So the first thing you will want to do, unless you have automatic updates enabled, is to run your Windows update. Download and install all updates. If you disabled the automatic option for some reason it is a good idea to leave it enabled, this way you stay on top of all your updates automatically. Next you will want to do general maintenance on your computer. Start by running the cleanup program on your hard drive.

After that make sure you do not have a virus or spyware running in the background. Some spyware infections can use hog a lot of your computer's resources, leaving little for operating the programs you want to use. You can turn off Vistas eye candy and other options that you really don't need. You can always turn them back on later if they do not solve your problem. While they look nice they use up a lot of memory and other resources. Go to my computer, right-click and select properties. Go to the advanced tab and under preforming settings you can select adjust for best performance.

The most common cause for program crashes is because of registry errors. Like most people you have probably tried to install older programs on Vista there were not compatible and then uninstalled them. The problem is that most uninstall programs do not do a complete job. They leave behind registry keys and entries. Over time your registry becomes bloated or corrupted. Improper shutdowns, viruses, spyware, and corrupt software will also damage your registry resulting in program crashes.

Your registry needs to be referred to every time you start your computer or load software. Damaged entries will cause program crashes. To correct this problem you will need to use a registry cleaner and repair program. Since Windows does not come with one you will need to find and download a third-party software to do this. If you don't have one already you should invest in a good registry repair software program. While there are a couple of free ones, I would not trust my computer to them. Deleting the wrong registry key or changing the wrong file can make your computer unusable.

Many older programs that were made for the earlier versions of Windows, like XP will not operate correctly on Vista. There is one thing you can try however before you uninstall them. Right click on the icon that is not working and select properties. Click the compatibility tab and select the box that says run this program in XP compatibility mode. Some older programs will then work and you will not have to uninstall them.

Maintaining your Windows registry is like giving your PC a good tuneup. You will keep your boot times to a minimum and correct most problems if you are experiencing crashes. Most programs will enable you to schedule routine maintenance. You should scan and clean your registry files at least once a week. If you have a large hard drive, you can schedule it to run at night when you're not using your PC.