It appears that the longer you own your computer, the slower it gets! Lots of individuals will keep their pc until it gets so slow that they feel they want a newer, faster model. Some feel like the reason it's getting slower is since it really is obtaining older, when that's just not the case. Your computer should run just as quick as the day you brought it home if you follow these 10 Simple Actions to Speed Up Your Computer just like a professional computer repair shop.
Empty the Temp directory frequently. Every time you launch a program, it creates a temporary file, until you either save or close the file. The reason it does this is in case your system crashes or gets turned off (prior to saving the file), it will be feasible to recover the unsaved file you were working on. This is really a excellent idea, but rarely works. Each and every time your system crashes, locks up, or gets turned off whilst you've open files, these temp files get developed and just sit there in the Temp directory. Then, each time you launch a program, it looks by means of all the temp files (to see if one wants to be recovered) and slows the open procedure, and in some rare cases, even locks up when trying to launch. In any event, the launch method is slowed.Other methods of getting unneeded temp files is by installing programs. Most programs that get installed extract temp files (needed in the course of the installation) to the temp directory, but plenty of times don't get deleted when the installation is total.Windows also uses the temp directory for its temp files, for recovery purposes and ongoing use.Right after a short while, the temp directory fills up with hundreds (and I have even seen thousands) of temp files that usually get scanned over when Windows starts up and when programs launch. This slows every thing down immensely.Rule of thumb for Temp Files: If you do not have any programs open (and nothing minimized in the bar below), then you shouldn't have ANY temp files inside your temp directory. In the event you do, delete them.To delete Temp files, make certain NO programs are open, and…
In Windows 95, 98 or Me, go to C:\Windows\Temp and delete everything inside the Temp folder.
In Windows 2000 or XP, it really is a bit trickier. Initial, make sure that you are able to see hidden folders. Double-click My Pc. Click on the Tools pull-down menu, and then on Folder Alternatives. Click on the View tab. Scroll down and click on Show Hidden Files and Folders. Click Ok. Now you can go to the C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp folder. Delete every thing here. Also, look in the C:\Windows(or Winnt)\Temp or Tmp folders. Delete everything here, too. Note: this assumes that your logon ID is Administrator. If the primary account just isn't Administrator, or if there are more than 1 account, substitute “Administrator" for the account names, and delete the temp files from all of the C:\Documents and Settings\(account name)\Local Settings\Temp folders.
Empty the Temporary World wide web Files frequently. This is comparable to the Temp directory, but for images and cookies while browsing websites. Every time you go to a site, your browser will look through your list of temporary Web files, to see if you have all of the images required to view your requested web page. If it's a really long list, it'll delay your view time. Nevertheless, for those who have a dial-up, this is the lesser of two evils. In the event you already have the required images, it is quicker (for a dial-up) to look by means of your temporary Web files, than to download new images each time you visit a website.However, if you have a broadband Web connection (highspeed CableModem, DSL, Wireless, etc.), and you would like a bit much more snap inside your surfing, then you ought to delete your Temporary Web Files on a standard basis, and pick to Check for Newer Images on Each Visit to a web page.To empty Temporary Web Files, go to your Control Panel, by click on the Start\Settings\Control Panel (or in Windows XP, just Start\Control Panel) and double-click the net Choices icon. Pick to Delete Cookies, and to Delete Files. This can clear all of your Temporary World wide web Files.To have Web Explorer often check for new images and content on every visit to a internet page, to the proper of the Delete Files button, is the Settings button. Click this button and choose Each and every Pay a visit to to the Web Page. This option by no means has World wide web Explorer look through your Temporary Internet Files to see should you already have the images needed. This way, World wide web Explorer will just automatically download each and every image, every time, without having searching via a list. For those who have an excellent World wide web connection, this is the much better way to go. Don't forget to delete your Temporary Internet Files each and every as soon as in a although (see above).
