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 The Windows Experience score is a number that takes your computer’s CPU, memory, hard disk, graphics, and gaming graphics capabilities into consideration and translates it into a number between 1 and 5.9 (with 5.9 being the best possible score). Each of these considerations is given a sub-score and the lowest score then becomes the computer’s Windows Experience Index score.

Once you have your score, you have an idea of how your computer rates. Low scoring computers may be fine for basic computer tasks but will be ill suited for demanding applications such as gaming or video editing.

Since the lowest score becomes the base score, the easiest way to increase your Windows Experience score is to raise the lowest one. For example, if your CPU, Memory, and hard disk are rated fairly high, such as in the 4.5 or above range, and your graphics and gaming graphics scores are down in the 2.0 or below range, then improving your computer’s graphics capabilities will improve your overall score. In this case, upgrading the graphics card should raise the computer’s base score.

Before you go out and buy a new graphics card, consider whether doing so is meaningful or not. For example, if your computer performs just fine as is, then an upgrade may not be necessary. If all you do is send e-mail messages back and forth and do your banking online, then you don’t need a high end graphics card. If your computer is always running low on memory, then adding more memory may be a better choice.

Keep in mind that the Windows Experience Index score is a rating that measures your installed hardware, not actual performance. You may have a high-scoring computer that is inexplicably slow. The hardware is in place, but the system hangs, crashes, and crawls. Even the best equipped computers can get bogged down with clutter - and there isn’t an index that rates actual performance.

While upgrading hardware will get you a higher Windows Experience Index score, it won’t necessarily solve malware-related slowdowns or a cluttered registry. Instead, make sure to scan your computer for viruses and spyware regularly and clean out the Windows registry with a reliable registry cleaning product such as RegCure. Your score won’t go up, but your performance will.

 The Windows Experience Index debuted with Microsoft Windows Vista as a means of telling consumers how their hardware rates on a scale of 1 to 5.9. Computers with higher Windows Experience Index scores are better equipped and capable of more demanding tasks than those with lower scores.

Imagine being able to look at new software and seeing a label showing a compatible score such as “works with Windows Experience Index 3.0 and above” instead of having to compare hardware requirements. That’s what the score aims to do. While it’s hard to remember how fast your processor is or how much RAM you have installed on your computer, the score is easy. For example, if you know that your computer has a Windows Experience Index score of 4.2, then you can confidently purchase software that falls below that score. Your computer may still be capable of running software for higher scores but you’ll need to look at it more carefully.

The following components are scored individually:

• CPU
• Memory
• Hard disk
• Graphics
• Gaming graphics

Each component gets what’s called a “sub-score” and then the lowest sub-score becomes the computers “base score” or Windows Experience Index score. This means that even if you have four high scoring components and one low scoring piece of hardware, the lowest scoring component determines your computer’s overall score.

You can easily find out your computer’s score by going to the Start button, choosing Control Panel, clicking Performance Information and Tools. In the main display, you’ll see your score in a big blue box. You’ll also see each component’s individual sub-score. Remember that the lowest sub-score becomes the computer’s base score.

If you want to see even more details about each component, click the link that says, “View and print details.” This will open up a new screen detailing your system’s details such as system details, memory, processor type, storage, and network adapters.

 One of my favorite features of Windows Vista is the Performance Information and Tools icon found in the Control Panel. From within this folder, you gain access to all kinds of performance tweaks and data. Not only can you optimize your computer’s performance here, you can also diagnose and solve problems.

First, you’ll see a list of “tasks” on the left side of the Performance Information and Tools window. These tasks include: manage startup programs, adjust visual effects, adjust indexing options, adjust power settings, open Disk Cleanup, and Advanced Tools. Each of these tasks provides you with options that you can change that affect your computer’s performance. For example, if you have too many programs starting automatically each time you turn on your PC, then you can expect that your computer will run much slower than if you opened programs selectively.

In the Advanced Tools area, you’ll find additional information such as current performance issues and possible solutions as well as links to the Event log, Reliability and Performance Monitor, Task Manager, System Information, Performance Options, Disk Defragmenter, and System Health Report.

If you go back to the main screen of the Performance Information and Tools, you’ll see a link to Security Center and Problem Reports and Solutions. The Security Center gives you a quick snapshot of your computer’s current level of security including whether or not the firewall is enabled and whether your malware protection is up to date. Problem Reports and Solutions helps you to identify problems and find solutions to them.

The main screen of Performance Information and Tools features your Windows Experience Index Score. Your computer’s processor, memory, graphics, gaming graphics, and hard disk are rated and given a sub-score between 1 and 5.9 with 5.9 being the best. From there, the lowest score becomes your computer’s base score. For example, my computer has a Windows Experience Index score of 3.0. While my processor, hard disk, and RAM all scored high, my gaming graphics are only rated at 3.0, therefore my computer’s base score is 3.0.

The scores give you a general idea of how well your computer should run under given scenarios or with specific applications.

If you want to improve your Windows Vista computer’s performance, the Performance Information and Tools icon is an excellent starting point. In addition to managing your startup items and adjusting your computer’s settings for performance, be sure to thoroughly scan your computer for viruses and spyware as these malicious programs are both dangerous as well as resource hogs.

Virtualization is a technology where computer resources, typically in a networked environment, are pooled and shared. Using virtualization software, hardware such as the central processing unit, hard disks, and memory can be transformed into software, creating a “virtual machine.”

So, what’s the big deal about having a virtual machine? One computer can have several virtual machines - all of which can use different operating systems at any given time without interfering with the other virtual machines. This is powerful on a single computer but more so on a network. Companies are adopting virtualization as a means to get more out of existing hardware. Imagine not having to upgrade your computer systems every couple of years.

