5 quick ways to improve computer performance:
1) Remove unused/unwanted software: Most of us have software installed on our PC's we no longer use. Besides taking up hard disk space, many programs have subroutines that load when we start the computer and continually use memory and processor resources even if the main program is never run. In a Windows computer, remove unused and unwanted programs from your computer using the Add/Remove Programs Control Panel. Go to: Start \ Settings \ Control Panel and open Add/Remove Programs. Removing any software you no longer need or want will help make resources available for the programs you do want.
2) Defragment your hard disk(s): One of the early technological advancements that made personal computers practical was a hard disk controller that could break up programs and data and store the information randomly across the surface of a hard (or floppy) disk. Information can be written in small blocks anywhere space is available. Although this innovation made disk storage very efficient, software scattered across a hard disk is going to take longer to load than a program written out in consecutive order. Defragmenting puts all the program and data blocks on a hard disk in order and improves the loading speed of the software. Defragment your Windows based computer using the Disk Defragmenter found at Start \ Programs \ Accessories \ System Tools or use a defragmenter from your favorite utilities package.
3) Remove Temporary Internet Files: Web browsers, like Internet Explorer and Netscape, keep copies of the web pages you've visited in a temporary file so that the pages will load quickly when you return. Although your browser sets an upper limit to the storage space these temporary files can use, this limit is usually very large. Several years ago, web page designers figured out they could plant small invisible and retrievable text files amongst the pictures and text of a web page. Called "cookies", these text files store information retrievable from your computer by the web site. Usually the information gathered and sent back is mundane, but the ability to invisibly sent information from your computer to an unknown entity on the Internet does not inspire trust. Check out: http://www.cookiecentral.com/content.phtml?area=2&id=1 Removing cookies and other temporary files will recover hard disk space and can often improve performance by eliminating constant sending and resending of information by cookies lurking in your computer. To remove temporary Internet files from Internet Explorer go to Tools \ Internet Options and click "Delete Cookies" and "Delete Files".
4) Beware of "Cute" Custom Features: Those custom pointers, hourglass replacements and funky icons, downloadable from various web sites may look cute, but they often hurt computer performance. If you want to individualize your PC, many options are available with the Windows operating system. Do a right mouse click on the desktop background and choose "Properties". Any of the custom choices included in Windows will allow you freedom of expression without affecting the performance of your PC.
5) Check your virus protection software: Everyone that connects to the Internet needs virus protection constantly monitoring their computer! People that follow these things list almost 63,000 different viri available to infect the unprotected computer. Check your anti-virus software often. Your anti-virus software should be set to look for suspicious activity, check incoming and outgoing email, automatically download new virus definitions from the manufacturer and do a complete scan of your computer at least once a week. Most anti-virus definition updates come with a 3 month to 1 year subscription; be sure to renew the subscription when it runs out! Virus protection on your computer is easy to ignore, but will cost both time and money to remedy if you get infected.
Brought to you by Bill Radmer at Corvus Networks, Inc. We welcome feedback!
http://www.corvusnetworks.com/
651 287-0849
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