Who cares about computer performance? Most of us use our computer at least once or twice a day, and many of us use our system to work, and spend a considerable amount of time each week on it. There are some easy steps you can take to maximize your computer performance without needing a professional. It is essential to clean up any disk errors, at least once a week, and this can be done by using the Check Disk utility. This can be accessed by clicking Start, then My Computer, then the drive you want to be error checked and this is usually C for most users, then select Properties, click Tools, then Check Now. Check Disk can take an hour or two to run, and it will start the next time your computer reboots, making computer performance much better.
Optimize Computer Performance With These Methods
Getting rid of any temporary files can clear up a significant amount of space, and help to maximize your computer performance. Disk cleanup will do this for you without a lot of hassles. Temporary files are kept when you surf web pages or use programs, including Word, on your computer, and these files can build up and occupy a huge amount of space on your system. Running Disk Cleanup will remove all temporary files, if you check the appropriate box before starting the process.
Disk Defragmenter should be run on a monthly basis at least if you want to maximize your computer performance. Over time your files can be fragmented to different areas of the disk, and this will cause your system to take longer to retrieve the files or run the program, because the computer has to search for every fragment and reassemble the file. Disk Defragmenter fixes this, by bringing file fragments back together, making it much easier for the computer to find the file or program much quicker.
One step to maximize your computer performance is to reduce the size and duration of the history for web pages. It is best if you only save these pages for one day, but experts say do not save more than seven days under any circumstances or your computer may slow down significantly. Simply open the Internet Explorer, click on Tools, then Internet Options, then change the settings as needed. This will maximize your computer settings and make it run much faster. You also should make sure you do not save encrypted web pages, because these pages can contain sensitive security information.
Install a quality anti spyware and anti virus program, because these will both keep electronic infections and malicious software off your computer. Make sure these programs are updated frequently, and that a scan is run with each program at least once a day if you stay connected at all times, like with broadband and cable connections.
The best and most efficient way to maximize your computer performance is to use a registry cleaner. When you remove programs, fragments can stay in the Windows registry after the program is uninstalled. This can cause your computer to become sluggish and perform badly. A registry cleaner will solve this problem by automatically editing the files in the registry and cleaning out any fragments of files that were removed or not needed.
Poor computer performance by your Windows-based machine can sneak up on you gradually. You may find its performance deteriorating increasingly until one day you realize you must fix it or buy a new one. Signs of poor performance can include applications running very slowly, programs closing or freezing up suddenly, and a generally slower response time to OS (operating system)-related commands. I have compiled 9 fixes for you here that you can leverage right now to greatly improve your computer's performance.
Fix #1: Download and run MS Service Pack 2:
Every operating system requires patches and upgrades by its maker from time-to-time, with Microsoft XP being no exception. While Service Pack 2 was released in 2002, some people with older systems are still not running it: make sure your computer is. You can download it FREE from Microsoft's Web site.
Fix #2: Run the Disk Cleanup utility:
Your computer likely has a number of unused and unneeded files that take up valuable space on your hard drive and slow performance. Run your FREE, built-in Disk Cleanup utility to automatically remove these files. Find it by going to: Start | Programs | Accessories | System Tools | Disk Cleanup and following the prompts.
Fix #3: Defragment your hard drive:
Over time, your computer will store files in an increasingly inefficient manner on your hard drive, affecting file retrieval times and other performance factors. To fix this, you need to defragment your hard disk drive. To do this for FREE, just go to: Start | Programs | Accessories | System Tools | Disk Defragmenter. First, highlight the drive you want to clean up (e.g., C drive) and choose Analyze. Once complete, choose Defragment. Note that the defragmentation process could take up to an hour or more, so do this during a time when you can step away from your computer.
Fix #4: Run an anti-virus tool:
Computer viruses are malicious programs that drastically affect your computer's performance, either all at once or insidiously over time. You can stop a virus attack by installing and running anti-virus software which performs regular scans, locates the offending viruses and quarantines them.
Fix #5: Clean your registry:
Your computer's registry is a tool that most non-computer specialists never see but which is vitally important to computer operations. Your registry stores settings and options for your hardware, operating system, and other software. Unfortunately, given its fundamental role in the performance of your system, your registry is often the target of attack or infection. To thoroughly and automatically clean your registry, run a regular registry scan using a registry cleaning tool. I recommend RegCure, which recently found 1,626 problems with my registry (ugh!), is cheap and easy to use.
Fix #6: Run anti-spyware software:
Spyware is computer software that installs itself in your computer and performs a number of unwanted functions, including monitoring your computer usage and interfere with your control.
It represents a real threat and has become a significant problem in recent years. Fortunately, fixes are easy to find and include a number of free and inexpensive anti-spyware programs. Try SpyBot Search & Destroy. Get it FREE online.
Fix #7: Increase your computer's memory:
Today's applications require more and more memory (RAM) to run. If your computer is more than two years old or if you selected the minimal memory option upon purchase, you might benefit from adding another 1 GB or more to your computer. Check online or at your local computer dealer for pricing.
Fix #8: Clean your hard drive:
More comprehensive than the Disk Utility tool introduced above, cleaning your hard drive with professional cleaning software is a great way to improve performance. Try CCleaner for FREE by doing an online search.
Fix #9: As a last resort, re-format your hard drive:
If after trying all of the above items and your computer still performs poorly, a last resort is to completely reformat your hard drive. Warning: proceed with caution since this action will erase your entire hard drive, including your operating system (OS)! If you decide to take this route, consult an online tutorial for how-to steps. At minimum, remember two things: be sure to back up all of your files and applications and retain a copy of your OS on CD so that you can re-install it later.
Both Brian Williams & Jed Jones are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Brian Williams has sinced written about articles on various topics from Software, Legal Matters and Software. Brian Williams is a self-confessed PC fiddler dedicated to 'spreading the word' when it comes to fixing PC errors and helping people make the most use of their PCs. For FREE ACCESS to more PC tips n' tricks, just visit. Brian Williams's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.