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PC Optimization Tips

6 Ways to immediately SPEED-UP your Slow Computer

Take a few minutes to go through this list of suggestions- Id be willing to bet you can increase Computer speed, possibly dramatically, by following these Basic PC Speed best practises.

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Being a computer owner can be tough. Granted, a computer allows for easy web surfing, file downloading, and instant communication via messenger programs and email, but it comes at a price: maintenance time. Owners need to know how to maintain their computers in order to avoid hang-ups, slow computer problems, and other frustrating computer issues.

If you don’t know how to perform basic maintenance for your computer, you won’t be surfing, downloading, or chatting for long, especially if you use your computer constantly. Computers need to be tuned up to keep their speed up, and without proper maintenance, can slow to a snail’s pace. A few simple tasks, performed regularly, can add years to your computer’s lifespan.

Uninstall Old Programs: Simple first step to improve slow computer performance

Some people go through several printers before replacing their computers, and all of those printers have their own software. Unless you uninstall it, it will remain on the computer indefinitely, filling hard drive space and possibly wasting system resources. The same goes for old, unused games and other software. Open up “add/remove programs,” from the control panel in Windows XP. If you have the Vista operating system, open the control panel, and then “all programs.” Uninstall anything you don’t use anymore. If you don’t know whether a particular program is important, research it before making any changes to it.

Need more ideas to improve slow computer performance?

• Laptop Runs Excessively Slow
• Slow Download Times
• Computer Acting Crazy: Spyware and Viruses
• Uninstall Unwanted Programs
• Speeding Up Slow Startup
• Computer Still Slow after Virus
• Speeding up Dialup Access
• Computer is Suddenly Slow

Remove Startup Items: Slow computer performance will improve right away!

Startup items are programs set to run as soon as your computer starts up. Many of them are useless, working more in the interests of software companies than in the interests of your personal computer. To turn off startup items, just open the “run” window, type “msconfig,” and click the “startup” tab in the window that pops up. All of the checked items in the list that appears are set to run on startup.

Research the listed items with a web search and uncheck the ones that you don’t need. Remember, this doesn’t uninstall anything, and most unchecked items can still be run manually from the “all programs” list. You will have to restart the computer in order for the changes to take effect. Check up on the startup items list every month or so.

Run the Disk Cleanup Utility: See what’s causing slow and lagging computer speeds

The Disk Cleanup is always included with both Windows XP and Windows Vista. It’s a tool used to clean up (that is, delete) old, unnecessary files in your computer’s browsing history, error logs, temporary folders, and more. You can access this utility by opening the “start” menu, opening “all programs,” finding “accessories,” then finally, locating “system tools.”

Make sure every box in the Disk Cleanup’s list is checked off except for one, which may or may not appear: “Compress old files.” This option sacrifices speed for a bit of extra hard drive space, and is usually detrimental to a computer’s performance. Use the Disk Cleanup every month.

Run the Disk Defragmenter

The Disk Defragmenter can be found in the same folder as the Disk Cleanup Utility: “system tools.” It’s incredibly easy to run, as all you have to do once the program is open is click the “defragment” button to start defragmenting.  It’s a good idea to do this when you do not expect need the computer for a while, as the process can take several hours. Computer users often choose to run the defragmenter overnight.

Slow Computer or other Windows problems? Run a free scan Now

The Disk Defragmenter should be used every month or so. If you are not sure whether your computer needs to be defragmented, the Windows XP version has an “analyze” button which allows you see a diagram of how disorganized and fragmented your hard drive is. Just remember that the more red you see in the diagram, the more important it is to run the Defragmenter. Windows Vista’s defragmenter lacks this function, but many disk defragmenting programs are available with this function. Most can be downloaded for free, safely on the Internet.

Scan for Malware

Antivirus programs are no use to you if you don’t perform regular scans for viruses, adware, and spyware. Scan your whole computer once a week, and scan frequently-used folders (like the ‘downloads’ folder of a file sharing program) even more often than that: every day.

Clear the Desktop

A cleared-off desktop not only helps your profile load a bit faster when you log on to your computer, it will also help you remain organized, allowing you to work faster. Put pictures into your “My Pictures” folder, and move documents into the “My Documents” folder. Delete any installers that you have already used and any shortcuts (the icons with the little arrows in the corners) that you never use. If you don’t know what something is, put it in a folder titled “I don’t know,” and ask your computer-savvy friend about it the next time you chat.

If you want to keep email more time-efficient than an in-person visit, be sure to maintain your computer. It comes with tools, and extra tools are downloadable. You have no excuse not to use them!

Why not run a free registry scan, you may be surprised by the number of critical problems found!

Our PC’s performance is not satisfying us although it has 1GB RAM. Its working speed is not much better and it has been attacked by viruses.

