It seems that the longer you own your personal computer, the slower it gets! A lot of individuals will keep their personal computer until it gets so slow that they feel they need a newer, faster model. Some feel like the reason it is acquiring slower is since it's obtaining older, when that is just not the case. Your personal computer ought to run just as fast as the day you brought it house in the event you follow these 10 Simple Actions to Speed Up Your Pc like a computer repair professional.
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 program crashes or gets turned off (prior to saving the file), it'll be achievable to recover the unsaved file you had been working on. This can be a excellent thought, but rarely works. Each and every time your program crashes, locks up, or gets turned off although you have open files, these temp files get produced and just sit there inside the Temp directory. Then, each and every time you launch a program, it looks through all the temp files (to see if 1 wants to be recovered) and slows the open process, and in some rare instances, even locks up when attempting to launch. In any event, the launch procedure is slowed.Other techniques of acquiring unneeded temp files is by installing programs. Most programs that get installed extract temp files (necessary during the installation) to the temp directory, but a lot 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 whilst, the temp directory fills up with hundreds (and I have even observed thousands) of temp files that often 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 don't have any programs open (and absolutely nothing minimized in the bar below), then you shouldn't have ANY temp files in your temp directory. If you do, delete them.To delete Temp files, make sure NO programs are open, and…
In Windows 95, 98 or Me, go to C:\Windows\Temp and delete every thing inside the Temp folder.
In Windows 2000 or XP, it's just a little trickier. Very first, make certain that you'll be 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'll be able to go to the C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp folder. Delete every thing here. Also, look within the C:\Windows(or Winnt)\Temp or Tmp folders. Delete every thing here, as well. Note: this assumes that your logon ID is Administrator. If the main account just isn't Administrator, or if there are a lot more than 1 account, substitute “Administrator" for the account names, and delete the temp files from all the C:\Documents and Settings\(account name)\Local Settings\Temp folders.
Empty the Temporary Internet Files frequently. This is comparable to the Temp directory, but for images and cookies while browsing websites. Each time you go to a site, your browser will look by means of your list of temporary Internet files, to see when you have all of the images required to view your requested web page. If it is a extremely lengthy list, it will delay your view time. However, for those who have a dial-up, this is the lesser of two evils. In the event you already have the needed images, it is quicker (for a dial-up) to look by means of your temporary Internet files, than to download new images each and every time you pay a visit to a site.However, when you have a broadband Web connection (highspeed CableModem, DSL, Wireless, etc.), and you want just a little more snap inside your surfing, then you ought to delete your Temporary Internet Files on a standard basis, and choose to Check for Newer Images on Each and every Pay a visit to to a internet page.To empty Temporary Internet 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 internet Options icon. Select to Delete Cookies, and to Delete Files. This will clear all of your Temporary Web Files.To have Web Explorer usually check for new images and content on each and every go to to a internet page, to the right of the Delete Files button, is the Settings button. Click this button and choose Each and every Visit to the Internet Page. This alternative in no way has Internet Explorer look through your Temporary Web Files to see if you already have the images necessary. This way, Internet Explorer will just automatically download each image, each and every time, with out looking via a list. For those who have a good Web connection, this is the far better approach to go. Do not forget to delete your Temporary World wide web Files each and every when in a while (see above).
Check your tough disks for problems. There are two different sorts of disk checks: one 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 there are software issues (such as 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'll find bad sectors (sections) of your hard drive, to see if your drive is physically experiencing issues. This disk check will attempt to repair the poor sectors, but if it cannot, it will 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 tough drive.To run a disk check (or scan disk), here are the steps:
For Windows 95, 98, or Me, double-click My Computer. Right-click the C-drive and click on Properties. Click on the Tools tab and select to check the computer for issues. If you select to do a Thorough Scan, this can do the hardware check for physical disk harm or sector damage. Otherwise, the Regular Scan does the software program file check. In either case, you'll be able to choose to have the scan automatically fix any errors it finds. The Thorough Scan does take quite a bit longer. You might wish to let this run over night. Only do the Thorough Scan when you feel there could be a problem with your drive itself, or should you haven't run it in several months, otherwise, run the Regular Scan as soon as 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 select to check the pc for difficulties. Click on Check Now. You may then have two check boxes. The leading alternative is for the file check, and the second choice is for the hardware (physical disk) check. Check either 1, or both. At least check the leading 1. Again, if you believe you may be having difficulties with the hard disk itself, then check the second 1, as well. And just like the Windows 98 Thorough Scan, this will take really a bit longer to run, so let it run over night. One thing, although: For Windows 2000 and XP, you will not be able to run the check right then. After clicking the Begin button (when the check boxes are checked), you may must reboot to run the disk check. It'll ask you if you would like the system to run the CHKDSK on reboot. Pick Yes and reboot. Just prior to getting back into Windows, the system will do its CHKDSK, and depending on which alternatives you chose, will take either several minutes, and occasionally up to an hour or so, to run. Let it run.
