How can I get my G4 to run fast again?

I remember the halcyon days, when this bad boy ran as fast as I could think. These days, he's like toothless old guy on the bus with his walker in the middle of the aisle. Switching between programs is slow. I look at the beachball way too often. Even when I type in MS Word, the letters sometimes take a second to show up on screen.
I'm not typically using any memory eating programs (though I occasionally use the Adobe suite) Mostly the trouble is happening with Firefox/MS Word/iTunes/Excel etc...
What can I do to get my computer back up to speed?
I can't afford to get a new machine, but I can afford to upgrade some of the parts, I can swap hardware and software, or I can wipe the drive. Whatever it takes to save my aging beauty.
Here are the specs
iMac 17" flat panel.
768 Mb SDRAM
800 mhz G4
OS 10.4.9
Hard Drive 75 gb, 50 available.
I'd appreciate any advice. Guiding me to a website with clear ideas would be helpful too.
iMac 17" flat panel Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Afraid I'm in the same boat. I've a 700MHz G4 iMac with 512k of memory and 10.3.9.
Trouble is, since I've started a photo diary, the poor devil's run out of steam. From the speed of the new Intels, I think I'll have to go for a new machine early next year, even though the idea is very depressing. I really don't want to lose my angle-poise box. It's so comfortable to use, being able to move the screen around and so on. But trying to use photos on this machine is just too hard for it. I assume there's a lot of processor-intensive work going on. For the cost of two new 512k chipsets, though, it'd be probably cheaper to get a whole new system. Sadly.
For the techies, I already run the disk utility for permissions. I don't have any particular software, apart from my Nikon package for the pictures. Apart from that, I'm a writer, so all I use mainly is Word and mail with a chunk of Safari. Oh, and iTunes all the time, of course!

Similar Messages

My firefox stops works after installing panda global protection, how can i get my firefox to run normally again?

everytime i open my firefox it says it can't open the site.

Nothing is kept by Mozilla.org unless you use the Firefox Sync.
There are two things that can help you.
1) Go to the '''''[https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/ Mozilla Add-ons Web Page]''''' {web link}
(There’s a lot of good stuff here) and Log in.
When ever you decide to download an add-on or whatever from here,
On the top right side of the add-ons page is a button marked
'''Add To Favorites.''' If you need to find them again, just go to your
user profile at the '''''[https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/ Mozilla Add-ons Web Page]''''' They are all listed in your profile.
2) These add-ons can help you a great deal;
'''[https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/febe/?src=collection&collection_id=33bf10fa-666d-45a2-9bc9-491ce21671c6 FEBE (Firefox Environment Backup Extension)]''' {web link}
FEBE allows you to quickly and easily backup your
Firefox extensions, history, passwords, and more.
In fact, it goes beyond just backing up -- It will actually rebuild
your saved files individually into installable .xpi files.
It will also make backup of files that you choose.
'''[https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/opie/?src=collection&collection_id=33bf10fa-666d-45a2-9bc9-491ce21671c6 OPIE]''' {web link}
Import/Export extension preferences

How can I get my games to run smooth with apple tv. I'm getting jerky movement

How can I get my games to run smooth with apple tv?

Check your network for interference (www.istumbler.net, check router manual in regards to changing channels) and other activities possibly running in the background.

How can I get an mp4 video running on iPad Mini?

How can I get an mp4 video running on iPad Mini, which is already in the iTunes File?

Pad2, the new iPad Supported Video Formats & Movie Formats
H.264 video up to 1080p, 30 frames per second, High Profile level 4.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats;
MPEG-4 video up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats;
Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format
You can use a USB flash drive & the camera connection kit.
Plug the USB flash drive into your computer & create a new folder titled DCIM. Then put your movie/photo files into the folder. The files must have a filename with exactly 8 characters long (no spaces) plus the file extension (i.e., my-movie.mov; DSCN0164.jpg).
Now plug the flash drive into the iPad using the camera connection kit. Open the Photos app, the movie/photo files should appear & you can import. (You can not export using the camera connection kit.)
 Cheers, Tom

How can I get my macbook pro running Lion to print on my HP photosmart 309a??

how can I get my macbook pro running Lion to print on my HP photosmart 309a??

Did you install the drivers? Or have Software Update install them? This printer is supported:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3669

How can I get quicktime pro 7 running

I bought quicktime pro 7 a couple of years ago and have a registration code. At the time I used the program to make some time lapse movies. I'd like to make a couple of time lapse movies again but quicktime pro 7 is no where to be found. This probably ha something to do with updating the os between then and now. The question is how can I get quicktime pro 7 running again? The unlocking instructions I have for quicktime pro 7 that I received with the key do not correspond with what the system preferences now show. Any assistance would be appreciated. I am currently running OS X version 10.9.5 on an older iMac.

Open the QuickTime 7 player(if it’s not installed, click here), choose Registration from the QuickTime Player 7 menu, and supply your key there.
(115130)

I have a I-mac that is not able to upgrade the os past 10.7.5, when I go to upgrade Pages it says i have to be running os 10.10, how can I get Pages that will run with os 10.7.5.

