at each end of the memory card, pull out the old memory, put in the new memory and redo the clips. The new memory will be recognised next time you start up. Worth using an electrostatic wrist band if you have one, and take the opportunity to hoover out the dust in the pc case while you've got it open. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris L 2,249 Posted January 12, 2015 Easy Chris, as long as you've got the right replacement memory, it's a case of undoing the clips at each end of the memory card, pull out the old memory, put in the new memory and redo the clips. The new memory will be recognised next time you start up. Worth using an electrostatic wrist band if you have one, and take the opportunity to hoover out the dust in the pc case while you've got it open. Thanks, will scour net & Youtube for some examples. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MrC 4,150 Posted January 12, 2015 Thanks, will scour net & Youtube for some examples. Chris, try Orca, Crucial, or MrMemory - they're the 3 best places for quality compatible memory, at the right price. They all have some sort of memory finder on the site to tell you what you need for all branded PCs or Motherboards too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris L 2,249 Posted January 12, 2015 Chris, try Orca, Crucial, or MrMemory - they're the 3 best places for quality compatible memory, at the right price. They all have some sort of memory finder on the site to tell you what you need for all branded PCs or Motherboards too. Malc, used Crucial, worked a treat I can double the memory for £20.00 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris L 2,249 Posted January 27, 2015 I downloaded a free 14 day trial version of PC Grime remover from AVG and whilst it has given me information to de-junk my PC an upgrade of the memory is the Nr.1 message. Will pluck up the nerve to do that in the coming days. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chalky 11,895 Posted January 27, 2015 Thanks, will scour net & Youtube for some examples. If you run the program via crucial.com it will tell you what you want and a link to the product on their site so it should be idiot proof . When you slot the memory back in the clips should refasten themselves as you push the memory in. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris L 2,249 Posted January 27, 2015 If you run the program via crucial.com it will tell you what you want and a link to the product on their site so it should be idiot proof . When you slot the memory back in the clips should refasten themselves as you push the memory in. Did all that, a bit worried about the electrostatic discharge part The actual changing looks did simple Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
simon t 320 Posted January 27, 2015 (edited) Did all that, a bit worried about the electrostatic discharge part The actual changing looks did simple if you live in the UK, get a 3 pin electric plug and take the two shorter pins out, the longer pin is earth (green & yellow wire). Attatch two lengths of (preferably copper) bare wire to the each pin & plug it in the socket. Attach one to the metal casing of the pc and wrap the other around you wrist. If you don't have a electric socket with an earth pin attach the wire to your COLD water tap (failing that a radiator pipe or gas pipe as they should be earthed) You can also get a very lightly dampened cotton cloth and put some tin foil on it, then put you pc / laptop on that to help stop static. Finally do it with your sleeves rolled up and don't wear anything like a wooly jumper which can generate static. Edited January 27, 2015 by simon t Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grouse 131 Posted January 28, 2015 if you live in the UK, get a 3 pin electric plug and take the two shorter pins out, the longer pin is earth (green & yellow wire). Attatch two lengths of (preferably copper) bare wire to the each pin & plug it in the socket. Attach one to the metal casing of the pc and wrap the other around you wrist. If you don't have a electric socket with an earth pin attach the wire to your COLD water tap (failing that a radiator pipe or gas pipe as they should be earthed) You can also get a very lightly dampened cotton cloth and put some tin foil on it, then put you pc / laptop on that to help stop static. Finally do it with your sleeves rolled up and don't wear anything like a wooly jumper which can generate static. If you are going to do this don't forget the bit in red. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chalky 11,895 Posted January 28, 2015 Anti static wrist band, start at less than a quid...... http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dcomputers&field-keywords=Anti+static+wristband Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris L 2,249 Posted February 1, 2015 (edited) Well, we've ordered the extra memory, from a company called Mr.Memory We have 1GB installed in pc and will add another 2 x 1GB that'll give us a total of 3GB with an empty slot to bring it up to 4GB if need be The 2 sent will be "handed" whatever that means but Mr.Memory assures that we can keep the existing strip in the pc no probs. Interested to see what the results are, cost only £25.00 delivered to Belgium. I did try one of anti-grime programs on a 14 day free trial, didn't really do much apart from tell I didn't have enough GBs as if I didn't know, plus a few other things to jettison. Will be reporting back next week. Edited February 1, 2015 by Chris L Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris L 2,249 Posted February 4, 2015 Oh boy !! What a difference, from 1GB to 3Gb Have gone supersonic already twice tonight Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris L 2,249 Posted February 11, 2015 Well all I can say it's a real delight to use the PC now. I contacted Mr.Memory to see if adding an extra 1GB would make it even better, they replied that as the PC only recognises 3.85GB adding an extra 1GB wouldn't make much difference, nice honesty from them. Here's their link if anybody wants check them out. http://www.mrmemory.co.uk/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites