10 Tips to make your PC go faster

Tips for faster PC

1. Before you start any program give your computer time to start. Only start something when the hard disk indicator is done lighting up or doesn’t light up that much anymore.

2. Switch off the index service. If you don’t search much in Windows XP you could better switch it off. Without this index the searching will be slower, but given the fact you don’t search thát much you’ll only gain time. The index service can be switched off by clicking the right mouse button on the selected hard disk(s). Then you select Properties and untick “Allow Indexing Service to index this disc for fast file searching”.

3. Don’t use images and especially large images as your desktop background. This will only slow down your computer. Especially with the older models or little RAM memory.

4. Don’t put too much shortcuts on your desktop. Every shortcut uses about 500 bytes of the internal memory.

5. Empty the trash can on a regular basis. Files are only removed when you empty the trash can.

6. Remove the temporary internet files regularly.

7. Defragment your hard disk on a regularly basis. Defregmentation is moving the various fragments of your files so that they are in one contiguous chunk. A defragmented hard disk has at least a couple of advantages over a badly fragmented one – your system may operate faster, since the operating system does not have to move the drive head of the drive all over the hard disk to load the different portions of a file, and it is generally slightly easier to recover an accidentally deleted file, since the various segments of the file are placed in contiguous clusters.

8. Split your hard disk always in two partitions. Partition C: is for installing Windows. The other partitions (D: or E:) are for data. The advantage of this is that Windows uses C: as temporary internal memory and you best leave it as empty as you can. Also it’s easier to install Windows on a clean C: after a crash without losing your valuable data.

9. When installing new software it’s better to switch off the “tray icon” option. It could be useful to see what programs are running and it’s easier to access files, but tray icons use RAM memory and slow down the starting process of your computer. Also don’t let every program start when Windows is starting. Most of the time you won’t even use all of your programs, but meanwhile they’re waiting in the background slowing things down and using RAM memory. For quick starting programs you’d better use Vista Start Menu (see the review in Utilities).

10. Protect your computer against dust. Dust can violate the fan and therefore causes the processor to get too hot. A warm processor works slower. Use a air spray to blow the dust away. Never use a vacuum cleaner!

A great program to do tasks 5 (cleaning the trash can), 6 (removing temporary internet files) and 9 (don’t automatically start programs) is Crap Cleaner. See our page: Utilities.

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