any suggestions to speed up a slow computer

i have a slow running computer and i just wanted to know if anyone had any suggestions on how to speed it up

Computer specs
Compaq Presario 5010us
Intel Pentium III 866MHz w/256kb integrated
Windows ME OS
128mb RAM
40gb hard drive

i recently added 256mb RAM, giving me a total of 384mb RAM, it still runs slow though. any suggestions would be great.

Thanks in advance for your replies

 

Try updateding to win2000 or Xp.

 

Thanks for the suggestion.

 

thanks for the advice

 

first get rid of ME OS, it's a crock (my opinion)
then ensure at least 1 Gb free on drive for swap file etc...
Export explorer to different folder than windows, as pc keeps looking at windows folder in all windows OS and the larger this win folder is the slower the pc.

my old 550MHz system was upgraded with a powerleap (do search if you want), a processor hybrid that brought it up to celeron 1.4GHz

Do a scan disk and defrag regularly, this will help file access times.

If the PC is not cleaned out (wiped and OS reloaded) over time it gets clogged with all-sorts of stuff, most pc users will reload each 6 months

HD speed should be 7200rpm not 5400rpm

etc...

 

thanks again for the suggestions i really appreaciate everyone's help

 

I'd say with those specs go for 2k, do a complete install, formating the hdd with ntfs, when done you can look up the reg tweaks to get it to work better, i would suggest setting windows to not page the nt kernel, disabling 8.3 file names, and last access time, then you can go and disable the unnecesary services like messenger and smartcard(unless you actively use windows messenger and have a smartcard) then don't install too many apps, only what you find necesary, either use the system defrag often or get a program like diskeeper(excelent app) and set a schedule for system defrags, get a good virus scanner(I recomend Symantec AV Corp) and schedule it to scan your comp every day, but don't do much else than that, goto http://www.winguides.com for more windows tweaks, maybe some good me tweaks if you don't upgrade

 

thanks i really appreciate, its given me lots of ways to improve my pc, i'll start trying yall's suggestions this weekend

thanks again

 

it should be noted that the bench marking programs if you are using them , take into account all the components of the PC.
When I orininally upgraded my 550MHz system to 1.4GHz the Benchmark (3dmark or some other one) only changed by a small amount, after some investigation I changed to a better graphics card (to a gforce2) and the benchmark really improved, the old graphics card was a bottleneck in the system....