how to clean up your PC

How to Clean up a Slow Performing Computer

Many think that when a computer starts performing poorly that it's time to buy a new computer. This article will explain a few simple steps to clean up that computer and make it perform many times better.

Steps

1. Update your antivirus software, and run a full scan. Remove all viruses from your computer and restart.
   


2. Clear up some space on the hard drive. To do this, you need to right click on “My Computer,” then click on Disk Cleanup and check every box available and click “clean my computer”.
   


3. Uninstall useless or programs that you rarely use. Follow the “Start Menu” to “Settings” and then to “Control Panel”. From this screen click on “Add/Remove Programs” and uninstall programs that are no longer needed. Then double click on “My Documents”, which will be on your desktop screen, and just remove anything that you know for sure you “created” and just delete them; you can also delete pictures that you have on the computer. Remember to empty your Recycle Bin after deleting these files because they are still on the hard drive and taking up space; just right click the icon and navigate to “Empty Bin.”
   


4. Download and install a spyware removing program. It's suggested to get Spybot Search & Destroy; you can get it here "reimage home edition for windows"Install the program and run it; if you are not an advanced computer user, read the directions.
   


5. Defragment your hard drive; right click on “My Computer” and in the new screen click the “Tools” tab. From this tab just click on the defragment button and then run the program.
   


6. If this didn't work check if you have enough RAM (Random Access Memory). These are the memory chips. If there are not enough of them the computer will use your hardisk to store intermediate results, but this is a much slower process. The computer then appears always busy to write and read things from your harddisk. You can hear it, and the led on the computer itself will light up.
   
   
   
   
   • Right click on the 'my computer' icon, then select properties, then read what is said on the 'General' tab. For Windows XP it should be 256 MB or more. If it is less then 1024 MB then it might be the problem.
     
   
   
   • If RAM is the real problem, your computer will be slow whenever you start a new application. If your computer is only slow when you turn on your computer or reboot, it is more likely that it is some other problem.
     
   
   
   • Before you rush out to get some additional RAM in a computer shop, make sure you know exactly what type fits in with your computer, and convince yourself that there are still empty slots (inside your computer) that can be used to put the RAM in.
     
   
   
   • For most people it is best to make a computer repair shop responsable for all this. Bring in your computer.
     
   
   

Tips

• Always preform a spy-ware scan and virus scan weekly if you do minimal file/program downloads. If you do many downloads weekly then I suggest that you perform it daily.
  


• Make it an effort to defrag your computer weekly.
  


• Never install software that you don't intend to use regularly.
  


• Be careful about what you install; most free downloads from certain sites can/will come with some form of spy-ware/mal-ware/gray-ware or worse possibly a virus.
  


• To insure safe broadband internet browsing install a firewall program, Micrsoft has one built in with XP, or buy an external firewall router.
  


• Avoid creating unnecessary shortcuts
  


• You probably don't need to use a registry cleaner.[1]The most common registry errors don't have a significant effect on performance.
  

Warnings

• When using the spy-ware removal program; be sure to go over the directions thoroughly. Since this program makes changes to the registry you can actually make the computer preform worse than before. If you are not an avid computer user, just clean the detected items that appear in red, or just find a friend that knows more about computers.
  


• When uninstalling programs be sure you don't need them; some programs are needed for the operation of the computer.
  

Things You'll Need

• Antivirus software. If you don't have an antivirus, you can get one here
  

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