any tips for speeding up PCLinuxOS?

[topper]

I'm running PCLinuxOS 2010 on an old IBM Thinkpad T20.  It seems pretty slow.  Routine tasks like switching windows or closing programs seem to take a really long time.  Don't know if it is related, but the system also has trouble playing WMV files.  Especially big ones, sometimes I get a message that my video accelerator can't render a video because it is too big.

That got me looking at the video settings, but I'm not sure what to try in there.  Nor am I really sure that's what's wrong.

Are there any features of PCLinuxOS that can be safely disabled that might speed things up?  Are some of the distros better for older laptops like mine?

[AndrzejL]

This will speed up almost every single GTK application like Firefox, Thunderbird and OpenOffice under KDE4...

This is a very useful thread shows how to speed up OpenOffice.org

Improve older/xorg xserver based ATI/RADEON gfx card performance. This may or may NOT help... You wont know unless You try it. In general - if You are brave and skilled enough find out whats Your graphic card type and google it with xorg.conf added. Example Riva TNT2 xorg.conf search for the most recent posts. If You are using KDE4 add it to the search term. Check what people add (if anything) that makes the performance better.

Try newer kernel. Its available in the repo. If You're not afraid messing around.

Upgrade the system.

Read Jaydot link from my signature.

If under KDE4 change the desktop Activity from Folder View to Desktop.

Other people may have other advices.

Best iso for You? PCLinuxOS 2010 LXDE and here is the checksum file altho I often tend to choose PCLinuxOS 2010 KDE (checksum)  and then install task-lxde from repository on top of that and use the LXDE as a default DE. Many apps on PCLinuxOS are dependent on KDE4 this way You will save Yourself a trouble of downloading the most common dependencies.

Hope this helps.

This forum has many interesting answers. Have fun finding them.

Andy

[topper]

use the LXDE as a default DE

Is DE desktop environment?  How do I make that change? (after installing task-lxde)

[Old-Polack]

use the LXDE as a default DE

Is DE desktop environment?  How do I make that change? (after installing task-lxde)

At the bottom of the log in screen there is a Sessions link. Click it and set the DE you wish to use.