Microsoft's guide to Speed up your PC

Has your PC become sluggish over time? Here are some common causes of PC slowdown and easy tips to give your PC a spring makeover.

Turn off visual effects

“Pretty is as pretty does,” my grandmother used to say. Maybe she wasn't referring to computers, but the principle still applies. Windows includes some stunning effects, but they're not necessary if you value speed over eye candy. Go ahead and disable them:

1. Click the Start button , and type Performance Information and Tools in the search window. Select it from the list of results.
2. Click Adjust visual effects

3. On the Visual Effects tab, choose Adjust for best performance (more drastic) or Let Windows choose what's best for my computer (less drastic), and then click OK.

Limit how many programs run at startup

There are a lot of programs that load automatically when you boot up your PC—which can really hamper performance. To manage these programs like a pro, learn how to get a comprehensive view of what's running:

1. Click the Start button , and type System Configuration in the search window. Select it from the list of results.

2. Select the Startup tab. The files set to run at startup are indicated with a check mark. You can uncheck nonessential programs—but make sure you only disable programs you're familiar with. When in doubt, leave it checked.

Delete, delete, delete

A clean machine is a fast machine. That means your best option is to uninstall all the programs you don't use. Delete things like trial software, limited edition versions, and anything else you're never going to use. Anti-virus software? Just testing. You always want your security program—but make sure you're only running a single, up-to-date program. To uninstall software:

1. Click the Start button and select Control Panel.
2. Underneath Programs, click Uninstall a program. (If you don't see this page, change the View by option in the top right-hand corner to Category.)

3. Select the program you want to delete and click Uninstall.

Run fewer programs at the same time

If your PC bogs down while you're working, check to see how many programs you have running. All programs take up system memory, which can have a huge impact on performance. In some cases, having multiple instances of a program (such as several open e-mail messages) or multiple versions of a program type (more than one anti-virus program) can use up memory. Respond to and close your messages right away and keep open only the programs that are necessary for the work you're currently doing—and you'll see a boost in speed.

Make ReadyBoost your friend

It's all very well to advise you to close programs you're not using—but just because you're not using it now doesn't mean you won't be using it in 10 minutes. The answer is ReadyBoost, a super helpful feature that can use the extra space on a flash card or USB storage device to speed up your PC. Plug in a compatible storage device and click Speed up my system when you see the AutoPlay dialog box.

Troubleshoot

If your PC was whizzing along merrily and then suddenly started lagging, run a virus scan. Viruses and malware can really bog you down. Clean bill of health? Try a troubleshooter:

1. Click the Start button , and select Control Panel
2. In the search box, type troubleshooter. Click Troubleshooting.
3. Under Systems and Security, click Check for performance issues.

4. Run the Performance troubleshooter by clicking Next in the lower right hand corner.

Restart often and clean your hard disk

The more you use your PC, the more applications you use and the more services you're running. Closing an application doesn't always close the service. That's why rebooting fixes so many problems; it clears out the memory. Restart at least once a week. Your best bet? Turn off your PC every night. Not only will you clear out your memory, but you'll save energy to boot.

You should also make a habit of cleaning your hard disk to remove temporary files, emptying the Recycle Bin, and getting rid of system files you don't need any more:

1. Click the Start button , and type Disk Cleanup in the search window. Select it from the list of results.
2. After the utility runs, you'll see how much disk space you can free up.
3. Click OK, and then click Delete Files.

Check your hardware

Is your PC still slow? Take a look at the Windows Experience Index, a method of rating your PC on five key components. Depending on your particular hardware, you might need a new PC or some hardware upgrades. To see your Windows Experience Index:

1. Click the Start button , and type Performance Information and Tools in the search window. Select it from the list of results.
2. Click Re-run the assessment at the bottom right-hand corner of the window.
3. Check out your base score. If your score is lower than 3, it might be time to consider a new PC.

Keep your PC up to date

One of the best things you can do to protect your PC is also one of the easiest: Make sure you are set up to get automatic updates from Microsoft. If you use Windows and other Microsoft software, such as Microsoft Office or Windows Live Essentials, then you should use the Microsoft Update service. You'll also get notices about new Microsoft software that you can download for free.

So how do you turn on automatic updates? Simple: Go to the Microsoft Update Web site. If you don't have automatic updates turned on, we'll help you through the process.

About this author:

Zia Munshi is a freelance writer and copywriter who has written for a wide variety of publications and companies, including Microsoft and MSN. She especially loves writing about technology because it gives her an excuse to purchase all the latest gadgetry and software. She lives in Seattle with her husband and her dog.

Full Microsoft article is HERE