How do you speed up your computer?

7 thoughts on “How do you speed up your computer?”

1. Jeff says:

   January 28, 2011 at 6:35 am

   Everyone knows that Windows computers can sometimes slow down over time. While not an exhaustive list of solutions to problems, this collection presents some ways to speed up a computer.

   1. De-Fragmenting
   Over time, the data on your hard drive gets scattered. Defragmenting your hard drive puts your data back into sequential order, making it easier for Windows to access it. As a result, the performance of your computer will improve.
   a) Right click of C Disk.
   b) Click properties.
   c) Click tools tab.
   d) Click "Defragment now".
   e) Click Defragment.

   2. Uninstall Unneeded Programs
   Removing programs that you no longer use can free up space on your computer and speed up your system’s performance. However, you need to uninstall the programs properly to see much improvement; deleting them is not enough.

   3. Stop Programs from starting on Windows boot
   One way you can speed up your computer is to prevent programs from launching themselves at start-up. Not only do the unwanted programs delay the start of Windows, they also continue to slow down your computer since they use system resources.
   a) Open your Start menu.
   b) Click Run
   c) In the command screen type "msconfig.exe"
   d) In the "system configuration utility", click either "service" or "startup" tab
   e) Uncheck all programs that you are no longer using.
   f) Click "OK"

   4. Check for Spyware and Adware
   Spyware is software that allows companies to monitor what websites you visit or even access your computer. Adware is software that displays advertisements. Both use system resources and slow your computer down. Detecting and removing the programs will improve system performance.
   Get the best one from: http://toptenantispywareviews.com to scan your pc

   5. Clean your Registry
   Microsoft Registry Problems = Slow Computer!
   Use the tool: http://downloadlk.com/themosteffectiveregistrycleaner.htm
   Learn more information "why is my computer running so slow": http://downloadlk.com/WhyIsMyComputerSlow.htm

2. Mickey L says:

   January 28, 2011 at 6:35 am

   If your virus/spyware free, there are a couple things you can do get your computer working faster. If you using your computer for normal stuff and not gaming. You don’t always need more RAM you just need to perform a few maintenance task.

   First, if you haven’t cleaned your registry in a while. This is necessary. Your registry holds all the information regarding updates, installs, un-installs etc. Each one of those events produces a key. That key needs your PC’s resources and free space. So, if you clean your registry, you make more resources available for speed. Do a registry scan if you got more than 20 errors you should clean it.
   http://www.delete-computer-history.com/what-is-the-best-registry-cleaner.html

   2. Clear your Windows cache files, this is your temporary file. It can grow up to a large volume and stop your computer from using RAM properly. In a sense slow it down by preventing it from using free space.Here is how:

   1. Quit Internet Explorer, Firefox, or any other web browser
   2. Click Start, click "Control Panel", and then double-click "Internet Options".
   3. On the General tab, click "Delete Files" under Temporary Internet Files.
   4. In the Delete Files dialog box, click to select the "Delete all offline content" check box , and then click OK.
   5. Click OK.

   3. Manage your startups. Your excess CPU usage is due to too many programs running in the background. You can cut these to barebones by alter your msconfig. Here is how:

   1. Open your Start menu.
   2. Click Run
   3. In the command screen type "msconfig.exe"
   4. In the "system configuration utility",click either "service" or "startup" tab
   5. Uncheck all programs that your are no longer using.
   6. Click "OK"

3. chezzrob says:

   January 28, 2011 at 6:35 am

   there are 5 major things to do to speed up the computer with XP
   1. Set the Virtual memory to manual control
   2. Uninstall useless toolbar programs in add remove programs in control panel, and uninstall programs that you never use like games and downloaded programs.
   3 reduce the size of favourites in IE as large favourites file has to load on every windo or tab.
   4. reduce the size on the desktop as the desktop constantly remembers by refreshing to the hdd.
   5 is covered by running all these programs below regularly, which is cleanup and defrag.
   From my notes
   Also while your computer is in good nick you should download these programs as a Save, then install from that file. All these programs do different stuff, the end result is your computer runs a lot better. Use all of them.