Check your hard disks for issues. You'll find two distinct types of disk checks: 1 is really a file check, which checks the state of your operating system, checks all of your files, your file structure, as well as other software program checks. If you will find software problems (for example a corrupt FAT (file allocation table), etc., this check will attempt to fix it. The other can be a physical hardware disk check. This checks the surface of your hard disks, to see if you will find poor sectors (sections) of your tough drive, to see if your drive is physically experiencing issues. This disk check will attempt to repair the poor sectors, but if it can't, it'll mark the sector as bad and attempt to move the file(s) or file “pieces" to a great sector(s) of the disk. By marking the sector as bad, it knows not to write any future files to this section of the difficult drive.To run a disk check (or scan disk), here are the actions:
For Windows 95, 98, or Me, double-click My Personal computer. Right-click the C-drive and click on Properties. Click on the Tools tab and select to check the pc for difficulties. In the event you pick to do a Thorough Scan, this can do the hardware check for physical disk harm or sector harm. Otherwise, the Standard Scan does the software program file check. In either case, you can pick to have the scan automatically fix any errors it finds. The Thorough Scan does take very a bit longer. You may desire to let this run over night. Only do the Thorough Scan when you think there might be a problem together with your drive itself, or if you haven't run it in a couple of months, otherwise, run the Standard Scan when a week or so.
For Windows 2000 and XP, double-click My Computer. Right-click the C-drive and click Properties. Click on the Tools tab and pick to check the computer for issues. Click on Check Now. You will then have two check boxes. The top alternative is for the file check, as well as the second choice is for the hardware (physical disk) check. Check either 1, or both. At least check the top 1. Once again, in the event you feel you may be having issues with the hard disk itself, then check the second 1, also. And just like the Windows 98 Thorough Scan, this may take quite a bit longer to run, so let it run over night. 1 factor, though: For Windows 2000 and XP, you won't have the ability to run the check proper then. Following clicking the Begin button (when the check boxes are checked), you will must reboot to run the disk check. It will ask you if you would like the program to run the CHKDSK on reboot. Choose Yes and reboot. Just before acquiring back into Windows, the program will do its CHKDSK, and depending on which options you chose, will take either a couple of minutes, and at times up to an hour or so, to run. Let it run.
An even a lot more thorough disk check (and tune-up), could be to use a 3rd party utility (a stand-alone program outside of Windows) to check everything for you, automatically. One of my favorites is TuneUp Utilities 2004. It costs $39.99, but they do provide a Free of charge download trial of 15 days, to check it out to see if it speeds up your computer and/or fixes any issues. This program does a really excellent job of not merely checking your computer's file structure, master boot record, file allocation table, and files, but also an extremely excellent job of detecting and fixing poor sectors of your physical disk drives. And not merely that, it also tunes up your system for increased speed, checks and cleans your registry, adjusts memory for you, tweaks your Internet settings for faster downloads and browsing (whether you use a dial-up or broadband), and streamlines your operating system for peak performance. I highly advise this program. Should you do not have it, you are able to download it HERE.
Should you don't wish to get the TuneUp Utilities 2004, you'll be able to do a few of the performance tweaks yourself, if you have Windows XP. By default, Everything is turned on in Windows XP. It isn't very streamlined for performance, but rather for appearance. You can turn off a couple of of the unnecessary attributes, and Windows will still work just fine, and possibly a bit quicker.To do this, right-click on My Personal computer and click on Properties. Click on the Advanced tab. Under the Performance section, click on the Settings button. On the Visual Effects tab, you'll see a list of check boxes. By default, these are all on. You really don't require any of them. In the event you choose among the radio buttons at the top, say, Adjust for Best Performance, then all of the check boxes will turn off. This can noticeably speed up your pc. You are able to go via the check boxes one by 1, and decide which ones you are able to and can't live without having. The 1 that will make the greatest effect is the really last 1 inside the list. This is the Themes. Should you turn it off, it will free up a lot of program resources and provide you with quite a bit more memory to work with, but Windows XP will look much more like Windows 2000. For most people, this isn't a issue. It is all eye-candy, anyway. Your fairly green pasture picture will disappear your pretty green and blue buttons and job bar will go to a gray. Should you can live with these issues, then you may have significantly much more performance. You may locate that menus open up significantly much more quickly and every thing responds more instantly.
