Will an upgrade solve slow prob or create more messes?

[Denver Mike]

I currently have a Gateway FX6800

Here's my skill level, with 1 knowing what the on button is and 10 being that I actually understand what the values mean in the registry - I put myself at about a solid 7.

Vista Home Premium
2.66 Ghz
9 GB DDR3
- not sure what other system specs are relevant.

Over the past month it takes my system about 3 minutes to boot up. Once everything is up and running I may click on itunes and then that takes about 4-6 minutes to open. Obviously something is wrong.

I purchased Advanced System Optimizer by Systweak and I have run it several times to fix registry problems, remove spy/malware, etc. I have defragged and done just about everything I can think of.

Laugh if you want but I am just done with this mess and don't feel like buying more "cleaners" so I did a remote connect with Geek Squad the other night. It was really cool to watch. Anyways he told me that my boot time of 2 or so minutes (more like 3) really isn't that bad.

The reason I think it's bad is that it hasn't always done this. Yes I'm aware the more things you put on the system the more things have to startup. But this is very recent without any major software additions.

Geek Squad didn't charge me to diagnose that he didn't think anything was wrong, despite the fact that simple programs take minutes to open up. I asked the tech that if I just bought the Windows 7 upgrade if it would fix these problems. He said maybe but he wouldn't recommend installing it over my current problem.

Thoughts? I don't mind dropping some money for the upgrade. I have Win 7 on a laptop and like it but if it's going to compound a problem then I don't want to do it.

Help!

[David M]

Its sounds like you are pretty computer savvy. Maybe its time to start from scratch with an OS re-installation? Sometimes the OS just starts getting bogged down for many reasons that are not apparent and sometimes that's the best solution.

Before doing that, go msconfig and see whats booting under Startup and see what process are running under Services.

[Denver Mike]

Thanks for the vote of confidence but now I find myself wanting Windows 7....will installing it screw things up?

[David M]

No, its less resource intensive than Vista. If your computer can run XP it can run Win7. Get the 64 bit version.

Also, with what you have now, run CCleaner..its free. Also try defragging your hard drive.

http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/

http://www.filehippo.com/download_defraggler/

[glc]

Do not do an upgrade. Save your data files, nuke and pave.

[Denver Mike]

Obviously I have to save all my docs and pictures but everything else from Photoshop to Modern Warfare 2 I'm going to have to reinstall....that was what I was hoping to avoid.

Nuke and Pave?

[glc]

Reformat.

Upgrading over an installation that has problems always results in an upgrade with problems.

[strollin]

Yes, you definitely want to reformat and do a clean install if you want to make sure you aren't carrying any OS problems forward.