1. Remove spyware, and help protect your computer from viruses
Spyware collects personal information without letting you know and without asking for permission. From the websites you visit to user names and passwords, spyware can put you and your confidential information at risk. In addition to privacy concerns, spyware can hamper your computer's performance. To combat spyware, you might want to consider using the PC safety scan from Windows Live OneCare. This scan is a free service that helps check for and remove viruses.Download Microsoft Security Essentials for free to help guard your system in the future from viruses, spyware, adware, and other malicious software (also known as malware). Microsoft Security Essentials acts as a spyware removal tool and includes automatic updates to help keep your system protected from emerging threats.
The Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool is another utility that checks computers running Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows Server 2003 for infections by specific, prevalent malicious software, including Blaster, Sasser, and Mydoom, and helps remove any infection found.
2. Free up disk space
The Disk Cleanup tool helps you to free up space on your hard disk to improve the performance of your computer. The tool identifies files that you can safely delete and then enables you to choose whether you want to delete some or all of the identified files.Use Disk Cleanup to:
- Remove temporary Internet files.
- Delete downloaded program files, such as Microsoft ActiveX controls and Java applets.
- Empty the Recycle Bin.
- Remove Windows temporary files, such as error reports.
- Delete optional Windows components that you don't use.
- Delete installed programs that you no longer use.
- Remove unused restore points and shadow copies from System Restore.
To use Disk Cleanup:
Windows 7 users
Windows Vista users
Windows XP users
3. Speed up access to data
Disk fragmentation slows the overall performance of your system. When files are fragmented, the computer must search the hard disk as a file is opened (to piece it back together). The response time can be significantly longer.Disk Defragmenter (sometimes shortened to Defrag by users) is a Windows utility that consolidates fragmented files and folders on your computer's hard disk so that each occupies a single space on the disk. With your files stored neatly end to end, without fragmentation, reading and writing to the disk speeds up.
When to run Disk Defragmenter
In addition to running Disk Defragmenter at regular intervals (weekly is optimal), there are other times you should run it, too, such as when:
- You add a large number of files.
- Your free disk space totals 15 percent or less.
- You install new programs or a new version of the Windows operating system.
Windows 7 users
Windows Vista users
Windows XP users
Running Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter on a regular basis is a proven way to help keep your computer running quickly and efficiently. If you'd like to learn how to schedule these tools and others to run automatically, please read Speed up your PC: Automate your computer maintenance schedule.4. Detect and repair disk errors
In addition to running Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter to optimize the performance of your computer, you can check the integrity of the files stored on your hard disk by running the Error Checking utility.As you use your hard drive, it can develop bad sectors. Bad sectors slow down hard disk performance and sometimes make data writing (such as file saving) difficult or even impossible. The Error Checking utility scans the hard drive for bad sectors and scans for file system errors to see whether certain files or folders are misplaced.
If you use your computer daily, you should run this utility once a week to help prevent data loss.
Run the Error Checking utility:
5. Learn about ReadyBoost
If you're using Windows 7 or Windows Vista, you can use ReadyBoost to speed up your system. A new concept in adding memory to a system, it allows you to use non-volatile flash memory—like a USB flash drive or a memory card—to improve performance without having to add additional memory.6. Upgrade to Windows 7
If you try all the previous remedies and your computer still isn't as fast as you would like it to be, you may want to consider updating to Windows 7.- Find out if your computer can run Windows 7 using the Upgrade Advisor.
- Compare Window 7 editions.
- Read a third-party review of Windows 7 by David Pogue of The New York Times.
- Shop for new desktop computers.
- Shop for new laptop computers.
- Shop for netbooks.
OR
1. Use ReadyBoost
ReadyBoost is a feature that was first introduced in Windows Vista and made its way into Windows 7. Basically, it lets you use a USB flash drive as secondary memory cache, which helps your computer to run faster. Keep in mind that it’s no substitute for RAM, though.
To use ReadyBoost, simply inset a USB flash drive and if it meets certain requirements, Windows 7 will ask you if you want to use it for ReadyBoost and recommend the size to reserve.
If you insert the flash drive and nothing happens, it could mean that AutoPlay is disabled. In this case do the following:
- Go to Computer, right-click on the removable storage device and select Properties.
- If the drive is compatible, you will see ReadyBoost there. Click on it.
- Select Use this device and set the amount of space to be used for ReadyBoost system file.
- Click OK.
2. Get rid of unused programs and Windows features
When you get a new PC or laptop, it often comes with lots of
pre-installed try-and-buy programs. Most people never use these
programs, so it’s best to uninstall them. Also if you like trying out
new software and download different applications regularly, it’s a good
idea to review your installed software list and get rid of everything
you don’t need. That way you’ll be able to free up some system resources
and speed up Windows 7 startup time. To do that just go to Control Panel –> Programs –> Uninstall a program and get rid of everything you don’t use.Same goes for unused Windows features – go to Control Panel –> Programs –> Turn Windows features on or off and uncheck the features you don’t need.
This is another tip on how to speed up your computer running any Windows version.
3. Review your startup list
Having too many startup items is the most common cause of computer slow-downs. Some programs act as if you can’t live without them and make themselves load every time your computer starts. That way every time your computer loads all these programs load as well, even if you don’t use them that frequently. As a consequence, your Windows becomes much slower. The answer is to disable the option for such programs to start automatically. This can be done either via the program menu, or with the help of the System Configuration utility (msconfig).
Just type msconfig in the Start menu search box, hit Enter, and then launch the program from the search results. Then go to the Startup tab and disable the entries you don’t need.Just like the previous tip, this will work on all Windows versions.
4. Adjust visual effects for best performance
The “eye candy” Windows 7 is not the fastest Windows 7. So if you are keen on performance, you should consider choosing the more minimalistic look to gain speed. Go to Control Panel, search for Performance, and then select Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows from the System category in the results. A new window will open. There you can either select the Adjust for best performance option, or make a custom selection of the visual effects you like.5. Disable sounds
Windows sounds can be really annoying and they also take up valuable system resources. Fortunately, you can always disable them. Don’t worry, it’s only the Windows sounds that will be disabled – not all sounds.
Go to Control Panel –> Hardware and Sound –> Change system sounds. There you will see the Sound Scheme drop-down menu. Select No Sounds and also don’t forget to uncheck Play Windows Startup sound. Click OK and you’re done.6. Adjust indexing options
Indexing helps Windows to speed up search, but it can affect performance and make you hard drive thrash. That’s why it’s a good idea to make Windows index only the locations you search pretty frequently. To do it, go to Control Panel, search for Indexing and then select Indexing options. Click Modify. A new window will open. Click on Show all locations if the button is enabled. Then simply clear the checkboxes for locations where you rarely search and click OK.7. Disable gadgets
Windows 7 takes the idea of gadgets and sidebar a step further than its predecessor, Vista. It uses customisable gadgets that can be placed anywhere on the desktop. But that doesn’t make them less resource-hungry – they still take up a portion of system resources to load and update. Turning off all gadgets is one more way to speed up Windows 7.You can just close all of the gadgets so that none are displayed, or you can go a step further and switch off the entire Windows 7 gadgets platform via Control Panel –> Programs –> Turn Windows features on or off.
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