What are some quick ways to speed up your computer aside from the obvious of adding more memory? My home computer has been running slower. I run updates and virus scans on the regular. I wanted to speed up my computer because I'm too cheap to by a new one. what are some easy tips. thanks!!

Delete unnecessary data from your browser, least stuff that is kept in the cache. You have to allow your computer to access your C drive and go on your Local Settings in your Documents and Settings folder. It should be easily to locate. Make sure to delete your cache folders. And maybe go on Disk Cleanup and see if it tells you anywhere where you can delete stuff that holds up memory but won't be necessary to use for your computer. That's what I've done over the years (since I have my desktop, that is) because I never could figure it out on my laptop at the time I had it.

Timmy84 said:

Delete unnecessary data from your browser, least stuff that is kept in the cache. You have to allow your computer to access your C drive and go on your Local Settings in your Documents and Settings folder. It should be easily to locate. Make sure to delete your cache folders. And maybe go on Disk Cleanup and see if it tells you anywhere where you can delete stuff that holds up memory but won't be necessary to use for your computer. That's what I've done over the years (since I have my desktop, that is) because I never could figure it out on my laptop at the time I had it.

thanks!

jaimestarr79 said:

Timmy84 said:

Delete unnecessary data from your browser, least stuff that is kept in the cache. You have to allow your computer to access your C drive and go on your Local Settings in your Documents and Settings folder. It should be easily to locate. Make sure to delete your cache folders. And maybe go on Disk Cleanup and see if it tells you anywhere where you can delete stuff that holds up memory but won't be necessary to use for your computer. That's what I've done over the years (since I have my desktop, that is) because I never could figure it out on my laptop at the time I had it.

thanks!

No prob. I forgot to add, make sure you get CCleaner and Defraggler, they're free programs and will further help in speeding your computer. You could also turn off System Restore if you want, that sometimes takes up space too.

[Edited 1/30/13 13:12pm]

Ccleaner

This software will do all the thing Timmy suggested. Ccleaner, I'd advise to go into Options, click on cookies to save the password of the sites you use often, because Ccleaner will wipe out them out.

I strongly suggest you keep all settings check boxes and unchecked boxes as they are in this software. Those applications are for computer techs who know when and why they should use. I've used this software for about decade with no problems

Defrag your HDD - Depending how much you use your computer this can be done every month or every other month. I'm not crazy about Windows so I use Defraggler

If you upgrade your RAM there's a good chance you'll need to update your computers BIOS. Make sure you have the current BIOs for your computer. Go to your computer brand website to see if they posted an update or find the memory-board manufacture search their website for an update. Be careful, make sure you get the BIOs for your make and model of computer.

I use Microsoft Essential Anti-Virus Software and Microsoft Malicious Software Tool

I use the latter tool about once a month and they are free.

I really appreciate the help from you guys. I can always count on the Org for help.

Your welcome. I'd add this

Of course you could always reinstall your OS. Depending how old your HDD you may want to purchase another. I think on average they last 5 years at best. This year I changed the HDD in

my HP Vista... I use to wait until I saw the blue screen of death. Now I change my HDD the 4th or 5th year. At this point HDD are relatively inexpensive.

Also, defragmenting and scan disking your hard drive for errors, will help speed it up as well. You can find these tools under, "System tools".

I've been told to wipe the disc clean and re-install Windows from scratch

shorttrini said:

Also, defragmenting and scan disking your hard drive for errors, will help speed it up as well. You can find these tools under, "System tools".

That's mainly why I use Defraggler especially after my computer suddenly crashes (usually from Flash lags). But I found the crashes have done little to no damage to my software and if the software is fragmented, you can easily defrag it. That comes to mind, I need to defrag it now just for old time's sake.

Timmy84 said:

shorttrini said:

Also, defragmenting and scan disking your hard drive for errors, will help speed it up as well. You can find these tools under, "System tools".

That's mainly why I use Defraggler especially after my computer suddenly crashes (usually from Flash lags). But I found the crashes have done little to no damage to my software and if the software is fragmented, you can easily defrag it. That comes to mind, I need to defrag it now just for old time's sake.

One of the reasons why I like my mac, I no longer have to do that shit.....

shorttrini said:

Timmy84 said:

That's mainly why I use Defraggler especially after my computer suddenly crashes (usually from Flash lags). But I found the crashes have done little to no damage to my software and if the software is fragmented, you can easily defrag it. That comes to mind, I need to defrag it now just for old time's sake.

One of the reasons why I like my mac, I no longer have to do that shit.....

lol even though I prefer PC over Mac, I can understand. But I find it fun actually.

download 'treesize'.

It shows all the data on your computer, it really helped me.

A lot of data is hidden and this programm shows everything including the hidden trash.

jaimestarr79 said:

What are some quick ways to speed up your computer aside from the obvious of adding more memory? My home computer has been running slower. I run updates and virus scans on the regular. I wanted to speed up my computer because I'm too cheap to by a new one. what are some easy tips. thanks!!

Remove Norton.

Install Kapersky.

1. By OOG defrag, and schedule it to degrag every week.

2. Make sure you're drive is NTFS and not FAT32

3. By one of those 'tuneup' apps (I don't use Windows anymore so I can't recommend which one), and use it form time to time--they will remove uneeded files, browser data, and all manner of things within minutes).

