How to Get Your Computer Running at Full Speed in 6 Steps

Most people always wonder why their computer seems to be running slow. They forget, that like a car, a computer also needs maintenance. There are certain steps you can take, to ensure a faster running and more efficient computer operation. This article assumes you are running Microsoft Windows.

Steps

1. 
   1
   Update your Operating System regularly to ensure that the operating system (OS) is updated with the latest security patches. Be careful with automatic updates, however. Allowing automatic updates seems like a good idea but in reality it can severely slow down your computer. If an update goes out that has any sort of bug in it and you lose valuable data the OS company will not compensate your losses. In addition to this the auto update program that searches for updates will slow down your computer when searching for an update. To change whether you have auto update enabled or not, click on the Start Menu->All Programs and select the Windows Update icon.
2. 
   2
   Usually installing any antivirus will slow down any system, so be wise and choose an antivirus which is effective but light on the system as well.Everyone has a different favorite antivirus program. For example, some say Norton Antivirus 2011 is one of the best on the market, and allows you to run fully protected while taking up almost no system resources. Others say Norton has at least 3 to 4 separate processes running and slows the system down. Before making a big investment, talk to a few people and do some online research. Try out some of the programs individually first, if possible. Whatever you choose, make sure you have backups of your important files though.
3. 
   3
   Know what is running on your computer as this will increase your ability to identify potential harmful processes. Call up the Windows Task Manager (press CTRL+ALT+DEL) and familiarize yourself with the processes running at any point in time. Use the "msconfig" tool to check which programs are starting at the boot time. Some common tools (Acrobat Reader, HP printer driver, Java scheduler) have a nasty habit to "call home" and check for updates. You can uncheck those programs in the right-most tab of the "msconfig" tool.
4. 
   4
   Cleanup your tool bar and start menu by removing unnecessary software from running all the time. Every thing on your taskbar (specifically the icons near the clock) runs constantly, slowing down the computer. Also any program that is set to start when you turn on your computer will cause the boot process to take much longer than necessary.
5. 
   5
   Install firewall software or use the Windows firewall. To activate your Windows Firewall click on your control panel and select Windows Firewall. Switch the firewall on by ticking the "On" radio button.
6. 
   6
   Do a complete maintenance on your computer, at least once a month. This includes a Disk Defragmentation. If you have Windows, click on Start>Accessories>System Tools>Disk Cleanup>Disk Defrag. If you have linux you do not need to defragment as the filesystems in linux are more intelligent for file placement.
   
   

Tips

• Another alternative, which is often overlooked by the majority of computer users, is cloning of the hard drive. Cloning is the act of making an exact copy of the hard drive, which can then be transferred onto a new drive when trouble rears its ugly head, without the need to reinstall either the operating system, programs, usage preferences for those programs or data files.
• Free anti-spyware and anti-virus programs can be found on the internet, and can be very effective. They usually let you download the non-professional edition free. Some people say you get what you pay for, but many have also used these programs for years and swear by them. Try them out and see what you think.
• The advantages of cloning are many. More information may be found within the Wikipedia article on disk cloning.
• Most of the virus protectors come with maintenance programs that has a setting for you to have maintenance scheduled automatically.
• There are a wealth of various registry editing and repair programs available, which provide differing features for all levels of expertise. Users should have a thorough understanding of and familiarity with the registry's contents before undertaking any modifications to its files, as an inadvertent error could result in an unreadable hard drive. One should always make a back up of the registry before any changes are attempted.
• The registry can very quickly become cluttered with unnecessary entries, as changes are made to the system, thereby opening the hard drive to eventual file corruption if not properly maintained.
• For example, at the time one initially sets up a new hard drive and installation of the programs and preference settings are completed, one may wish to clone the hard drive to CD or DVD installation disks for that rainy day, which will surely come.
• Once the need for a hard drive reformat or replacement is required, one would only have to drag out the clone installation disks to return the hard drive as it was originally configured without the chore of searching out the operating system and program installation software. Following the installation, the hard drive "magically" reappears exactly as it was originally installed or at the time it was last updated.
• If you delete files often, then routinely use and run the maintenance programs found within the Start menu, under Accessories and System Tools. The most important of these are the Disk Defragmenter and Disk Cleanup programs found therein. Defragmentation returns the structure of the contents of the hard drive to a contiguous block, thereby increasing the speed and efficiency of the hard drive's read heads to access the stored material. Disk Cleanup removes no longer needed, orphaned or remnants from deleted material from the hard drive. Although these on-board programs are sufficient as a starting point for most computer users, they are not the optimal choices that one could use to maintain the integrity of the system. A large number of better featured defragmentation and disk cleaning programs are available. More information is available within the "Defragmentation" article on the Wikipedia site.
• The computer's registry also plays a significant part in the efficiency of its operation.

Warnings

• By not maintaining and cleaning your computer, you will get error messages, slow running, and will not be as efficient. Get into the habit of running System Cleanup often. If you think your hard drive is failing DO NOT DEFRAG. This can quickly deteriorate the remaining data on the hard drive before any attempt can be made to save it.
• You maintain your car to run smoothly, well do the same thing with your computer.

Things You'll Need

• Anti Virus Software (purchased, or free online)
• Firewall (find one online, or just use the standard windows firewall, which can be sufficient)
• Recovery system, to backup entire operating system directory (a program like erunt is free and very effective)