An even much more thorough disk check (and tune-up), could be to use a 3rd party utility (a stand-alone program outside of Windows) to check every thing for you, automatically. 1 of my favorites is TuneUp Utilities 2004. It expenses $39.99, but they do supply a Free of charge download trial of 15 days, to check it out to see if it speeds up your personal computer and/or fixes any difficulties. 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 World wide web settings for faster downloads and browsing (whether you use a dial-up or broadband), and streamlines your operating program for peak performance. I extremely recommend this program. If you don't have it, you'll be able to download it HERE.
In the event you do not desire to get the TuneUp Utilities 2004, you are able to do a couple of of the performance tweaks yourself, if you have Windows XP. By default, Every thing is turned on in Windows XP. It isn't really streamlined for performance, but rather for appearance. You can turn off several of the unnecessary features, and Windows will still work just fine, and maybe 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 need any of them. Should you select one of the radio buttons at the leading, say, Adjust for Finest Performance, then all the check boxes will turn off. This will noticeably speed up your personal computer. You'll be able to go through the check boxes one by 1, and decide which ones you are able to and can't live without. The 1 that can make the biggest impact is the extremely last 1 in the list. This is the Themes. In the event you turn it off, it'll totally free up a lot of system resources and provide you with quite a bit much more memory to work with, but Windows XP will look more like Windows 2000. For a lot of people, this is not a issue. It is all eye-candy, anyway. Your pretty green pasture picture will disappear your fairly green and blue buttons and job bar will go to a gray. In the event you can live with these things, then you may have a lot much more performance. You may find that menus open up a lot much more rapidly and every thing responds more right away.
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 issues are really neat, but your program takes a performance hit when they are running in the background all of the time. As well as if you do not 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 within 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. Do not pick it. Instead, just click the desktop once again to obtain out of the menu.
In Windows 2000, right-click on the desktop and within the pop-up menu, pick Active Desktop. Inside that alternative, uncheck Show Internet Content. Once again, if there's no check next to it, then it is not on. Do not check it.
In Windows XP, right-click on the desktop and inside the pop-up menu, pick Properties. On the Desktop tab, pick Customize Desktop. Now, on the Internet tab, make certain that there are no websites chosen here. If there are not any, then Active Desktop just isn't on. Cancel and go back to the desktop.
Install and run an excellent AntiVirus program (frequently) to maintain out viruses and Trojan horses that will take over your system. When you have a virus(s), your program performance can be dramatically decreased. Viruses can do all kinds of nasty issues to your pc. They can take over your pc, erase your hard drive, use your pc as a server, provide you with a bunch of illegal music or programs and tell all of their pals to download it all from you leaving you holding the bag and supplying the computer space and bandwidth for their hobby. So, defend yourself having a excellent AntiVirus program. 1 of my favorites is AVG. It is not only a really excellent AntiVirus program, but it is also Totally free! In the event you don't have any AntiVirus software on your personal computer, get AVG AntiVirus NOW by downloading HERE. If you already have an AntiVirus program, and you want to make use of AVG instead, do not install AVG. Initial, uninstall your existing AntiVirus program, reboot and install AVG. You do not want to have two AntiVirus programs installed at the very same time. They'll work against one another and can trigger issues.
