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Is Your Computer Running Slow? Speed It Up For Free!

By: Simon Burdett

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Over the years I've use computers, I have noticed a pattern: the longer I've owned a Notebook, the slower it appears to run!

A lot of people will keep their notebook until it gets so slow that they think they need a newer, faster model. This is not always the reason.

Some think like the basis it is getting slower is since it is getting older, when this is clearly not the reason. There is no reason why your notebook shouldn't be running just as fast as when you first switched it on! - all you need do is apply these 8 simple steps, and your PC will be operating as it have to be! - that is, not freezing up! laptop.

1. You must clear your Tempory Files on a regular basis, at least once a week to be safe. You need to empty this storage space, since it gets filled up with junk files your PC just doesn't need to run, usually from startup. This will slow your computer's processing ability, or run-time, in this manner slowing down the launching of your programs and applications. To empty your Temporary Internet Files, you go to your Control Panel and double-click the Internet Options icon. Then choose to Delete Cookies and Delete Files. This will empty all of your Temporary Internet Files.

2. To further speed up your pc, close down any programs you aren't using. Unused applications and/or programs that you leave running simply eat up your pc's run-time, or processing speed, thereby slowing down everything else.

3. Scan your hard disk(s) for problems.In commonly, the majority PC'S only have one hard disk, while you can buy another peripheral hardrive for extra storage space.

For a Windows 95 onwards, double-click My notebook. Right-click your C-drive, and then click on Properties. Click on the Tools tab and choose to check your PC for problems. For Windows 2000 and XP, double-click My computer. Right-click the C-drive and click Properties, then click on the Tools tab. If you choose to do a Thorough Scan, this will check your pc's hardware for any physical disk damage or sector damage. You may then choose to fix any errors it finds. Click on Check Now. You will then have two check boxes. The top preference is for the file check, and the second option is for the hardware (physical disk) check. Check either one, or both. At least check the top one. Hit OK, reboot your computer, then let it run

4. If you can't pay for software to tune up your PC for you, they can be pricey, if you have Windows XP, you can streamline the performance yourself. By default, unfortunately,EVERYTHING is turned on in Windows XP. It isn’t very well-organized for performance, but rather for appearance. That's just Windows for you, like it or leave it. You can turn off a few of the unessential features, and Windows will still work just as well, and maybe a little faster.

To do this, right-click on My notebook and click on Properties. Click on the Advanced tab. Under the Performance section, click on the Settings button. On the Visual Effects tab, you will see a list of check boxes. By default, these are all on. You really don’t need any of them for Windows to run. Go through the check boxes one by one, and determine which ones you can and couldn't live without.

6. Use a good AntiVirus program to stop viruses from taking over your system, such Norton 360, which I use.

7. Block Spyware. Most PC users have Spyware and don’t even know it, and when they're PC alerts them to this fact, they have no idea how to get rid of it. If you've been taken to websites that you had no intention of going to or you get pop-ups when you aren’t even on the Internet, or if your notebook has been running extremely slowly lately, for no basis, you most likely have Spyware.

In some cases, when the Spyware has become too entangled into your system, at this point, all you can do is just backup your essentials, and do a total re-boot of your notebook's operating system. This is the ultimate, extreme act, only to be done if you have (a) backed up everything first, and (b) feel you have no other option. It is a difficult thing to do, belive me on this, because you know you will only have to set up your laptop exactly the way you like it, and this takes time. Again, this is a last resort, so look into all other avenues ahead of doing this.

8. Finally, Defragment your hard drive(s). NOTE: Your PC needs to have at at minimum 25% of free space for the Defragmentation to execute. The defragmentation will still work with only 15% free space, but it can take quite a bit longer. If you can, delete any unnecessary files before deframenting your drives.

a. To defragment your hard drives (in any Windows operating system), double-click on My Notebook, then right-click on the C-drive and click on Properties. Click on the Tools tab and choose the bottom button, to Defragment Now…

If you follow these steps, your PC have to start to run a lot faster and more efficiently. It in all probability won't be running at the speed when it was new; that takes the purchasing of registry cleaning program for that, or an IT person to "clean it out" for you.

Happy 'puting, everyone!

Article Source: http://depositarticles.com/

My name is Simon Burdett from South Australia. For all your computer needs, please go to my website now.

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