By GalTime
Nerd Chick Andrea Eldridge
Does it feel like you can make a pot of coffee and clean the
kitchen all in the time it takes for your computer system to boot
up? Do you find yourself daydreaming of dropping it off the
top of your office building while you’re waiting for web pages to
load? If it seems like your computer is running slower every
day, here are some things to do to get your “old reliable” running
in tip-top shape. Of course, budget-savvy Nerd Chicks are
always looking for ways to save some dough, so we’ve made sure they
are all free.
1. Get Rid of the Nasties
Viruses and spyware don’t always break your computer, but
they do always slow it down. They’re more common than you may
think, and can hang out in your system, gumming up the works,
without you even knowing it. Microsoft Security Essentials is
a great, easy, all-in-one solution to keep your computer healthy
and running in top form.
Download it
here.
2. Update Your OS
Windows issues updates all the time. These can patch holes
in the software, closing vulnerabilities that viruses and spyware
exploit, and generally make Windows run better. If you’re
running Windows XP, right click on the My Computer icon on the
desktop, select Properties and click on the Automatic Updates
tab. Make sure you set them to download and install
automatically.
3. Purge “Bloatware"
Still have that Norton Trial software installed from when
you bought your machine three years ago? Get rid of it!
Every time it pops up a window “reminding” you to buy it, I’m
guessing a little voice in your head mutters unpleasant
things. It’s also slowing down your system as the antiquated
software runs in the background. Search for “Norton Removal
Tool” (or “McAfee Removal Tool”) to make sure that you get the
software fully uninstalled.
4. Speed Your Startup
MSConfig is a tool built in to most versions of
Windows. Even novice computer surfers can use this tool to
stop programs from starting automatically every time you boot
up. While certain things are necessary for Windows to
function, if your system is trying to turn on iTunes, your printer,
and Adobe every time it boots up, the poor thing’s got a lot of
things to get going before it can launch your Sudoku. Click
the "Start" button. If you have a search option,
type “msconfig” into the search field. If you don’t have a
search option, but have a “Run” button on the startup menu, click
that instead. When you do this, a window will appear on screen with
the word "Run:" next to a blank text field. Type
"msconfig" in the blank text field and press
"Enter". Click the "Startup" tab at the top of
the menu. Uncheck the boxes next to programs that you
don't need during startup – but only programs you
recognize! Click the "Apply" button, then select
"OK", and restart your computer. I can almost hear
your computer sighing in relief from here.
5. Defrag Your Hard Drive
Every time you save a file, or update software, your hard drive
stores each new thing in chronological order. This means that
when you launch Word, your system has to search all over your hard
drive to find all the pieces that have been stored over the months,
or years. Defragging simply means that your hard drive will
take all the “like” things and put them together, allowing programs
to launch and work faster. Windows 7 comes configured to
defrag automatically, however Windows XP users will need to start
the process manually. From the Start menu, right-click the
“My Computer” option. Select “Manage” and choose disk
defragmenter under the Storage section. Keep in mind that the
process can take several hours, so set it to run at night.
Also, remember to disable your system’s hibernate mode & screen
saver before starting. When the process is complete, restart
your PC.
6. Repair the Registry
Your system’s registry is like your hard drive’s table of
contents. If there are incorrect entries, it can take your
drive longer to find all the pieces of data it needs to launch and
run programs. Glary Utilities is a great free application
that you can install to quickly and easily fix registry errors and
optimize your system’s performance.
Download the free
version here.
7. Clear Out the Cookies
Every time you visit a website, it stores little pieces of
itself, or programs, on your system. The idea is that the
next time you visit the site it will load that content
faster. The problem is that it’s rare that we return to the
same sites and see the same things over and over again.
Instead, the process of digging through several MBs of temporary
internet files will lead all websites to load more slowly.
Clear out your cache with
CCleaner , a top rated
free software program for cleaning out temporary files and making
your system run at its best. One tip: use the cookies tab to
select cookies you want to keep from sites you visit often and/or
want to continue to login to automatically (like your email, or
your bank).
8. Clean it, No Really!
Your computer has a fan in it that draws in air to cool
the CPU and components. If this fan or vent becomes clogged
with dust, pet hair, or other nasties, your
system can overheat, causing it to run
more sluggishly and eventually break. Grab a can of air and
take your PC outside for a field trip. Don’t just blow into
the intake vent: open the case, don’t blow air too closely at the
components, and blow dust away from the case.
9. Ditch Internet Explorer
There are many alternative browsers you can use to access the
Internet. Most techies agree that Google’s Chrome is the
fastest option that doesn’t compromise compatibility.
10. If all else fails…
A surefire way to ensure that your system is running as close to
good-as-new as you can hope to get is to back up your data, format
your hard drive, and reinstall Windows. Keep in mind that you
will need to reinstall all of your software, including
office. Don’t forget to install your anti-virus and
anti-spyware before surfing the net!
Getting on a regular maintenance schedule will save you, and
your trusty computer, much pain and suffering. Especially if
these tips keep you from drop kicking your PC off the roof!
I
f you’re struggling with any of these steps, or want more info,
check out my website,
www.callnerds.com.
