I have a Dell computer and it loads at startup a little slow. I am running Windows Vista and would like to get it back like it was. What do you suggest?
Why Vista Loads so Slow
When you first purchased your computer, I bet it started up reasonably well, correct? But now, you’ve had it for some time and it takes much longer to load. The most common reason for this is that as you add more programs and customize your computer over time, you are also inadvertently asking Windows to do much more than it used to.
Automatic Startup
For example, whenever you add a new program, most programs default with an option for “automatic startup.” This means that as Windows boots up, not only is it loading the basic device drivers for your hardware, it is also launching a variety of programs that you may or may not need. In addition, more desktop shortcuts need to load, a large desktop image may need to load, antivirus and anti spyware applications need to check for updates, and so on. All of these processes take time.
Registry Errors
Obsolete entries in the Windows registry also contribute to slow startup times. For example, if you have removed hardware from your computer but the registry still thinks it’s installed, then Windows will load the necessary device drivers unnecessarily.
Speed up Vista Startup
This doesn’t mean that you have to live with dreadfully slow Vista start up times. The first order of business is to remove unnecessary programs from automatic start up. Unnecessary programs are those that are not crucial to the security of your computer and are not used regularly. For example, you DO want your antivirus program to load automatically. That is crucial. But, you DON’T need QuickTime to load every single time you start your computer. Go to the Start button and type msconfig into the Search bar. Click on the msconfig.exe icon that appears. Now, click on the Startup Items tab. See the list of programs that are automatically launching each time you start up Vista? Remove the check mark next to programs that you don’t need to launch. You can always launch them as needed.
Remove Unnecessary Desktop Icons
If your desktop is cluttered with icons and shortcuts, cull these down to a more manageable number. This recent article details how to remove desktop icons.
Clean the Windows Registry
If reducing startup items and desktop icons don’t make much of a difference, consider purchasing a registry cleaner to clean up the obsolete, broken, damaged, and missing entries that may be interfering with your computer’s performance. We recommend RegCure. You can try a free scan to see if RegCure detects any errors with your registry before you buy.
