Uninstall anything you don't need...
(But before you do that, make a Backup of your computer first! This is VERY Important!!)
When was the last time you bought a computer that was not loaded to the gills with all kinds of bells and whistles?? Never, cause they don't put em on the shelf unless they have at least 150 programs installed!!!
It is it a very good idea to remove anything you don’t need from your computer, Why? Because some things (most) on your computer have “Processes” that run in the back ground and consume your "CPU" and "RAM" RESOURCES and that is not necessary sometimes... (most times!)
Removing all the extra programs from my client’s computers is one of the first things I do to help improve ? speed and ? performance.
yep yep, nothing better than removin a bunch of what is usually referred to as bloat-ware!
But the question is: What do you remove? How do you know if it is safe to remove? Almost everyone I know tells me they have no idea what is safe to remove… and how would you know right? One good thing to remember is “Windows” will not let you uninstall CRITICAL SYSTEM FILES.
The first thing to do is write down every program you use for the next couple of weeks so you get an idea of what you are using. This will not take very much time at all. Do it.... you will be much happier with your PC when you are done!
How do you know what to write down? When you have a program open, Look in the top left area of the window of the program that you have open and that is called the “Title Bar” and that will be the name that you will want to write down for your list of programs that you use! (See my "Title Bar Image Example" image below) if by chance there is no title bar look for the Help word or Question Mark and inside there you can find out the specs and name and version of the program.
Title Bar Image Example: ((This is "Magic ISO Maker"))(Remember Back Up Your Computer Before Uninstalling Anything!!)
Next go into the Control Panel and in:
? Windows XP look for ? “Add or Remove Programs” and click on it…
? Windows Vista and Windows 7 look for ? “Programs” and click on it and then in the next window under the words “Programs and Features” look for “Uninstall a program”
And spend 5 or 10 minutes looking through everything you have installed on your computer. If you are not sure what something is for, use Google and type “what is Magic ISO Maker v5.4 (build 0239)” (See my image below) How would you know what this is unless you were a computer techie right! Anyways use Google to try and figure out what it is for and if you have never used it, then you most likely don’t need it installed so why not remove it. If you are really uncertain if it is safe to remove ask someone at a computer store like Best Buy or call your favorite local computer store! They will tell you if you can remove it. those stores are full of geeks, so they will be able to help you decide.
Add or Remove Programs Image Example: ((Look at the first name Magic ISO Maker v5.4 (build 0239) do you use it? if not, uninstall it))“Processes” that run in the back ground:
How many "Processes" do you have running?
Too many and your computer will slow way down...
? Uninstall more programs and the running "Processes" will decrease!!! ?
How many running "Processes" are too many? around 45 to 50 is OK for Windows XP, 50 to 55 is OK for Windows Vista and 7... More than that and you need to work on getting this under control!
How do you find out how many are running?
FIRST - Close all your programs you have open,
THEN - mash down on the: ? CTRL ? ALT ? DELETE keys on your keyboard!!! This will give you the "Windows Task Manager", or one of your options will be to choose the Task Manager, any ways launch the Task Manager however you go about gettin her up and runnin, like the image below :)
Keep an eyeball on your running processes every month or anytime your system slows down, you will get used to what should be there and you should notice something weird or unusual and you can then try and figure out why it is there and maybe remove it. (remember Google is your friend with this task too).
Look at the lower left corner (See Image Below) and you will see how many Processes are running, 45 to 55 are OK, more is not good...Never Ever use a computer without an Anti-Virus Program installed... Never Never!!!
You can live without a Third Party - Firewall, but not an Anti-Virus. If you have viruses your computer will move like a turtle... be mostly useless... cause your head to explode... give you heartburn... all the things that will make you die early.........
Here is a good article telling you all about Security Software for your computer! pay close attention to the Anti-Virus section!!!
Make sure your Anti-Virus Program is always up to date and do a full system scan a couple times a month so you keep your system clean.
Make sure you have a Spyware / Malware scanning program installed to help catch the junk that your Anti-Virus program might miss, See the above article!
Choose an Anti-Virus and Firewall that don't consume all your resources, yep you guessed it, See the above article!!!Turn off Indexing for your Hard Drive
If you have Windows "Index" your entire hard drive it slows your computer down and uses a lot of space to index that data! there is no need for this feature to be on, you will have a very hard time telling the difference either way
You can't tell the difference in the search speed with it on or off unless you go buy a really nice stop watch and test it both ways!!! and besides how often do you search for things on your computer? not very often so the trade off is worth turnin "Indexing" OFF!!
How do your turn off indexing you ask? well let me tell you!!!
--> Open "My Computer", (go into the "start menu" to find your computer or my computer, what ever she is called!) then "right click" on the hard drive (usually named "Local Disk (C:)") and choose "Properties", Make sure the "General Tab" is selected and at the bottom of the window that opened, take the "check-mark" out of: "Allow Indexing Service to index this disk for faster searching".
And yet another cool Power User Tweak is about to be set for your computer, how cool is that!