Turn off Active Desktop. Active Desktop turns your desktop into a internet page, and enables you to have issues like a real-time calendar, and up-to-the-minute weather or stocks. These points are truly neat, but your system takes a performance hit when they are running inside the background all the time. And even in the event you don't use Active Desktop for anything, just having it active can cause a performance decrease. Turn it off.
In Windows 95, 98 and Me, right-click on the desktop and inside the pop-up menu, select Active Desktop. Inside that alternative, uncheck Active Desktop. If there is no check next to it, then it isn't on. Don't choose it. Instead, just click the desktop again to obtain out of the menu.
In Windows 2000, right-click on the desktop and inside the pop-up menu, choose Active Desktop. Inside that alternative, uncheck Show Web Content. Again, if there's no check next to it, then it isn't on. Don't check it.
In Windows XP, right-click on the desktop and within the pop-up menu, pick Properties. On the Desktop tab, choose Customize Desktop. Now, on the Internet tab, ensure that you will find no web sites chosen here. If there are not any, then Active Desktop isn't on. Cancel and go back to the desktop.
Install and run a great AntiVirus program (regularly) to maintain out viruses and Trojan horses that will take over your system. If you have a virus(s), your program performance can be significantly decreased. Viruses can do all kinds of nasty things to your computer. They can take over your personal computer, erase your tough drive, use your computer as a server, give you a bunch of illegal music or programs and tell all of their buddies to download it all from you leaving you holding the bag and supplying the personal computer space and bandwidth for their hobby. So, safeguard yourself with a good AntiVirus program. One of my favorites is AVG. It isn't only a really excellent AntiVirus program, however it is also Free! In the event you do not have any AntiVirus software on your computer, get AVG AntiVirus NOW by downloading HERE. In the event you already have an AntiVirus program, and you need to make use of AVG instead, do not install AVG. Initial, uninstall your current AntiVirus program, reboot and install AVG. You don't desire to have two AntiVirus programs installed at the same time. They are going to work against each other and can cause problems.
Get rid of Spyware. Plenty of pc users have Spyware and don't even know they've it, a lot less how you can get rid of it. If your computer has been taking you to web sites that you don't wish to go to, or should you get pop-ups whenever you aren't even on the web, or if your pc has been running very slowly lately, for no reason, you possibly have Spyware.On all the computers that I setup, I install two different AntiSpyware programs: AdAware SE and SpyBot. These two programs are extremely suggested by TechTV (G4) as well as other personal computer authorities (including my own analysis on Spyware) and work extremely well together. They compliment each other and catch Spyware that the other misses, but together, do a extremely excellent job.SpyBot is not only an excellent program for acquiring rid of Spyware, but also as a preventative Spyware-catcher. It sits there and looks for known Spyware coming into your program, as well as suspicious-looking content. In the event you use the Tea-Timer feature, it may be a little annoying, but ANY suspicious-looking program, trying to be installed on your system, is flagged and your permission is asked for it to be installed (now and always). If you don't have this program installed on your pc, get it NOW by downloading HERE. Download all updates and run the Immunize option a couple of times (for preventative purposes). Scan with it every day should you can.AdAware SE has a bit better Spyware database in it, but just isn't setup as a preventative AntiSpyware program. It does do a good job whenever you maintain up on the updates and manually scan your system with AdAware. If you do not have this program on your pc, get it NOW by downloading HERE. Download all updates and run the Intelligent Scan every day (if not, at least weekly).If, following downloading and installing, updating, and running both of these AntiSpyware program, you still can't get rid of your Spyware, you might have to enlist the services of a expert. Some Spyware is so intelligent that it looks to see if AntiSpyware programs delete the Spyware component of its programming and, if it's gone, reinserts it back in location. This may be really frustrating for the user (and in some cases, even for the expert). You will find stronger measures that will be taken to obtain rid of the Spyware, in cases like this, but may be very devastating to the user's computer, if not handled perfectly. At this point, leave it to the expert. Call a nearby computer repair company and have them come out to your house or business and get rid of the Spyware for you.In some circumstances, when the Spyware has become too entwined into your system, even a computer repair technician can't get rid of the Spyware. At this point, it's much better to just backup only what you'll need and have the operating program reinstalled. Believe me, when your pc gets to this point, you don't wish to just put a “band-aid" on it. Just begin from scratch with a clean program. It's the most effective approach to go.
