| Over the years that computers have been | | | | - Or download a lot of items, |
| around, speed has been a crucial factor. Not | | | | |
| even always online - you need speed to copy a | | | | They recommend running it anyway. It's in the |
| huge file from one folder to another. | | | | same place as DiskCleanUp - Start > All |
| | | | programs > Accessories > System Tools. |
| Online gaming, file downloading, playing | | | | |
| videos - all of these are affected by the | | | | By now you're probably getting the jist that |
| speed of your computer. You need to | | | | Microsoft already adds programs to your |
| efficiently maintain your computer. | | | | computer to help you increase it's speed. The |
| | | | Error Checking utility checks disks for file |
| Firstly, the most obvious one. Free up disk | | | | errors. It is will scan your hard disk for |
| space. I mean, that's one of the easiest | | | | bad parts, and find file system errors to see |
| things you can do. Don't get wreckless and | | | | whether certain components are misplaced or |
| delete everything, but If you have work that | | | | missing. You can access this by going to what |
| used to be important but now isn't relevant, | | | | you want to search > Properties > Tools > |
| get rid of it. Using some sort of program | | | | Check now. |
| like DiskCleanUp can help - it can: | | | | |
| | | | Delete shortcuts on your start menu. These |
| - Delete temporary Internet Files | | | | can take ages to load and slow everything |
| | | | down. Don't go mental with files on your |
| - Delete Cookies | | | | desktop either. I have none, there's just no |
| | | | need. How many internet browsers do you have? |
| - Remove windows temp. files. | | | | Too many programs can slow you down, and |
| | | | what's the point in having Opera, Internet |
| - Clean the recycle bin. | | | | Explorer Firefox and Safari? Just get one and |
| | | | stick to it. I have 2 - I use Firefox |
| - Delete Downloaded Program files. | | | | generally but sometimes Internet Explorer |
| | | | need to be use - on the Microsoft Updates |
| Be careful though - Disk Clean Up may try and | | | | site for example. |
| delete programs that you haven't used in a | | | | |
| while. But if you paid for photoshop 2 years | | | | Finally, the big bang. Reformatting. If you |
| ago and haven't used it, that doesn't mean | | | | computer is slow, programs don't work, you're |
| you should delete it. If you run windows then | | | | missing vital components and you feel like |
| DickCleanUp should be in Start > All programs | | | | it's time you bought a new computer, just |
| > Accessories > System Tools. Using it is | | | | reformat. As long as computer is fast when |
| pretty simple, it's all about telling it what | | | | maintained, reformatting is a great way to |
| to delete and checking boxes. | | | | get everything back to a high speed. But |
| | | | you'll have to re-install all programs and |
| Secondly, use something like Disk | | | | you would've had to back up important files. |
| Defragmenter to speed up access to files. If | | | | But hey, in desperate times, what else can |
| files ARE fragmented, then your computer has | | | | you do. |
| to search the hard drive once you've opened | | | | |
| the file to put it all back together. This | | | | Get an operating system on CD, boot your |
| obviosuly will make the access time a | | | | computer from CD and delete the old |
| significant amount of time longer. Microsoft | | | | partition. Install the new one, and you're |
| recommends using Disk Defragmenter once every | | | | away! |
| month - but if you : | | | | |
| | | | Keeping a fast computer is all about |
| - Are very low on memory | | | | maintenance and keep places clean. Organise |
| | | | your computer like a neat bookshelf, and you |
| - Install a lot of new programs | | | | should be ok. |
| | | | |