Reclaim Lost Computer Speed in 6 Easy Steps - Part 2

In part one of this two part series, we learned how to keep our PC running cool, tidy up our boot programs, and remove unneeded software to speed up our PC. Now, in the second installment, we’ll address the remaining steps to computing harmony.

4. Take Out the Trash.

Hard drives, like attics, accumulate junk. You’ve got temporary folders, backup files, the Recycling Bin, and there’s no telling what else. Get rid of these files every once in a while to give your PC a break.

The Windows Disk Cleanup tool does a great job of clearing out your PC’s attic. Just select Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Cleanup, and follow the prompts.

5. Detect and Protect Against Spyware

Maybe I’m paranoid. I didn’t skimp on the home alarm system. We opted for every conceivable option and redundant backup to detect intrusion and alert the authorities. I take a similar approach to computer security.

Spyware is like a thief in the night, invading your computer without your knowledge and wreaking havoc on system resources, and your privacy! We’ll cover this in future articles.

To combat spyware, you might want to consider using Microsoft Windows Defender, which is included in Windows Vista, and is available as a free download for Microsoft XP SP2. Additionally, there are other free anti-spyware software programs available, and I use a combination of these tools to ensure none of the little nastys can get to my PC.

I also use the free version of Ad-Aware and with over a quarter of a billion downloads, they must be doing something right!

If that weren’t enough, I can’t seem to let go of Spybot Search & Destroy, a perennial favorite.

Links to these tools are available at http://www.the-tech-reporter.com/recommends/

One caveat of using the Free versions; you will have to manually download the updates. The paid versions do this automatically.

6. Hard disk housekeeping

Keeping your hard drive clean and defragged is a great way to minimize errors and lockups. Defragmenting the hard drive essentially gathers up the scattered file bits and pieces and puts them in order on your disk, speeding up your applications.

To begin the process, go to My Computer (or Computer, depending on your flavor of Windows), then right-click a drive icon, select Properties, and click the Tools tab.

Click the Check Now button to have Windows check the drive for errors and fix them, and after that process go back to the Tools tab and click the Defragment Now button to defrag the hard drive.

Because this process can initially be slow, I recommend that you do it before you leave the office, or go to bed.

That’s it! In less time than it takes to mend the fence, we’ve recovered some speed from our PC. With just a little TLC, our computer can give us years of reliable service. Better still, we can save the gutter cleaning until tomorrow!
That’s it! In less time than it takes to rake the leaves, we’ve recovered some speed from our PC. With just a little TLC, our computer can give us years of reliable service. Better still, we can save the gutter cleaning until tomorrow!

Ken Ivey is a veteran technology addict, consultant, author, web designer, and president of MidTN Technology. His website is www.The-Tech-Reporter.com