5 Simple Ways To Speed Up Your PC According To Microsoft
You can keep your computer running smoothly by following these simple steps. Although most people wouldn’t think of skipping routine maintenance on their cars, they don’t care as much about the computer that stores their banking and financial data, photos, music, and other important communications.
This article was originally published by Microsoft in segments. It demonstrates how Microsoft’s tools in Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Windows Vista can be used to better maintain your computer and protect your privacy online. Remote Helpdesk 1 Team and the Computer Man decided to include it in Remote Helpdesk 1’s Online PC Repair Articles. This is because the majority of problems that the Tennessee Mountain Man or Computer Man encounter are due to users not performing basic preventative maintenance.
1. Disk Space Freed
You can increase the performance of your computer by removing unnecessary disk space. Disk Cleanup helps you clear out space from your hard drive. This utility will identify files you can safely delete and allow you to decide whether to delete all or some of them.
Use Disk Cleanup to:
* Delete temporary Internet files
* Delete downloaded program files (such Microsoft ActiveX controls or Java applets).
* Empty the Recycle Bin.
* Delete temporary Windows files.
* Disable optional Windows components you don’t need.
* Delete any installed programs you don’t use anymore.
Tip: Temporary Internet files are the most space-intensive because your browser caches every page you visit to make it easier later.
To use Disk Cleanup
A. Click on Start, point at All Programs, point towards Accessories, then point to System Tools and click Disk Cleanup. You might be asked to choose which drive to clean if there are multiple drives.
B. Scroll through the Files to Delete list in the Disk Cleanup dialog box.
Select the files you wish to delete.
C. Clear all check boxes that indicate files you don’t want deleted, then click OK.
D. Click Yes to confirm that you wish to delete the files.
The process is completed in a few seconds and the Disk Cleanup dialog box will close. Your computer will be cleaner and more efficient.
2. Accelerate Access to Data
Your system’s overall performance will be hampered by disk fragmentation. If files are broken up, the computer will need to search the hard drive when the file is opened in order to put it back together. It is possible for the response time to take longer.
Disk Defragmenter, a Windows utility, consolidates fragmented folders and files on your computer’s hard drive so that each takes up a single space. Your files will be organized neatly, so that reading and writing to your disks are faster.
Disk Defragmenter: When should it be used?
Disk Defragmenter should be run at least once a month.
* You can add many files.
* The free disk space is not less than 15%
* New programs are installed or a new version is downloaded.
To use Disk Defragmenter:
A. Click on Start, point at All Programs, point towards Accessories, point toward System Tools, then click Disk Defragmenter.
Click Analyze in order to launch the Disk Defragmenter.
B. B. Once the disk has been analyzed, you will see a dialog box that lets you decide whether to defragment those drives.
Tip: To get an idea of the time it will take to defragment a volume, you should first analyze it.
C. Click the Defragment button to defragment the drive or drives you have selected. Notice: Windows Vista does not have a graphical user interface that shows the progress of defragmentation, but your hard drive is still being disassembled.
Disk Defragmenter will display the results after the defragmentation has been completed.
D. Click View Report to view detailed information about the partition or defragmented disk.
E. Click Close to close the View Report dialog box.
F. Click the Close button in the title bar to close Disk Defragmenter.
3. Disk errors can be detected and repaired
To optimize your computer’s performance, run Disk Cleanup or Disk Defragmenter. You can also check the integrity and files on your hard drive by running the Error Checking utility.
As you use your hard drive, it can develop bad sectors. Bad sectors can slow down your hard drive performance, and make it difficult or impossible to write data (such as file saving). The Error checking utility scans your hard drive for bad sectors and detects file system errors.
This utility should be run once per week if you use your computer every day to prevent data loss.
To use the Error Checking utility
A. All open files must be closed
B. Click Start and then click My Computer.
C. Click on the My Computer window to right-click the hard drive you wish to search for bad sector, then click Properties.
D. Click the Tools tab in the Properties dialog box.
E. Click on the Check Now button.
F. Click Start in the Check Disk dialog box.
G. Choose to fix bad sectors if they are discovered.
Tip: If you believe that your disk contains problematic sectors, only select the “Automatically Fix File System Errors” checkbox.
4. Spyware can be stopped from reaching your computer
Spyware can collect personal information without you knowing and without your permission. Spyware can expose your personal information, including usernames and passwords, on the websites you visit. Spyware can also cause performance problems and privacy issues for your computer. Microsoft Windows Defender is a free Microsoft XP SP2 download that can be used to combat spyware. There are also other anti-spyware programs that you can download for free.
5. Use Ready Boost
ReadyBoost can be used to speed up Windows Vista. It is a new way to increase memory without adding more.
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Windows ReadyBoost increases system memory and performance.
System memory, also known as RAM, is often the best way for a computer to perform better. More memory means that more applications can run without having to access the hard drive. Upgrades to memory can be costly and time-consuming. Some machines also have limited memory expansion capabilities that make it difficult or impossible to add RAM.
Windows Vista introduces Windows ReadyBoost. This is a new way to add memory to a system. Non-volatile flash memory can be used to increase performance, similar to that found on a universal serialbus (USB flash drive), without the need to add more memory.
Flash memory devices are used as additional memory caches. This means that the computer can access flash memory much faster than data on its hard drive. Windows ReadyBoost is based on Windows SuperFetch’s intelligent memory management and can greatly improve the system’s responsiveness.
Windows ReadyBoost is easy to use. Windows Vista checks the performance of a removable storage device, such as a USB flash drive (or secure digital (SD), memory card) when it is first inserted into a port. If yes, Windows Vista will ask you if you would like to use the device to increase system performance. You can allocate a portion of the USB drive’s memory for performance enhancement and store files on the rest.