   Clean Up Computer
   CCleaner (about 10 minutes to install and run)
   =========
   google ccleaner and install it.from filehippo While it installs just untick the boxes as some you dont want.

   run the cleaner in windows/applications but dont tick the bottom 11 boxes in the Windows Tab.
   run the registry cleaner as well, when it asks to back up the registry , allow it to do it, then clean the registry. You may have to clean the registry a few times, but you do not need to save it each time.

   Superantispyware (1 hour)
   ===============
   http://www.superantispyware.com
   Has a stop homepage from being altered which is good
   Can reset windows defaults in various parts

   Download and run superantispyware.
   Install it and set the preferences to monitor your home page.
   Set up tick boxes that you want in the other tabs as you require.
   You don’t need to run it at startup unless you want the antispyware protection 24/7.

   Note Superantispyware has powerful reset tools that will set stuff back to windows defaults.
   To use these tools click preferences >repairs. This may be handy to reset IE URLS if you have annoying pop ups.
   Superantispyware is a good program and remember to update it before scanning. A scan may take 45mins.Just run a scan for the first attack.

   Spybot – Search and Destroy (1 hour)
   =====================
   Download spybot search and destroy. Through its immunize page and link to javacools spyblaster, spybot can manage activex problems which is extremely difficult for antispyware programs to find. Also just run the scan for first attack.
   http://www.spybot.info/en/download/index.html

   MalwareBytes (1 hour)
   ==============
   http://www.malwarebytes.org
   This is a neat little program to scan for annoying pop ups and adverts.

   Windows Live Onecare (2-3 hours)
   ===================
   Onecare safety scan fixes registry and finds temp files that nothing else seems to find.
   Choose the Beta Edition link for vista users.
   It does registry, spyware , virus , disk clean up and defrag
   XP Users http://onecare.live.com/site/en-ca/defau…
   Vista Users
   http://onecare.live.com/site/en-ca/center/whatsnew.htm

   Run the full safety scanner, it takes a few seconds to install the scanning files but when you start the scan, it takes 2 hours or more. Let it load the scanning tools, then start the Safety Scan. So once it starts to load the safety scans’ x file of x , you can leave the computer and go to bed etc.

   Then at the end of the scan it asks you to set it running full time.
   Think twice about setting it to run in the background as it could be another thing to slow you down. However, it may be worth while if you have no other security programs running.

   Now you should be flying and Onecare has even set up a new system restore point for you.
   Note onecare does other stuff as well. Click on the menus on the LHS column., but all of this is done if you click Safety Scan.
   add onecare to your favourites

   Set up IE7 so it runs efficiently.
   IE7 (2 minutes)
   =======
   Over time IE7 seems to set its own (or programs do) tick boxes in the advance tab.
   In IE7 Tools >Internet Options >Advance Tab
   Click Restore advance settings defaults button.
   Then scroll the listings down to near the bottom and:
   1. Tick empty temp files when browser closes (this empties the cache, which if not empty, will stop you from going online).
   2. Bullet disable phishing filter (optional. Leave it on if you want that type of protection, usually for financial data like internet banking).
   Delete Browser History, cookies, add ons, the whole lot regularly.
   Close the browser to set the settings.

   Phishing Filter
   When first released, phishing filter slowed IE7. Apparently, Microsoft has fixed this through the windows updates. If you like you could try to run it – bullet the enable.
   Ensure only one phishing filter program, and only one firewall program is used on the computer. Disable others that may be in other software.

   Fixing Your Computer
   Run the scans of the three programs above, generally is enough, but if your computer is still faulty then you have to go deeper with the features mentioned.
   RAM and Virtual Memory check – Any OS that has XP type taskmanager
   ========================
   Open up the internet to eg yahoo answers and have a few things open .(eg Word excel or a couple browser pages)
   If you normally play music, play that. Close down anything else just for this test.

