Top 12 Ways to Speed Up Your Computer!
After
a while, all computers start to slow down. The pop-ups start to invade
your desktop. The programs take longer to load and the computer sounds
like a freight train every time you start it up.
Thankfully,
there are a number of things you can do before calling in the repair
man. Here are 12 of the top ways to speed up your computer.
1.Defragment
your computer. The defrag tool can be found by going to the start menu,
to programs, accessories, system tools and then clicking on the
defragementation tool. It may take several hours to properly defrag a
hard drive, especially if you haven't done it in a while. However, the
resulting gain in speed will be well worth it.
Quick Note: For best performance, you should delete any unnecessary files before defragmenting your drives.
2. Add additional memory. Adding RAM to your system is one of the best ways to speed up your computer.
3. Clear your Internet cache for faster browsing speeds.
4. Delete your cookies.
5. Use keyboard shortcuts.
6. Empty your Temp Directory on a regular basis.
The
temp directory can quickly fill up with hundreds of temp files over
time, which can slow things down immensely.To delete Temp files, you
must first make sure that NO programs are open. If you are using
Windows 95, 98 or Me, go to C:WindowsTemp and delete everything inside
the Temp folder.
If you are using Windows 2000 or XP, the process is
a bit trickier. First, you must make sure that you can see hidden
folders. To do this, double-click on My Computer. Click on the Tools
pull-down menu, and then click on Folder Options. Click on the View
tab. Scroll down and click on Show Hidden Files and Folders. click Ok.
Now you can go to C:Documents and Settings\USER\Local Settings\Temp
folder and delete everything there.
7. Install and run a good
Antivirus program on a regular basis. One of the best Antivirus
programs is a free piece of software called AVG Antivirus.
8. Get rid of Spyware. Lots of computers have Spyware and don't even know it. Some of the warning signs include:
*computer running extremely slow for no apparent reason
*computer has been taking you to websites that you don't want to go to
*you get pop-ups even when you're not on the Internet.
If
your computer has any of these symptoms, you are likely to be infected
with Spyware. Some of the best solutions include AdAware SE and SpyBot
Search and Destroy.
9. Streamline MSCONFIG. Many computers have
unnecessary programs running in the background which can cause a huge
decrease in performance. You can use a utility called MSCONFIG to turn
off unnecessary Start Up items that are
robbing your system of
memory and processing power.To run MSCONFIG, click on the Start Menu
and click on run. In the run dialog box, type msconfig and press "ok".
10.
Uninstall unused programs and files. Let's face it. After a while,
there are a number of programs and files that we simply don't use
anymore. Give your computer a
performance boost and get rid of
them.To delete programs completely, you must first go to the Control
Panel and click on Add or Remove Programs.
11. Run disk clean
up. Disk clean up can be found by going to the start menu, to programs,
accessories, system tools and then clicking on Disk Cleanup.
12.
If you're running Windows XP, turning off the fancy graphics will cause
a noticeable increase in the speed up your computer. First, go to
Start, Settings, Control Panel, System. You may need to "Switch to
Classic Mode" to see the System applet.Next, go to the Advanced tab.
Click on the Settings button under Performance.Select the "Adjust for
best performance" radio button. Click Apply and then OK. The graphics
aren't as slick, but your computer will run a lot faster |
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