I have a I-mac that is not able to upgrade the os past 10.7.5, when I go to upgrade Pages it says i have to be running os 10.10, how can I get Pages that will run with os 10.7.5.

Click here and follow the instructions. If they’re not applicable, buy an iWork 09 DVD from a source such as Amazon or eBay.
(116937)

How can I make my mac mini run faster? Everytime i try to download a internet page I get the circle with colors. It takes too long. Help

How can I make my mac mini run faster. Loading internet pages is too slow

i have the same problem...it can take 10-15 seconds to just switch tabs..i think i will solve it by taking mine back

My iPod Classic is seen by Windows but not by iTunes. I have reset it, gone to disk mode and it won't show up in iTunes. There appears to be music on it in a file called MUSICSAVE. How can I get this to work with iTunes again?

My iPod Classic is seen by Windows but not by iTunes. I have reset it, gone to disk mode and it won't show up in iTunes. There appears to be music on it in a file called MUSICSAVE. How can I get this to work with iTunes again?

1. Update iTunes to the latest version. Plug in your iPod. If iTunes still can't recognize it, then in iTunes in the top left corner click help> run diagnostics. On the box that comes up, check the last two things. Click next and it should identify your iPod.
2. Click on your windows start menu. Type in "services". Click on it and when it pops up, on the bottom of it click on "standard". Now Scroll down to find "Apple Mobile Device" Right click it when you see it and click on "Start". When it has started, close iTunes and replug in your iPod and it should show up.
3. Check the USB cable
4 Verify that Apple Mobile Device Support is installed
5. Restart the Apple Mobile Device Service and verify that the Apple Mobile Device USB Driver is installed.
6. If you just want to add some photos, songs and movies from computer to your devices, you can use an iTunes alternative to do the job
7. Check for third-party software conflicts.
<Link Edited By Host>

After I reset my Ipod (deleted all data and settings) windows 7 doesn't recognize by ipod touch, and it doesn't appear in the itunes library or in the device menu, but it does charge. How can I get my computer to recognize it again?

After I reset my Ipod (deleted all data and settings) windows 7 doesn't recognize by ipod touch, and it doesn't appear in the itunes library or in the device menu, but it does charge. How can I get my computer to recognize it again?

Refer to this article:
iOS: Device not recognized in iTunes for Windows
http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1538

After purchasing a song on the iTunes store, the song did not download entirely. How can I get a refund or download it again without rep[urchasing it?

After purchasing a song in the iTunes store, the song was downloaded, but when I went to play it, it was not completely recorded. How can I get a refund or download it again without being charged again on my account?

Hi Dan,
If the song does not appear in your Purchased folder, then you can go back to the Store, select the song again, go select "Buy", and press Enter. iTunes knows you already purchased it, so it won't charge you again. It will, in fact, tell you that you have already purchased this item, and will ask you if you want to download it again for free....
Just in case it is not to be found in the Purchased folder!
Hope this helps!
Cheers,
GB

How can I get you tube playlists to open again, QuickTimePlayer can't open video.3gp

How can I get you tube playlists to open again after upgrading to Mavericks, QuickTimePlayer can't open video.3gp

DL and install the 10.6.8 v 1.1 COMBO update, repair permissions, restart, and try the store again. If still no go, try http://www.apple.com/support/mac/app-store/

HT4528 I can't remember my icloud ID and password. How can I get that to activate my phone again?

I can't remember my icloud ID and password. How can I get that to activate my phone again? When I went to update it .. there was an error .. so I restored it from the icloud and now I can't activate it.

I already started there and I need to reset my icloud info, because I know my apple ID and password and for whatever reason I just reset my apple ID password to see if that did anything, (Which it didn't) In other words, how can I get my icloud reset so I can activate my phone?!!

How can I get my Mac to connect faster to the Internet? My wifi connection is fine....don't know why Safari and other web browsers are so slow.

How can I get my Mac to connect faster to the Internet? My wifi connection is fine....don't know why Safari and other web browsers are so slow.

If possible, connect to your router with Ethernet and turn off Wi-Fi. Any difference?

Macbook upgraded from 10.5.8 to mountain lion. I lost the update when I tried to restore my old information. How can I get my update back without paying again?

I took my mac to an iStore in South Africa however my country does not have an iStore. Macbook upgraded from 10.5.8 to mountain lion. I lost the update when I tried to restore my old information. How can I get my update back without paying again?

Ok, that sounds like a valid approach...but now the question is, when you say you lost the upgrade when you tried to restore, exactly what do you mean? Restore from a Time Machine backup, or another kind of backup? What happened to the operating system when you did that?
If it damaged the operating system, you should be able to recover it by restarting your computer holding either the Option key (should result in a grey screen that shows the macintosh hard drive and a recovery hard drive), or by holding the Command and R keys while starting.
You can use the recovery hard drive to reinstall Mac OS X either way. If the Option key restart, click on the recovery hard drive to boot from that.
Then with either approach you will have a screen with a drop-down that gives you choices, such as install Mac OS X, Disk Utility, Terminal. You will want to use Install (or Reinstall) Mac OS X...note, you must be connected to the internet from this point on.

How can I get my G4 to run fast again?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for