Dell Inspiron 9200: how to streamline it?

[Cpl Ledanek 247]

As usuall, Dell installed a bunch of software I specifically ask not to install:

AOL

Earthlink

Dell experience

Netzero

etc

How do I streamline this laptop.

I ran RegXP on this and cleaned A LOT of registry problem. Hopefully that did the job.

Anything else I should be doing?

Thanks

Cpl

[Specter 0]

So far, looks good bro. Dell has to install their software to make sure everything works, for the warranty and ###### like that.

SP2 in this case will more than likely be no problem for your brother, as everything is tested, warrantied, and all software, namely Winblows, is registered, and all of Dell's hardware has been tested with it and works, as Dell is an MS partner.

THe Jasco Paintshop your brother will most likey want, for editing pics and such as that. I'd leave that or reinstall it if you already removed it. It's a good program.

I would definately go with Mozilla or Opera. Mozilla is also coming out with a great email client for their browser called Thunderbird. Check on that.

Also, make sure you teach your bro how to use and maintain Zone Alarm, and how to monitor it, and that he may also have to shut it down and reboot to install some software, especially internet apps, and how to configure port forwarding and such on it.

If he is basically a newbie to PC's, I'd take Reg Scrub off, as you don't really want him playing in the registry, or you will be fixing the laptop alot, and doing FFR's.

To maximize his performance, make sure that you go to Start>Run, and type in MSCONFIG, and remove all check marks, except Zone Alarm, so that all of that stuff isn't hogging memory and CPU power, when he isn't using it.

Then open Regedit and go to export, and back it up, then go to HKEY_LOCAL MACHINE>SOFTWARE>mICROSOFT>WINBLOWS>CURRENT VERSION, and find the folders that start with Run, such as Run, Run once, Run Services, Run Services Once, open each one, and delete all entries in these folders, except driver entries, and Zone Alarm.

Anything in these folders runs on startup, and hogs resources.

You may or may not have all of those folders that I listed. Depends on the PC.

Other than that, if you have any problems, please feel free to PM me, email me, or catch me on MSN Messenger at phantom110565@hotmail.com, and I'll be glad to help or walk ya through anything you might need.

Before you deliver it to him, make sure to run a defrag for him.

Edited March 1, 2005 by =UE=Phantom