(See Image below)Disable Hibernation on your Computer
This is a HUGE resource HOG, and why in the world would you want to do that to your poor computer, they have enough trouble running Windows without completely unnecessary things running like: hibernation!!! just so you can save 20 seconds on how fast it reloads Windows from a dead sleep? That’s the only advantage to having it on! seriously!!
It takes up gig's and gig's of hard drive space to save you that 20 seconds of load time, I have seen it consume 40 or 50 gig's in Windows Vista and 7! Really Microsoft, come on!!!
This is one of M.S's stupidest things they have ever offered to the user, it is the very first thing I do every time I touch a computer, TURN IT OFF!
For Windows Vista and 7, follow these steps: (Pay close attention to the spaces in what you are suppose to type or it won't work) better yet COPY & PASTE!!!
1. Click Start, and then type: cmd in the Start -> Search box.
2. In the search results list, right-click "cmd.exe", (see image below) and then left click on "Run as Administrator" in the context menu that will pop open!
3. When you are prompted by "User Account Control" window that may or may not pop up , click "Continue".
4. At the command prompt, type: powercfg.exe /hibernate off and then mash on the "ENTER" key on your keyboard!
5. Type: exit insied the Command Prompt window and then mash the "ENTER" key again to close the Command Prompt window.
Copy this: powercfg.exe /hibernate off
(See Image Below)Below... it is important that you add a space after powercfg.exe ? and after hibernate ? or this will NOT work!For Windows XP, follow these steps:
1. Click "Start", and then click on "Control Panel."
2. In the Control Panel click "Power Options."
3. In the window that opens mash on the "Hibernate Tab."
4. Take the stupid check-mark out of "Enable hibernation."
5. Yeaaaa, yet another Power User Tweak almost done!!!
(See Image Below, Again!)Buy a second hard drive and put ALL your personal files on it!
That will leave the Original Local Disk (C:) hard drive file system free from all your stuff, think about it, if you fill up your garage or say maybe your kitchen with stuff you can't get around, it is very hard to find anything, that is what Windows is feeling too! so give her, (Windows, all the space and freedom you possible can and she will run better, faster, longer and stronger!) this is a really wise investment in your sanity let me tell you!!! most hard drives are around $100 bucks.
The next super great advantage is if and when Windows crashes all your stuff is already separated and contained on another disk :) and you wont have to worry about it at all!Format and Reinstall every 2 or 3 years
Crazy idea but I promise you there is no better fix for a slow computer, and I have tried everything anyone on the internet has ever recommended!!!
There is no magic software fix that will touch this technique.
And since you already got a second hard drive and put all your files there it is not a big deal!System Restore is the next biggest waste of time and system resource hog MS ever came up with!
I have tried to use it to fix Windows problems at least 1500+ times and MAYBE 5 times it has actually worked! That is the truth!!
? ? Remember you gotta make a GOOD BACK UP of your computer before you do any of my suggestions ? ?
How to turn off System Restore?
For Windows XP:
1. Click Start, and then click on Control Panel.
2. In the Control Panel click System.
3. Inside the window that opens, top left area click the System Restore Tab.
4. Inside this window in the left upper area (Below the tabs...) look for a small box without a check-mark.
5. Put a check-mark in the small square box next to "Turn off System Restore".
6. Click OK and Windows will warn you and ask you are you sure? Mash down on the yes button as fast as possible!!!
7. Click Apply, Click OK, and Click Yes several times to finish up and restart your computer if asked.
For Windows Vista & 7:
1. Click Start, and then click on Control Panel.
2. In the Control Panel click System.
3. Inside the huge window that opens, top left area, click the Advanced system settings.
4. Inside the window that opens, top area, click the System Protection Tab.
5. Look at the lower area under Protection Settings and click on the drive that you want to turn off.
6. Then look lower right more for the Configure... button and click it.
7. In the new window that opens choose Turn off system protection, and of course Windows will freak out and have a coronary but go ahead and Mash down on the yes button as fast as possible anyways!!!
8. Click Apply, Click OK, and Click Yes several times to finish up and restart your computer if asked.Tweak your Advanced Display Settings that you will never miss and don't need!
For Windows XP:
1. Click Start, and then click on Control Panel.
2. In the Control Panel click System.
3. Inside the window that opens, (Below) top right area, click the Advanced Tab.
4. Then just below is the Performance Box area.
5. Click on the Settings Button in this section.In the new window that opens, (Below) make sure the Visual Effects Tab is selected.
Then un-check all the little square boxes for everything but the last 4!
Click Apply, Click OK, and Click Yes several times to finish up and restart your computer if asked.For Windows Vista & 7:
1. Click Start, and then click on Control Panel.
2. In the Control Panel click System.
3. Inside the huge window that opens, top left area, click the Advanced system settings.
4. Inside the window that opens, (Below) top area, click the Advanced Tab.And in the Window that opens, (Which is NOT below!!!!) Which is just like in XP... do almost the same thing for Windows 7 or Vista!
I would play around with these as there is more specialized options in Windows 7 or Vista, But most options can be turned off.
Turn everything off that you can and still get the desired look your after!
Contact me if you have any problems, I will try to help you :) PCTechSupportHelp.com
Have fun with these tweaks, they will help :)
Bada Boom, Bada Bing, your done!!!
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