Streamline MSCONFIG. One thing that truly causes a Massive performance decrease is to have unnecessary programs running in the background. Some of these programs may be seen in your System Tray (situated next to the clock, inside the lower-right corner of your screen). These are tiny programs which are robbing you of memory and processing power. Some of them you need, while most you don't. A few of the programs you Don't want are printer icons, CD burning icons, shortcuts to programs (such as video settings), AOL, any Instant Messaging Programs, etc. Just simply because these programs aren't often running, doesn't mean that you still can't print, burn CDs or Instant Message. They can be run once you require them, from a shortcut.You are able to use a utility, known as MSCONFIG, to turn OFF unnecessary Start Up items.
In Windows 98, Me, and XP, click on Start\Run and sort msconfig. Click on the Startup tab. This can be a list of every thing which is running in the background, some of which show up within the System Tray. Now, be careful, some of these you do need. Some items to maintain are Ctfmon.exe (XP), Scan Registry (Win98, Me), Job Monitor (Win98, Me), System Tray (Win98, Me), LoadPowerProfile (Win98, Me), Rundll.32, any AntiVirus programs (such as McAfee, Norton, or AVG). Other people, you can uncheck, like NeroCheck, ypager, qttask, AOL, and any other Instant Messaging programs, or printing programs. Bear in mind, if one thing doesn't work, simply because you turned it off, it can usually be turned back on. You just have to reboot each and every time you make a alter here. But, as you uncheck the unnecessary programs that run within the background, you'll see that Windows loads a lot faster, that you will find less icons within the System Tray, and that your system is a lot more “snappy" and speedy to respond.
In Windows 2000, MSCONFIG wasn't supplied. You truly need to download and run an MSCONFIG utility. Here is a website that can let you download the MSCONFIG utility. Click HERE to Download. And if you copy it into your C:\Windows(or Winnt)\System32 folder, you can access it the very same way as Windows 98 or XP (by the Run command within the Start menu). Or, you'll be able to just double-click it and use it that way, too. See above for what to leave checked and unchecked.Following you reboot, you will have a window that says that the configuration utility was edited. Just check not to show that within the future, a check box at the bottom.This just means that there was a alter created to the MSCONFIG.
Defragment your hard drives. For those who have in no way carried out this, or it has been a few months since the last time, this step is one of the most essential things that can give you much more performance. As you use your pc, your drives grow to be fragmented, by making and deleting files. Just simply because a file is 10mb in size, doesn't mean that it really is sitting there on the drive (all 10mb) all in 1 spot on the drive. It fills in from the inside of the drive, outward, as the drive finds room. So your 1 file can be in pieces, in a number of spots on the hard drive. Don't worry, your file allocation table keeps track of where the pieces are, nevertheless, it takes longer to access a file that is in pieces (fragmented), than a file which is all in 1 spot on the hard drive. This is where defragmenting comes in. Once you defragment your difficult drive, this method copies all of the pieces to temporary spots on the hard drive, and then fills in all the files (in their entirety) from the inside, out, so that no files are split into pieces. This dramatically speeds up the seek time, along with speeds up the use of your files and programs. NOTE: to efficiently defragment a difficult drive, it likes to have 25% free of charge space. It can still do the defragmentation with only 15% totally free space, but it takes really a bit longer. If you can, delete any unnecessary files prior to degramenting your drives.
To defragment your difficult drives (in any Windows operating system), double-click on My Computer. Right-click on the c-drive and click on Properties. Click on the Tools tab and choose the bottom button, to Defragment Now… Click on the appropriate drive, and then on Defragment. This can take some time. Depending on your processing power, the quantity of RAM you have available, the size and speed of your drive, along with a couple of other points, this method can take 20 minutes, or hours. It is greatest to let this 1 run over night, too, however it is well worth it.
