Need For Speed: How To Speed Up Your Computer
Posted on March 19, 2009 by admin
Do you have the need…the need for speed? Perhaps your grumpy old PC doesn’t process and multitask the way it used to. Well, if so there some easy steps you can take to not only increase your PC’s performance, but potentially extend its lifetime.
There are many other articles online about this topic, many of them which have headlines like “Faster Computer in 10 Easy Steps” but they do not usually discuss all of the factors involved and 10 easy steps may or may not be enough for some computers.
To begin with, there are several questions to consider:
1. Is your computer 3-5 yrs old, or even older?
2. Have you ever physically cleaned your computer?
3. Do you regularly check for and install necessary updates for your operating system (OS) and software?
4. Do you Defragment your hard-drive when it needs it?
5. Do you have a trusted Antivirus Protection Software program actively installed?
6. Do you know how to monitor your computer’s temperature and CPU usage?
If you answered “no” to all the above, then chances are that you will have more than “10 Easy Steps” to get your computer in the fast lane. Then again, maybe you answered “yes” to all of the above and are still have speed issues. There many reasons why computers slow down over time, but I think it is safe to say that most of them fall into three categories:
Your computer’s age…
How old your computer and software are. Remember that just 10 years ago a fast PC would have had a Pentium III PCU clocking in at a speed of about 600 MHZ with 128 MB of RAM. A computer with those specs, maintained in perfect condition, could not even dream of handling the demands of modern day computing and software. If you are using a computer dinosaur, don’t expect any 10-step method to help you. It’s time to buy a new computer.
Its physical condition…
How well your computer has been physically maintained- including hardware replacements when necessary. Components in your computer usually have what is referred to as an MTBF (mean time between failures). Some can have a MTBF of 100,000 hours or more. With a rating of 100,000hrs, if you do the math, 4hrs of typical home computer use per day times 365 days a year= 1,460hrs a year. That means that with an MTBF of 100,000, you should get roughly 68.5 years of use from that part!
However, with all of the factors involved, not withstanding your computer’s weekest link (part-wise), most computers end up needing to be repaired within a year or two after purchase and are often replaced entirely after 5 yrs due to a myriad of different reasons. Besides, as I previously mentioned, even a computer maintained in perfect physical condition would become obsolete over time due to fast advancements in computer technology. In any case you will want to make sure you physically maintain your computer so that you can get the most out of it while you have it.
Usage…
This is a big one! from the first moment moment a computer is turned on, its clock is ticking! Every part in your computer has an estimated lifetime based on several use and environmental factors. Beyond the scope of just day-to-day regular use, consider all of the other factors such as viruses & malware, software glitches, heat, humidity and the PC killer- DUST.
Everything you do on your computer (good and bad) will affect it’s quality of life- much like how what we eat and how much we exercise affect our bodies. If most computer users treated their own bodies like they treat their computers…well you see what I am getting at, right?
Where to start…
So, now that you’ve considered all the above factors it is time to speed up that computer of yours.
NOTE: Remember, if you are operating a dinosaur, these steps might not do much for you and a newer, more modern computer will be your best bet for speed.
Antivirus software
1. First thing you’ll want to do, assuming you have an internet connection, is to make sure that you have a solid antivirus program installed. You can pay for one but there are plenty of free programs out there. I highly recommend and personally use Avast. It has everything you need in a good antivirus program, it is easy on your CPU, and best of all it is free! You can purchase a professional version if you wish, but if you are using it for personal use, download the free version.
However, f you are willing to spend a little bit of money to protect your investment, consider purchasing “PC Tools’ Antivirus” for $29.95 and if you have a little more to spend, you can get their “Registry Mechanic” for only $19.95 more when you buy both (regularly$29.95). It will keep your registry in tip-top shape, preventing things like fragmented .dll files from staying behind in your registry after you’ve delete program files.
PC Tools offers a whole array of products- click here to check them out: http://www.PCTools.com They also offer free trials if you want to try before you buy.
At the very least, whether you use a free program or pay a little bit for a professional one, an antiviral program is absolutely necessary to good computer health.
Once you have installed an antivirus program, be sure to do a full scan of your system and use the program to either delete or quarantine viruses & malware it may find.
OS and software program updates
2. After installing and running the antivirus software, it is time to make sure your operating system and software are up-to-date. Most operating systems can be updated by simply running the update program.
NOTE: If you are running Windows 95 or 98, Microsoft no longer supports updates for these OS’s. I would suggest upgrading to XP or getting a new computer all-together.
In Windows, you can set your computer to automatically download and install updates or to just download them and notify you if when they need to be installed. Otherwise, you may need to run Windows’ “Automatic Updates” yourself if your settings are set to manual.
