10 ways to speed up your computer - Windows XP / Windows Vista

1.   Uninstall unnecessary / unused programs

2.   Clear Temp and Prefetch files

3.   Disable unwanted startup items from being starting when the computer boots

4.   Disable unwanted services from being starting when the computer boots

5.   Disconnect the external devices when it is not used

6.   Shutdown the computer properly – Avoid the power button to turn off (Hard Shut down)

7.   Scan daily for Virus and Spyware

8.   Remove unused / unnecessary shortcut to the programs from the Desktop

9.   Avoid saving files on the desktop.  Instead save it to additional partition or My Documents

10.                 Disk Defragment

1.   Uninstall unnecessary / unused programs

To remove unnecessary or unused programs from the computer

For Windows XP          

1.   Click Start -> Control Panel -> Add or Remove programs

2.   Double click on the program you wish to remove one by one

For Windows Vista

1.   Click Start -> Control Panel -> Programs and Features

2.   Double click on the program you wish to remove one by one

2.   Clear Temp and Prefetch Files

1.   Click Start -> Run -> type TEMP -> Ok

2.   Delete all the files and close the window

3.   Click Start -> Run -> type %TEMP% -> Ok

4.   Delete all the files and close the window

5.   Click Start -> Run -> type PREFETCH -> Ok

6.   Delete all the files and close the window

3.   Disable unwanted startup items from being starting when the computer boots

1.   Click Start -> Run -> type MSCONFIG -> Ok

2.   Click Startup Tab

3.   Uncheck the program that you don’t want to start when the computer boots.  If you are not sure, you can disable everything except Antivirus software

4.   Click Ok and Restart the computer

4.   Disable unwanted services from being starting when the computer boots

1.   Click Start -> Run -> type MSCONFIG -> Ok

2.   Click Services Tab

3.   Uncheck Hide all Microsoft Services (It can be found besides Ok and Cancel button)

4.   Uncheck the services that you don’t want to start when the computer boots.  If you are not sure, you can disable everything except Antivirus software

5.   Click Ok and Restart the computer

5.   Disconnect the external devices when it is not used

Disconnect the devices Printer, USB Headset, Scanner etc., from the computer. Because when the computer completes the boot process it will also check for drivers and connection status for the external devices which will increase the boot time.

6.   Shutdown the computer properly – Avoid the power button to turn off (Hard Shut down)

Sometimes we tend to Shutdown the computer by pushing the power button directly.  We have to avoid this which might affect the services closing down properly which might results in slow boot

7.   Scan daily for Virus and Spyware

Scan the computer daily for Spyware or adware check which will avoid the slow boot.  You can download the free software from www.lavasoft.com

8.   Remove unused / unnecessary shortcut to the programs from the Desktop

More we install programs, more shortcuts you would find on the desktop.  It is not harm to remove them as you can always open the program from the start menu.  Because during the boot process it also takes time to load all the desktop icons.

9.   Avoid saving files on the desktop.  Instead save it to additional partition or My Documents

Instead of saving all the files to the desktop you can save the files under My Documents or different partitions to avoid latency when booting the computer

10.       Disk Defragment at least in a month

Hard disk store data in sectors and it is scattered.  When we do Disk defragment, data stored will be categorized and moved in order which will increase the performance.

Also Click here to check Microsoft Article to Speed up your PC