No matter how fast your processor and regardless of how much ram
you carry, there comes a time when you realize your computer
just doesn't run as fast as it did when you bought it.
Windows loads slower, programs take longer to launch, and, in general, your
computer drags like it just came off a 2-night drinking binge.
If this sounds like your situation, these 6 tips should help you get some
extra speed from your PC.
~ Disk Cleanup Utility ~
You may not realize it, but just because you finish with a file doesn't mean
your computer does.
In many cases, if your computer's hard drive were a garage, you would have
unused junk files piled 20 feet high and spilling out into the street.
Everyone should use the Windows "Disk Cleanup Utility" to delete old, unused,
and temporary files that clog your hard drive.
Click Start, point at All Programs (or Programs), Accessories, System Tools,
and click Disk Cleanup. Analyze your hard drive for files you can eliminate and
it may shock you to see how much hard drive space (and speed) you can free up
with a few clicks.
~ "Defrag" ~
Imagine a properly maintained hard drive as room the size of Wal-Mart filled
with filing cabinets.
Now imagine ripping open every drawer of every filing cabinet, slinging the
contents onto the floor and trying to find one document -that's a fragmented
hard drive.
Sometimes lack of speed simply results from your computer working too hard to
find the files it needs.
You can solve this problem by "defragging" your hard drive.
Click Start, point to All Programs (or Programs), Accessories, System Tools,
and click Disk Defragmentor. Choose the disk you want to defragment and expect
to let the program run for several hours.
~ Uninstall Unused Software ~
We all maintain software on our systems we rarely, if ever, use.
That software can steal system resources. Click Start, Control Panel, and
"Add Remove Programs" to pull up a screen that allows you to remove old programs
you don't use anymore.
Simply select and uninstall all programs you know for sure you don't need or
want.
~ Buy More RAM ~
Increasing your RAM, a computer's memory, can dramatically increase speed
when running certain operations or programs.
RAM costs so little now that you should install the maximum amount of memory
your system can handle.
~ "Stop Them At Startup" ~
This operation requires a bit more technical savvy than the other four, so
proceed with caution.
Many programs load into the system tray in the lower right of your computer's
desktop and consume system resources even if you never use them.
Click Start, Run, type in msconfig, and press Enter. Click the "Startup" tab
to see a list of programs that automatically start with Windows.
Clear the check box next to programs you know you don't want to load at
startup.
But don't clear any check box unless you are 100% certain of a program's
purpose.
Once you finish, click OK and it will prompt you to restart Windows.
About The Author:
Jim Edwards is a syndicated newspaper columnist and the co-author of an
amazing new ebook that will teach you how to use free articles to quickly drive
thousands of targeted visitors to your website or affiliate links...
Simple "Traffic Machine" brings Thousands of NEW visitors to your website for
weeks, even months... without spending a dime on advertising! ==>
http://www.turnwordsintotraffic.com
Internet
Business Promotion
tool and search engine submission software tool.