   Open Task manager >performance tab
   Look at the RAM usage in the physical memory (k). If you are using more than 60% of your RAM while your computer is only doing the above then there is not much left for video or games. You may need to install more RAM
   1 Gig for XP, 2 Gig for Vista

   Look at the PF usage. That is the virtual memory (Paging File). Your virtual memory minimum setting should be more than what is being used at this moment.

   Your virtual memory maximum should be set to 1.5 times the amount of RAM you have. Eg 1 gig RAM, therefore 1.5 gig Virtual Memory

   Right click my computer icon >properties > advance tab >performance settings > advance tab > virtual memory change > select the drive with the operating system on it (normally C:) bullet custom. Enter the max value as one and a half times the RAM you have.
   Remember to have your minimum setting entry,more than what was being used in the test.

   In this example, if Ram is 1 gig and the PF was using 360 Meg, then I choose 500 min and 1500 max. >set

   Your computer is now set for optimum performance for the RAM you have.

   Its best to manual set VM as windows tend to lose its way when automatic and forgets to erase it. It can end up filling up your hard drive empty space.

   Compliments Chezzrob

4. Alexander W says:

   January 28, 2011 at 6:35 am

   If you have Vista… you can take advantage of ReadyBoost. If you have removable media, (Such as a flash drive or SD card) you use it as removable RAM. When you plug the flash drive (or anything else) in, choose the ReadyBoost option on the autorun pop-up. From here you can select how much of the flash drive’s space you want to use as RAM (at leased 250 Megabytes is needed). And if you do not want to use the flash drive as RAM anymore, you can always turn it off.

   Hope it helps!

5. Mr.Secret says:

   January 28, 2011 at 6:35 am

   Follow These Tips-

   Tip 1-System Properties

   Click Start, right click my computer, click the advance tab,click settings,click adjust for best Performance. This will take the xp away and replace it with the windows classic theme, but is faster. Then, when still in that window,click advance,click change the initial size to 2000 and the same maximum size, then click set, then ok. It may prompt you to restart. do restart.

   Tip 2-Downgrade

   Your system may not be capable to handle the os you have. downgrade to windows 2000 if you have xp or if you have vista downgrade to xp or if you have windows 2000 downgrade to windows 98 etc.

   Tip 3-System Mechanic

   iolo system mechanic is a great program to make your system super fast! it cleans your drive, cleans your registry, defrags you hdd, and more!!! it is as simple as click,restart and your using a fast system (requires purchase to have full program or just download a pirate verison of a torrent website lol)

   Tip 4-CCleaner

   CCleaner is a system cleaner which cleans every single spot in your computer, including the registry! this is a free program so go ahead and download it!

   Tip 5-Viruses and Spyware

   Your system may have some company of viruses and spyware. if you have avg, make sure you have the latest version of it and do a FULL system scan

   Tip 6-Upgrade your RAM

   RAM is random access memory. it is what the computer requires to run fast. you may have too little ram. i reccomend crucial. it is a website that supplies all types of RAM. look in the sources bit at the bottom for the website.

   Tip 7-Too many running programs

   You may have too many running programs. To stop this from happening on bootup, click start, then run, then type msconfig. It will then popup with a window. Within that window, click the startup tab. It will then show some programs. De-Select all of them except from security programs. then click ok. it will then prompt you to restart. do restart.

   Tip 8-Too many programs

   You may have too many programs on your system. Uninstall all the unnecessary programs, but keep your security programs.

   Well that just about sums it up. Do all these things and your computer will be in top shape!!! NOTE: you dont need to do ALL of these things to make it faster but i do reccomend tips 7,4 and 1

6. Camels says:

   January 28, 2011 at 6:35 am

   simple go and buy more RAM ,i did and now my comp is oh so much more faster

7. David L says:

   January 28, 2011 at 6:35 am

   1. Add RAM
   2. De-fragment your hard disk.
   3. Remove memory resident programs.
   4. Scan for viruses.
   5. Free up space by deleting/removing unused programs.

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