PC Performance Tips

Even with one GB of RAM installed, if your PC is running Windows Vista, you may find one gigabyte is not enough. My daughter and I have nearly identical laptops running Vista. Hers has one gigabyte of RAM, mine has two. The difference is dramatic.

However, your PC may not be able to take more memory. If you can’t add more memory, you can still take proactive steps to squeeze out more speed. Let’s take a look at the options available.

Combat the Viruses and Spyware

You mentioned that viruses have been a problem, so let’s tackle that issue right away. If your computer has been attacked in the past, there’s a good chance that you have quite a few viruses and other forms of malware on your computer. Not only can these malicious programs damage your computer and steal confidential data like account numbers and passwords, they sap performance. Plus, vulnerable systems beget more malware, which compounds the problem. Your PC may have dozens of hidden programs all running at once - each taking up its fair share of available memory. In addition, many malicious programs called “downloading Trojans” actually invite other spyware and viruses into your PC.

Obviously, you’ll need a solid defense and a way to clean these infections. Check out our reviews of anti-virus applications here. Several of the products that we reviewed are available for free for “personal use” while others require a yearly subscription. Unfortunately, in this connected environment, these products are an absolute must.  

Remove “Start Up” Programs

After removing spyware and viruses, you should notice an immediate boost in performance. After all, if you had numerous hidden applications running without your knowledge and now they’re gone, they will no longer be gobbling up your computer’s memory. Now, let’s stop all of the legitimate programs from doing the same.

When installing software, many of us just click the “OK” and “Next” buttons without giving it much thought. By doing so, we often allow the software to set itself up for automatic startup each time Windows boots up. Unless you use these programs each and every time you use your PC, there’s no need to load them because they’re just taking up memory that you’d most likely appreciate having available for other tasks.

You can prevent programs from automatically loading by going to the Start button and typing msconfig into either the Search bar (Windows Vista) or the Run dialog. Once launched, click the Startup Items tab. Remove the checkmark from any programs that you would prefer to load on demand only. For example, if you rarely use QuickTime, remove the checkmark from the QuickTime box. In the future, you can launch QuickTime by using its icon or shortcut found in the Programs list.

Vista Performance Center

Vista includes an entire section dedicated to performance, the Performance Information and Tools center. This section is found in the Control Panel. Spend some time exploring this area and making adjustments to your PC. For example, you can adjust startup items, visual effects, indexing, and more - all of which can improve your computer’s performance. The Advanced Tools section is particularly useful with detailed performance reports and specific suggestions offered for improving your computer’s performance.

Other Tips

There’s so much that can affect performance ranging from having too large of a desktop image set as your background wallpaper to errors residing in your Window’s registry. Spend some time looking through our PC Performance section where you’ll find loads of advice for speeding up sluggish computers.

In a registry cleaner, can I lose something I may need later? I ran the scan and it showed 700 something problems and I was afraid it would delete files such as bank accounts or other information I do not want deleted.

You’re smart to be concerned that a downloaded program will delete vital information-this type of caution is valuable when using unknown programs. You can rest assured that a quality, well-reviewed program such as RegCure comes with safeguards that prevent the program from deleting any vital registry keys.

What is the Registry?

Understanding what a registry is and how it works can help you understand the need for registry fixing programs. The registry is the data storage section for any operating system. Sometimes, uninstalling computer programs can leave pieces of “junk” data in the registry keys which can increase your registry size and cause slowdowns and poor performance. You may also have problems with the registry from spyware and malware that will intentionally damage the registry keys.

Fixing the Registry

Some tech experts try to go into the registry manually and delete or edit the keys. This is risky as deleting one wrong registry key can damage your data to the point that it is irrecoverable.

Registry fix programs get into the data storage section and delete broken pieces of data and repair keys that need service. When these programs run, you will have the choice to have the program fix and delete the issues automatically or you can manually approve any changes.

Speed-up your Computer

YES a registry cleaner can dramatically speed up your computer. By getting rid of all the unnecessary junk files, keys etc your computer should perform remarkably better.. in some cases PC speed even improves up to 300%

Back Up Your Data

One of the best things to do to make sure that you don’t have any problems, even with a quality registry fix program, is to make sure your data is properly backed up. You can transfer your important data to a CD-ROM or a removable USB storage device (which you should be doing periodically anyway) and you can be sure it is safe no matter what happens to your computer. You can also use a System Restore point to take a ‘snapshot’ of your computer as it is right now, and restore back to this point if there is an issue. To do this:

1. Go to Start then Programs and Accessories.
2. Open System Tools.
3. Click on Start System Restore. You will then pick the option to set a System Restore point.
4. Click Next and then name the restore point. Click Create and then Close.

Once you have been using your computer for awhile, you will need to clean and fix your registry. RegCure makes doing so a simple matter of clicking a “start” button. RegCure does backup the registry before cleaning and provides you with a “rollback” utility to restore the registry to its prior condition should the changes result in unexpected or undesirable fixes. Using only quality, recommended programs is a great way to be sure there are safeguards so that you won’t lose important data.