By pooling servers, networking, storage, and other resources, connected virtual machines can use the resources as needed. This translates into better resource allocation and reduced costs. As demand increases over time, capacity can be added instead of a complete overhaul of the entire computer network.

Virtualization is seen as a huge boon to businesses with huge networks. But it’s not just for large organizations. Virtualization technology is available for your personal computer. For example, VMware offers a product called VMware Workstation 6 for single computers. This product costs just under $200 (with a free 30-day trial available).

For example, if you currently have Windows XP but want or need the ability to run multiple operating systems, VMware Workstation 6 allows you do that - on a single computer or laptop. Rather than having an office filled with computers (one Mac, one Windows XP, one Windows Vista, and one Linux), you could instead create individual virtual machines on your computer, thus saving you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in hardware. Each machine can run side-by-side for easy switching and even easier file sharing.

VMware also offers a free VMware player that allows you to run virtual machines on your computer for free. Of course, you have to have a virtual machine to play. Fortunately, VMware also has a marketplace where you can download VMware “appliances.” One such appliance is the Browser Appliance that allows you to browse the Internet in a virtualized window (using the VMware player). The advantage to browsing virtually is that any spyware or viruses picked up in this environment are isolated and kept from reaching your actual computer desktop!

Virtualization is making waves in the IT industry. Now, even home users can give virtualization a try.

Windows Vista offers a lot of new and improved features, an advanced graphic interface, and more usable tools and navigation options but with all these advances come a heavier burden on your hardware components. Many users are wondering how they can speed up their Windows Vista operating system. Without making any programming changes, the fastest fix is to add more RAM. However, if you’d prefer to slim down your operating system rather than bulk up your hardware, you can explore ways to configure your operating system to run optimally on your computer system.

The first tip to enhancing Vista’s performance is to update your drivers. Rumor has it that the factory drivers that come with Vista are weak, especially those for graphics programs. Commonly reported problems are related to speed, efficiency and program stability. So, check for drivers often.

You can use Vista’s Uninstall or Change a Program utility to remove extra baggage by opening your Control Panel and selecting Uninstall a Program. On the left hand side of the task pane, select Turn Windows Features On or Off and check the list to see what features are running and which ones you use. Unselect the little checked box beside features to turn features off, hovering your mouse over the box before you select it will display some details about the application.

Next, get rid of anything from the autorun list that you don’t need opening automatically every time you turn on your computer. Click the Start menu to open a search bar, type services.msc and then click Enter. Now you will see a list of services, each set to automatic, manual or disabled. The manual services will only open when a running program requires them, but those in the auto list are set to launch whenever you boot up. If there are any that you aren’t sure about and want to set to manual, right click in it and select Properties.

Another way your computer gets slowed down is by the number of programs that are running in the background, behind the scenes, without you knowing about it or needing them. On your system tray, the space on the task bar, at the very bottom of your screen, beside the clock, there are a number of icons like a battery, speakers, volume monitor and so on. These icons all represent applications that are running so the more there are, the more that you have going on. If there is extra stuff here that you don’t think Windows needs, right click and select settings or preferences to de-select the program from running when Windows starts.

If your computer is barely making recommended requirements to run Vista, you might also want to tone down the advanced features that stress your system. You can remove the side bar and turn off the transparency, turn down the visual effects and shut off some visuals by tinkering with the preferences of these different utilities and applications. Go to the Control Panel and choose Performance Information and Tools. This utility features links to numerous tasks that you can do to improve performance. All of these tips might help you optimize your computer’s compatibility with Windows Vista and increase the ease of using your system.

Ah, spyware, it’s the ever-looming threat of a destructive program finding its way on to your computer system, secretly rummaging through your folders, looking for sensitive personal and financial information and impeding with your legitimate use as it executes its devious functions. If your computer has suddenly slowed drastically, if you think you can hear your computer working even when you aren’t issuing commands, or if you think that programs are taking too long to respond, you might have a spyware infection. Still, while a spyware program running operations in the background of your system will slow things down, a slow computer doesn’t necessarily mean infestation.

Over time, files and folders on your computer build up. Numerous programs and applications take a lot of space on both your RAM and your hard drive. Even if you have deleted data by moving it to the recycling bin or trash can, the information continues to be stored on the computer until the trash or recycling is emptied. If your computer has slowed down over time, check the recycling bin and make sure that you don’t need anything in there before emptying the contents.

Another thing that can slow your computer down is a buildup of information on the registry. Every time your computer executes a command, it makes a log of the action and stores it on the registry, which is like a catalogue of the computer’s processes. When too many bits on data build up on the registry it becomes cluttered. As a result, the clutter on the registry makes the computer work harder to process commands and perform tasks, as it has to search through the entire contents of the registry to find the appropriate data. You can avoid this by running a registry cleaner, available online for download or purchase, which will search the registry for bits of data belonging to replaced, deleted, or redundant programs and prompt the user to remove them, Cleaning the registry will speed up performance and optimize the system.

If these suggestions don’t speed things up, and you think you have a spyware program running on your system, you should perform an up-to-date virus scan. Make sure that you have all the latest updates and patches from you security software provider’s website and run the scan until it comes up clean.

Be very careful whenever downloading security software, hackers and malware programmers are known to hide their viruses inside so called anti-virus packages. To protect yourself against downloading spyware programs, there are security utilities, like ParetoLogic Anti-Spyware, that are specifically designed to create a barrier around your system and watch for unwanted and persistent downloads. If a program is attempting the get on to your system, the anti-spyware tool will alert you and offer a range of blocking options. Rather than only finding and removing destructive programs operating on your system, anti-spyware programs are active in defending your computer, allowing you to program scheduled scans and other personalized preferences.