Get rid of Spyware. Plenty of computer users have Spyware and do not even know they've it, significantly much less how to get rid of it. If your pc has been taking you to web sites that you don't desire to go to, or if you get pop-ups whenever you are not even on the web, or if your pc has been running extremely slowly lately, for no reason, you most likely have Spyware.On all of the computers that I setup, I install two various AntiSpyware programs: AdAware SE and SpyBot. These two programs are extremely recommended by TechTV (G4) and other pc authorities (which includes my own study on Spyware) and work really well together. They compliment each other and catch Spyware that the other misses, but together, do a really great job.SpyBot is not only a great program for acquiring rid of Spyware, but also as a preventative Spyware-catcher. It sits there and looks for recognized Spyware coming into your system, in addition to suspicious-looking content. In the event you use the Tea-Timer feature, it can be just a little annoying, but ANY suspicious-looking program, attempting to be installed on your system, is flagged and your permission is asked for it to be installed (now and usually). Should you don't have this program installed on your personal computer, get it NOW by downloading HERE. Download all updates and run the Immunize alternative a couple of times (for preventative purposes). Scan with it each day if you can.AdAware SE has just a little much better Spyware database in it, but just isn't setup as a preventative AntiSpyware program. It does do a good job when you keep up on the updates and manually scan your program with AdAware. In the event you don't have this program on your pc, get it NOW by downloading HERE. Download all updates and run the Smart Scan daily (if not, a minimum of weekly).If, right after downloading and installing, updating, and running both of these AntiSpyware program, you still cannot get rid of your Spyware, you could need to enlist the services of a professional. Some Spyware is so intelligent that it looks to see if AntiSpyware programs delete the Spyware part of its programming and, if it's gone, reinserts it back in place. This could be very frustrating for the user (and in some cases, even for the expert). You'll find stronger measures that can be taken to get rid of the Spyware, in instances like this, but can be extremely devastating to the user's pc, if not handled perfectly. At this point, leave it to the expert. Call a neighborhood computer repair organization and have them come out to your home or enterprise and get rid of the Spyware for you.In some cases, when the Spyware has become too entwined into your system, even a computer repair technician cannot get rid of the Spyware. At this point, it really is much better to just backup only what you'll need and have the operating system reinstalled. Believe me, when your personal computer gets to this point, you don't desire to just put a “band-aid" on it. Just commence from scratch with a clean system. It's the most effective approach to go.
Streamline MSCONFIG. 1 factor that truly causes a Huge performance decrease would be to have unnecessary programs running within the background. Some of these programs may be seen within your System Tray (located 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, whilst most you don't. A number of the programs you Don't want are printer icons, CD burning icons, shortcuts to programs (like video settings), AOL, any Instant Messaging Programs, etc. Just simply because these programs aren't always running, doesn't mean that you still cannot print, burn CDs or Instant Message. They are able to be run whenever you require them, from a shortcut.You'll be able to use a utility, called MSCONFIG, to turn OFF unnecessary Commence Up items.
In Windows 98, Me, and XP, click on Start\Run and type msconfig. Click on the Startup tab. This can be a list of every thing that is running within the background, some of which show up within the Program Tray. Now, be careful, some of these you do require. Some items to keep are Ctfmon.exe (XP), Scan Registry (Win98, Me), Job Monitor (Win98, Me), Program Tray (Win98, Me), LoadPowerProfile (Win98, Me), Rundll.32, any AntiVirus programs (like McAfee, Norton, or AVG). Other people, you are able to uncheck, like NeroCheck, ypager, qttask, AOL, and any other Instant Messaging programs, or printing programs. Bear in mind, if some thing does not work, simply because you turned it off, it can always be turned back on. You just have to reboot each and every time you make a change here. But, as you uncheck the unnecessary programs that run within the background, you will see that Windows loads a lot faster, that you will find much less icons inside the System Tray, and that your system is significantly more “snappy" and fast to respond.
In Windows 2000, MSCONFIG wasn't supplied. You truly have to download and run an MSCONFIG utility. Here is a site 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'll be able to access it the very same way as Windows 98 or XP (by the Run command within the Commence 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.After you reboot, you'll have a window that says that the configuration utility was edited. Just check not to show that in the future, a check box at the bottom.This just indicates that there was a change created to the MSCONFIG.
Defragment your hard drives. If you have in no way carried out this, or it has been a couple of months because the last time, this step is among the most crucial things which will provide you with more performance. As you use your personal computer, your drives turn out to be fragmented, by making and deleting files. Just since a file is 10mb in size, doesn't mean that it's 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 one file could be in pieces, in numerous spots on the difficult drive. Don't be concerned, your file allocation table keeps track of where the pieces are, nevertheless, it takes longer to access a file that's in pieces (fragmented), than a file that is all in one spot on the difficult drive. This is where defragmenting comes in. Whenever you defragment your difficult drive, this procedure copies all of the pieces to temporary spots on the difficult drive, and then fills in all the files (in their entirety) from the inside, out, so that no files are split into pieces. This significantly speeds up the seek time, as well as speeds up the use of your files and programs. NOTE: to efficiently defragment a difficult drive, it likes to have 25% free space. It can still do the defragmentation with only 15% free of charge space, however it takes really a bit longer. Should 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 select the bottom button, to Defragment Now… Click on the suitable drive, and then on Defragment. This can take some time. Depending on your processing power, the amount of RAM you have accessible, the size and speed of your drive, and a few other things, this procedure can take 20 minutes, or hours. It really is finest to let this 1 run over night, too, but it is well worth it.