Remember how speedy your PC used to be?

Ah, those were the days. I know the feeling. It seems as if a month or two into ownership, the speed just fizzles away.

Soon enough, your brand new computer is a slug - just like your old one.

If you stop to think about it though, within the first month, your new PC has had numerous changes including new software installations, downloads, files, shortcuts, and countless tweaks.

If you upgraded to Windows Vista, no doubt you’ve fiddled with the Aero interface and the Sidebar gadgets. You may have picked a cool Windows theme to give your PC a unique look. Do you like all of those cool animated menus in your programs? Guess what? All of these bells and whistles sap speed.

While I’m using Windows Vista as an example, themes, background pictures, fancy menus, shortcuts, running software programs, active desktop content, and animated cursors all add up to lost performance no matter what operating system you are running.

The first order of business if you want to make your PC faster is to reduce unnecessary downloads and of course the eye candy. Go with a simpler interface rather than the Windows Vista Aero interface. You won’t be able to view your open programs in such a “pretty” way but who cares? You lived without Aero long before Vista, right?

Next, reduce the Visual effects such as shadows under menus and animated menus. In Windows Vista, you can do this by going into the Control Panel and choosing Performance Information and Tools and then clicking on Adjust Visual Effects. Click the button labeled Adjust for Performance.

While inside this area, go through each of the tasks listed in the left panel of the screen including: Manage Startup Programs, Adjust Indexing Options, Adjust Power Options, and Open Disk Cleanup Tools. Each of these tasks will help you to squeeze a bit more performance out of your PC.

The Performance Information and Tools section offers numerous steps for Vista users to recover speed from their PCs. This doesn’t mean that earlier Windows users can’t do the same. If you have Windows XP or even a few earlier operating systems, you can manage startup programs by going into the Start button, clicking “run” and typing MSCONFIG. Next, click the Startup Items tab and disable programs that you don’t need to use each time you log on. This alone can make your PC faster! This is because the more programs running, the more memory is used - thus the slower your PC becomes. Use care so that you don’t disable required programs such as anti-virus programs.

Cleaning up the disk is another way to speed your PC. Go to Start >Programs >Accessories >System Tools and then run both the Disk Cleanup utility as well as the Disk Defragmenter.

In addition to the built-in performance tools, consider using a registry cleaning utility such as RegCure to clean up the clutter in your computer’s registry. This clutter sends obsolete or invalid instructions to the operating system which slows everything to a crawl. Get rid of the bottleneck, and you’ll notice a dramatic speed boost.

Finally, make sure that your PC is clean - no viruses, no spyware, no malware. These programs are notorious speed killers.

Download Top 3 Registry Cleaners and Improve PC Performance!

• RegCure of ParetoLogic (TechJocks Pick!)
• Registry Mechanic of PCTools
• Registry Booster of Uniblue

Anti-virus and anti-spyware software will definitely affect your computer’s performance. Mostly for the better but occasionally for the worse. Let me explain.

First, these applications will increase an infected computer’s performance due to the fact that computer viruses and spyware adversely affect performance. By detecting the problem and eliminating it, naturally, you’ll get a performance boost.

However, during system scans, the actual scan procedure can sometimes slow down your computer. I admit that I get frustrated at times when I see my virus scanner launch and begin scanning because I know that my computer is going to be slower than normal for a few minutes. This effect varies with different products and can be avoided altogether by scheduling scans to take place when you’re not using your computer.

How do viruses, spyware, and pop-up generators affect computers in the first place? While a single infection may be a mere blip on your performance-o-meter, most infected computers don’t have single infections; they have multiple infections. The first time I ever heard of ad-ware, I finally understood why my computer kept feeding me annoying pop-up ads.

The more I learned I soon realized that pop-up ads were probably the least of my problems. Spyware posed a far more serious threat to my privacy. At the time, I wasn’t as concerned about computer viruses because I had long been an anti-virus software user. But ad-ware and spyware - well, who knew?

I downloaded an anti-spyware/ad-ware solution expecting to find a couple of problems. After all, my computer had the symptoms: slow performance and tons of pop-ups. I didn’t have a couple of problems; I had an entire slew of them! Literally hundreds of unwanted, malicious programs had infected my computer, each one doing its dastardly deeds and demanding its fair share of my computer’s resources.     

End of story: removing the spyware and adware solved my pop-up issues and increased my computer’s performance. Plus, it solved issues I wasn’t previously aware that I had such as data mining and keylogging.

If you don’t have anti-virus AND anti-spyware, do yourself a favor and get this protection now. Some of these programs open back doors and invite even more dangerous programs and hackers into your computer system without your knowledge. Not only are these programs going to affect your computer’s performance for the worse, they are downright dangerous to your privacy and identity.