Timmy84 said:

shorttrini said:

One of the reasons why I like my mac, I no longer have to do that shit.....

lol even though I prefer PC over Mac, I can understand. But I find it fun actually.

It's fun the first few times after that, it goes downhill.

shorttrini said:

Timmy84 said:

lol even though I prefer PC over Mac, I can understand. But I find it fun actually.

It's fun the first few times after that, it goes downhill.

Especially if you inadvertently fuck up the system.

shorttrini said:

Timmy84 said:

That's mainly why I use Defraggler especially after my computer suddenly crashes (usually from Flash lags). But I found the crashes have done little to no damage to my software and if the software is fragmented, you can easily defrag it. That comes to mind, I need to defrag it now just for old time's sake.

One of the reasons why I like my mac, I no longer have to do that shit.....

I have to agree. My first mac is one of the best technology purchases I ever made. It's been 6 years, and I'm on my 2nd mac, and have had zero problems with viruses and the like.

However, I really don't want macs to be super popular.

Part of the reason they're more secure is they still don't get attacked as much or targetted as much.

i just multi-task. it's a lot less of a bother .

An easy way to speed up your computer is to STOP USING WINDOZE! And start using Linux!

You can get a live CD, which means it'll run completely off of the CD, you don't have to set up anything. Try Bodhi Linux (google it) for one that's particualrly cool.

imago said:

shorttrini said:

One of the reasons why I like my mac, I no longer have to do that shit.....

I have to agree. My first mac is one of the best technology purchases I ever made. It's been 6 years, and I'm on my 2nd mac, and have had zero problems with viruses and the like.

However, I really don't want macs to be super popular.

Part of the reason they're more secure is they still don't get attacked as much or targetted as much.

Yeah I think sooner or later, people are gonna get tired of hacking PCs and hack Macs. Right now, Macs are much safer than PCs are though.

jaimestarr79 said:

What are some quick ways to speed up your computer aside from the obvious of adding more memory? My home computer has been running slower. I run updates and virus scans on the regular. I wanted to speed up my computer because I'm too cheap to by a new one. what are some easy tips. thanks!!

Cut down on the graphics & the special effects within your desktop environment. THIS was easy to do within Windows XP, even to point of make it stripped down like Windows 98! I think you can make Vista & 7 to look XP-ish, if you try hard enough.

Since I started using LInux as my OS years ago, I learn for myself that desktop environments like xfce, LXDE, & Enlightenment are light on the CPU and helps speed my currently 10-year-old Gateway desktop pretty well. MATE is good as a clone/fork of GNOME 2. But I stay as far away from KDE, GNOME 3, & Unity as much as possible because these desktop environment are CPU hogs.

domainator2010 said:

An easy way to speed up your computer is to STOP USING WINDOZE! And start using Linux!

You can get a live CD, which means it'll run completely off of the CD, you don't have to set up anything. Try Bodhi Linux (google it) for one that's particualrly cool.

I agree 100%. Getting off the Microsoft Plantation is always a great thing to do.

But there are plenty of people who have no choice but to have Windows Vista, 7, & 8 if the desktops/laptops at their jobs is all they have to work with. Home computers are one thing, but computers at work are a separate issue.

And lets not forget about the Mac-users that need their OS X for their line of work in music, films, photos, and so forth. I even know some people that still need Windows XP because their favorite softwares (especially freewares) will NOT work on any of the post-XP Windows at all!

[Edited 2/1/13 14:27pm]

^ That's basically why I stick with PC until further notice.

Timmy84 said:

^ That's basically why I stick with PC until further notice.

What are you thoughts of Windows 8? Was it a good idea?

TonyVanDam said:

Timmy84 said:

^ That's basically why I stick with PC until further notice.

What are you thoughts of Windows 8? Was it a good idea?

Me personally I don't get why Microsoft is so obsessed with always updating. Shit was cool with XP (which I got to this day) and I was alright with Vista (which I don't have). But adding 7 and 8? Really? No I don't think it was a good idea.

Timmy84 said:

TonyVanDam said:

What are you thoughts of Windows 8? Was it a good idea?

Me personally I don't get why Microsoft is so obsessed with always updating. Shit was cool with XP (which I got to this day) and I was alright with Vista (which I don't have). But adding 7 and 8? Really? No I don't think it was a good idea.

Windows XP was a huge step up from the disaster that was Windows ME but didn't become really effective until the additions of Service Packs 2 and 3. But Vista was a huge resource hog that bogged down a lot, and Win7 was what Vista shopuld have been. Win8, though, while it loads onto my computer really fast, proibably should not have been a one-size-fits-all OS across all hardware platforms. I know Microsoft needed to do something to compete with Apple and Google to get their software across not just computers but tablets and smartphones, but they should have separated the tablet/smartphone/Xbox OS from the desktop/laptop.

But back to the topic of this thread. I would check to see how many programs you have running on your computer at once and delete any programs you're not using. I would also recommend you check the Control Panel and find out how many prorgrams you have on your computer that automatically begin on startup and disable (not delete) all those that aren't essential for your use. Some of those programs are essential (like your anti-virus program) but others like iTunes and the Yahoo Toolbar don't need to be immediately booted up when you turn on your computer and just drag your speed down.