“Automatic Updates” can be accessed by clicking Start, then Control Panel, then clicking System and finally Automatic Updates.
For macs, just click on “software update” under the apple tab to download and install updates.
Besides updating your OS, you are also going to want to update all of your software and plug-ins. Normally most programs will notify you when current updates are available.
Free up disc space
3. By freeing disk space, you can improve the performance of your computer. This includes removing software programs you do not use, temporary internet files, dowloaded program files, and OS components you do not need.
To use the Disc Clean-up tool in Windows XP and Vista Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Cleanup. If several drives are available, you might be prompted to specify which drive you want to clean.
For other operating systems, consult your manual or search for online support.
Detect and repair disc errors
4. Use your disc error checking utility program to check the integrity of the files stored on your hard disk. As you use your hard drive, it can develop bad sectors. Bad sectors slow down hard disk performance and sometimes make data writing (such as file saving) difficult, or even impossible. The Error Checking utility scans the hard drive for bad sectors, and scans for file system errors to see whether certain files or folders are misplaced.
To run the Error Checking utility in Windows XP and Vista:
Close all open files. Click Start, and then click My Computer. In the My Computer window, right-click the hard disk you want to search for bad sectors, and then click Properties. In the Properties dialog box, click the Tools tab. Click the Check Now button. In the Check Disk dialog box, select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box, and then click Start.
Defragment your hard drive
5. Next, you’ll want to anylize and defragment your hard drive (if necessary). When running programs that contains hundreds of files, fragmenting can degrade the performance of your computer. As the clusters of files on your hard drive become fragmented, they grow further apart and it takes longer for your computer to find and assemble all the pieces necessary to run the programs. When you defragment your hard drive/s, your computer rearranges the files so they are back in order, which cuts down on access latency (the time it takes to access your files).
To defragment your hard drive in Windows XP and Vista, open My Computer and right-click on the C: drive. Select Properties, then click on the Tools tab and select Defragment Now.
For how to defrag in other operating systems, consult your manul or search online for more complete explainations.
Stop unwanted Start-Up programs
6. In Windows XP, click Start, then click Run and type in msconfig. Choose the startup box. Select (uncheck) programs you don’t want to run on startup.
To disable services you do not use or nee go to control panel via the Start menu, click Administrative Tools, and select Services.
NOTE: Disabling the wrong Services may lead to serious problems that you may not notice right away. If you do not know what it is, do not disable the service.
Make Windows load faster
7. In XP, click Start, then click Run. Type in ‘msconfig’ and press enter. Click on the BOOT.INI tab at the top. Over to the right there will be a box labeled Timeout with 30 in it. Change the 30 to a 3.
Disable Fancy Graphics in Windows
8. Turning off the fancy Windows graphics will noticeably increase the speed of your computer.
For XP, go to Start, then Control Panel, then System.
NOTE: You may need to ‘Switch to Classic Mode’ to see the System applet.
Go to the Advanced tab. Click the Settings button under Performance. Select the ‘Adjust for best performance’ radio button, then Apply, and OK. The graphics aren’t as flashy, but your computer will run noticeably faster.
Take your computer’s temperature
9. Overheating can cause many complications in a computer and can potentially fry your CPU or motherboard. You can use diagnostic programs such as SpeedFan or Core temp which are designed to monitor your computer’s temperature. If your computer is operating at dangerously high levels it is usually indicative of either two things: a bad or broken fan/s or a dirty heatsink. Refer to my article “PC Heat Stroke: What To Do When Your Computer Overheats” for more information.
Clean your computer
10. Dust is a computer killer. If your computer is overheating, chances are that you’ve let too much dust collect inside, which is clogging your heatsink, slowing down your fans (if not stopping them), and coating your motherboard. This can easily be avoided by routinely dusting the inside of your computer.
Remember, as a golden rule, never to attempt to clean the inside of your computer while it is on. When you clean the inside of your computer, always touch a metal part of the case to ground yourself before attempting to handle any part of the mother board as the static electricity built up in your hand can easily destroy the delicate circuity
For regular dusting, try carefully removing the dust inside with a small paintbrush and vacuum cleaner. Avoid being overly aggressive. Some components can easily break off, if the suction is too stark. Special brushes and attachments are a good investment for vacuuming inside the PC casing. Another option is to use compressed air from cans.
If your heatsink or fan/s need to me removed to be cleaned, please refer to my articles “How to Remove and Clean a Heat Sink“.
Conclusion
These steps should be enough to get your computer going faster. For continued maintainance, remember to keep your computer clean, update software when needed and defragment monthly. Remember that your computer’s health is a reflection of how well you take care of it.