The purpose of this procedure is to get your computer running again in peak performance just like the day you purchased it. Many of the steps listed below will free up wasted hard disk space, increase protection of personal information from outside intrusions, and clean and reorganize the system registry where everything you do on the computer is recorded.
If the registry remains cluttered with obsolete or invalid entries, your PC will gradually become more and more bogged down and start running slower and slower. This procedure is designed for use on the average stand-alone or small network desktop computers that are not server based.
Prior to starting the tune-up procedure, gather the following information. At the end, gather the same information and compare the results.
The following steps can be performed by using either Windows XP procedures or some other custom maintenance utility. There are several highly recommended products that can be purchased to help speed up your computer and bring it back to running in peak performance.
For a list of software retailers and tune-up procedure forms, visit the Computer Software page at Home-Computer-Maintenance.com
Windows XP keeps track of many things you do on the computer, like the web sites you visit, the pictures you view using image viewers and movies you watch using Media player. Likewise, many of the applications that you use keep a list of the most recent activities that you have done with it. These first two steps guide you to freeing up wasted disk space and getting rid of past activity records.
1) Clear Windows History Files
- Empty Prefetch folder
- Delete empty folders in Windows Temp folder
- Delete Outlook Express Deleted Emails
- Erase folder streams in Windows registry
- Empty Print Spool folder
- Delete recently opened document history records
- Erase run history
- Clear past Icon History of system tray
2) Clear Internet History Records
- Delete Cookies
- Delete locked URL Cache files
- Delete all Auto-Complete Data
- Clear Browser History
- Delete Internet Explorer, Netscape, Firefox, Opera Cache files
Junk files are created by most all applications you use. These files are usually temporary and should be deleted when the program ends, but are not. They can also be created unexpected termination of the program, error in program, a system crash etc. These files reside on your hard disk and accumulate over time unless you manually find and remove them. Step 3, guides you to eliminating junk files and freeing up hard disk space.
3) Remove unneeded junk filed from system
- Delete zero length files
- Delete old Backup files (*.bak, *.old)
- Delete dump file (*.dmp)
- Delete temporary files (*.tmp, *.temp)
- Delete empty folders
- Delete duplicate files
- Delete files bigger than 5MB
- Delete temporary help files (*.gid)
- Delete unwanted image files (*.jpg, *.jpeg, *.gif, *.bmp)
- Delete scandisk broken link files (*.chk)
- Delete archive or download files (*.zip, *.tar, *.cab)
- Delete invalid or broken shortcut links (*.lnk)
The actions of the next 3 steps will have an overall increase in your computers performance by freeing up wasted space.
4) Adjust Windows OS Settings
- Adjust System Restore Point (1-5%) depending on disk size)
- Adjust Recycle Bin size (10% or recommended)
- Disable Active Desktop
- Turn off Error Reporting
5) Optimize Windows performance
- Remove unwanted applications
- Disable unnecessary Startup programs
- Fix/remove invalid registry entries
- Defragment hard drive
6) Perform file system analysis
- Check partition table, file structures, directory structures, indexes, etc
Disabling system services that are not needed will decrease the time it takes to boot your PC, increase security from unwanted network intrusions, and increase overall performance of your computer. Step 7 lists typical services that are probably not needed for the normal home computer environment.
7) Disable unnecessary services
- Alerter
- Application Management
- Clipbook
- Distributed Link Tracking Client
- Disributed Transaction Coordinator
- Error Reporting
- Fast User Switching Compatibility
- Human Interface Device Access
- Indexing Service
- IPSec
- Logical Disk Manager
- Logical Disk Manager Administrative
- Machine Debug Manager
- Messenger
- Netmeeting Remote Desktop Sharing
- Network DDE
- Network DDE DSDM
- Performance Logs and Alerts
- Portable Media Serial Number
- Qos RSVP
- Remote Desktop Help Session Manager
- Remote Registry
- Routing and Remote Access
- Secondary Login
- SSDP Discovery
- Task Scheduler
- Telnet
- Uninterruptible Power Supply
- Universal Plug and Play Device Host
- Web Client
- Windows Time
- WMI performance Adapter
Author: Don Cundiff
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Beading Necklace
- PLEASE DON'T BREED OUR HORSES!
- Ban online publishing of electoral rolls or voter lists
- Specials Events Assistant
Related Posts -
Managed Hosting Service Options Managed hosting offers many options for the client company. The common thread running through them is taking the burden off the client company by making sure its computer system is always up and running, as well as eliminating the need for an IT team, which can be expensive.The benefits...... - Can Your PC Run Like A Dream Again? I'm sure you've all noticed that when you buy a new PC it works like a dream and that over time, the performance degrades and it gets slower and slower. I have a cynical viewpoint that I have to reinstall my PC every 6 to 8 months to make......
- VOIP Phone System - Do You Want These Advantages For Your Business? New technologies such as IP Telephony dont just replace previous ones but allow much greater functionality, increased productivity, enhanced customer service and lower costs than prior technologies. Here are just a few ideas for you to ponder.Your IP Telephone System provides the following advantages:Seamless extension dialing between all your......
- What's Your IQ on Basic PC Phone (VoIP) Knowledge Short T/F quiz 1. T / F You can save a significant amount of money using VoIP rather than traditional telephone/cell phone calling methods. 2. T / F The minimum requirement for VoIP is a broadband (high speed) connection. 3. T / F VoIP security is not an issue to......
-
United Seal & Rubber selects Premise-Based IP Communications System from Zultys ATLANTA, GA., October 6, 2008 – Zultys, Inc., a Silicon Valley company known for its open standards IP communications and telephony products, today recognized an innovative solution devised by Alliant DataTel, Inc. for a minority supplier of custom and standard rubber products. United Seal & Rubber Co., Inc. (http://www.unitedseal.com/ )......
Related Websites -
Windows 7 beta is available! Finally, the beta version of the most awaited Windows system, Windows 7, is available. Just few hours more and we'll be able to download it at the Official Microsoft Page for Windows 7. Windows 7 is faster than Windows Vista, it will be fast as the old Windows XP but...... -
Buying World's Fair Memorabilia There are an endless variety of different types of collections and memorabilia out there, and one of the options that are available to you is to collect World's Fair memorabilia. For several decades now, both children and adults have brought home a multitude of different souvenirs and mementos following their...... -
How to Replace a Window Replacing your windows can bring numerous benefits to your home. Not only will they look nicer and add value to your property, but you can also gain significant energy savings. Most new windows are now heat and cold efficient and will greatly reduce the amount of drafts coming in as...... - Remove any unwanted files & applications - Revo Uninstaller 1.30 Revo Uninstaller helps you to remove any unwanted application installed on your computer.With its advanced and fast algorithm to scan before and after uninstall of an application you can remove unnecessary files, folders and registry keys left over in your computer. Even if you have a broken installation Revo Uninstaller......
- Chrome Compared With Explorer Google in the browser space with its Mars 'Chrome'! I was pleasantly surprised that almost immediately after starting a download link for Google Chrome appears on the search site Google, which is my home page my default Internet Explorer 8 (IE8) browser . Without hesitating how to link to my......
Related posts:
- Windows XP – Hidden Application, Explore How Much More You Can Do With Your Computer!
- Using SANRAD V-Switch as the VSS Hardware Provider for Windows Backups
- The Unmatched Windows XP Broadband – Cable Tweaks Guide
- Diagnosing And Troubleshooting Computer Hardware
- Speed Up the Internet – How to Speed Up a File Download
