Tutorial: Increase Your Computer Performance

Slow Computer? Thinking of buying new equipment? Wait! Did you know you can seriously improve your system speed, without wasting a penny? With a little effort, you can have a faster machine. Just do the following:

1 – Checking your free disk space: Full disks are a serious threat to system performance. With less space, Windows have trouble accessing files and managing the system virtual memory, which causes general slowdown. So, cleaning your System Disk (normally, the C: drive) will give you a great boost in speed and stability. Click in the Stat menu, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Cleanup. Choose your C: drive (it’s the default option). Wait for the analysis. Check all options, except “Microsoft Office Installation files” and “Compact Old Files”. Go to the “More Options” tab, and Click in the Clean button under “System Restore”. When prompted, click “Yes”. Now, click OK. This shall open some space. You can also go to Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs, and uninstall any unwanted programs.

Another thing to check is what you are downloading via emule. Emule creates empty files of whatever you are downloading, even if the download is stopped. So, canceling stagnated downloads will free considerable space.  Make sure you delete any unused/unwanted files too.

2 – Compact files you are not going to use often: By doing so, a file will take less space, making things more comfortable inside your Hard Disk. Utilities like 7Zip can do some serious compression, packing files with impressive efficiency.

3 – Check what is starting up with your system: Many programs, when installed in a computer, put shortcuts in your computer to launch at system startup. While it makes that program load way faster, it will increase your cpu load, and make your startup slower. If you use very often that program or application, it may be a fair exchange. But, why hell would you want to always load some programs, like Adobe’s Acrobat Reader, at system start? To check what is loading with your windows, click Start, select Run. Type “msconfig” (without the quotes). Select Startup tab. There, all programs that load with your OS are listed. Uncheck any wanted entries, click “Apply”, and then “OK”. Reboot. It will load a little faster now.

4 –  If you have a slow cpu (like a Celeron), disable heavy visual themes: Yes, your desktop will suck. But, time is precious, and we do not want to waste it, right? It have little impact in Windows XP based systems, but does wonders in Vista/7 machines. Right click your desktop, choose “Personalize”, and select the “Vista default theme”. Its the same Vista look, but without the Aero. Or, if you are serious about it, use the Windows classic theme. Disabling the Windows Sidebar does wonders too, since it wastes about 40MB memory with just 2 Gadgets enabled, and if it’s a gadget that keeps refreshing (like a sideshow does), will save a lot of system resources. You can disable it in the same msconfig tool, just in the Services tab, unchecking Sidebar.

5 – Keep virtual threats out of your computer: Viruses, trojans and the like are loaded in system startup, kept in memory, and always scan what you do – what, obviously consumes precious resources. Scanning and eliminating virus and trojans is a good way to boost performance and staying secure. Follow my previous threads to learn how to eliminate virus and trojans from your system.

6 – Are your drivers up to date?: Even wondered what that bundled System Board CD/DVD, that came with your computer is for? That is your System Drivers. A driver is a little “program” that tells windows how he may use a system device, like a Video or Sound Card, for an example. They do an enormous boost to system performance! Keeping them up-to-date is essential. You can refer to your Motherboard manual for a list of all hardware bundled in your system board, or go to the manufacturer’s website, for the latest drivers and bios updates. Download them and install right away!

7 – Installing a new copy of Windows? Consider partitioning your Hard Drive: Partitions are isolated sections of a disk. It means you can have a partition for your Windows and Programs, and another for all the things you download form the web. That way, you will reduce the risk of getting a full C: drive, and disk fragmentation. If you can, having a second hard disk is highly recommended.

8 – Defragment your disk often: When you save a file to your local disk, it will be placed in the first space available. If that space is not sufficient, it will be divided in chunks, and be put in the next space, and so successively. When you need to load that file, the processor will have trouble finding all the pieces. So, putting all the pieces of the same file together is the best thing to do. For that purpose, windows have his own disk defragmenter – it’s under Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools. You can also download third-party defragers, like Iobit Smart Defrag, or JK Defrag. Both are very good.

Well, thats all for now. Come back for more!