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Optimize Your Operating System

(Smart Computing January 2008)

Joshua Gulick

 

Remember the day you bought your computer?

       It was shiny, new, and fast. It booted quickly, opened windows at the speed of light, and handled multiple open programs with ease.

       Its fans were quiet, too, and the DVD drive didnt make a screeching noise whenever it opened. Yes, it was quite a machine back then.

       Sadly, back then probably wasnt very long ago. In my research, I have concluded that the optimal life cycle for desktops is three years; the optimal life cycle for laptops is two to three years, says Bruce Michelson, an HP spokesperson and expert on computer life cycles.

       Now, your PC drags under the weight of the programs and files that clutter its hard drive, and its software brain, the OS (operating system), cant process information as easily as it used to. Windows spends seconds (seconds!) opening the My Computer window, and you can almost hear it groan when you start that rambunctious, memory-hungry whippersnapper, iTunes.

 

Turn Back the Clock

       Your PC isnt young anymore, and neither is the OS, but it isnt ready for the great big recycling bin in the sky just yet.

       With a little work, your OS can shed some of the digital fat that weighs it down. Well show you how to turn back the clock so you can enjoy a faster machine again.

 

Grab a Digital Broom

       Over time, your operating system collects files that it doesn't need anymore.

       Windows XP and Windows Vista both include a Disk Cleanup tool that sweeps out these virtual dust bunnies.

       To start the Disk Cleanup tool in WinXP, click Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and Disk Cleanup.

       In Vista, click Start and then type disk cleanup in the Start Search bar. Click Disk Cleanup. (Open Control Panel> System & Maintenance > Performance Information & Tools> Open Disk Cleanup in left panel)


Once you start the Disk Cleanup tool

       Select the hard drive youd like to clean

       The tool scans your drive and displays a list of the types of files it wants to delete.

       Each listing displays the amount of space that file type is using; in many cases, the item doesnt take up much space, but in others, youll be surprised to see that so much of your hard drive is dedicated to useless junk.

Temporary Internet Files

       Will likely account for much of the space you can clear out.

       Your browser sometimes downloads Web pages so it can bring them back up quickly the next time you try to visit certain Web sites.

       Those files may be useful if you have a very slow dial-up connection, but otherwise theyre just a waste of space.

       Dont worry if you spot some file types that you dont recognizeyou can click any file type on the list to see an explanation of the files purpose. Select the files you want to remove and then click OK to delete them.

 

Clean Up The Startup

       Some programs are configured to launch when Windows starts.

       Thats a handy feature if the program is one that you run all the time, for example, your IM (instant messaging) program.

       But if you dont use the program regularly, its unnecessarily draining your PCs resources (particularly the PCs memory ) by running in the background

       You can speed up the startup process by configuring Windows to ignore some of the unwanted programs.

       You can start them anytime after Windows starts, of course, but they wont be eating up your system resources until youre ready to use them.

How to Clean Up the Startup in Win XP

       Click Start, Run, and then type msconfig in the Open field.

       Press the ENTER key. Once youve opened the System Configuration Utility, click the Startup tab.

       This tab lists the programs that automatically start when Windows starts.

       Browse the list and deselect the checkboxes next to any programs that you want to prevent from running at startup. Click the OK button.

       Youll need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

How to Clean Up the Startup in Vista

       Click Start, Control Panel, and then click Security. Click Windows Defender and then click Tools at the top of the window that appears.

       Next, click Software Explorer.

       The left column in this window lists the applications that can load when Windows starts up. It also indicates whether the program is Permitted, which means it will run when Windows starts up, or Disabled, which means Windows will block the program during startup.

       If you want to know more about a program before you disable it, select it from the list by clicking it.

       The right side of the window displays the programs full name, as well as its location on your computer, the name of the programs publisher, and a brief description of the program.
Blocking a program is as simple as clicking the programs name on the left side of the window and then clicking the Disable button.

       This feature disables the program only during startup; you can start the program anytime by selecting it from Vistas All Programs menu.

       If youre certain that you will never want the program to open during startup, click the Remove button instead of the Disable button.

 

Adjust Performance Options

       Both WinXP and Vista have a Performance Options menu that helps you shake your PC free of its sluggish behavior.

       You can boost your PCs performance by disabling some of the appearance settings.

 

Adjust Performance Options (WinXP)

       Click Start, open the Control Panel, and then double-click System.

       When the System Properties window appears, click the Advanced tab and then click the Settings button in the Performance section.

       Click the Visual Effects tab when the Performance Options window appears.

 

Adjust Performance Options (Vista)

       Open the Control Panel and then click System And Maintenance.

       Next, click Performance Information And Tools.

       This window displays information about your PCs hardware, including performance ratings for individual components. It also features a Tasks pane that includes an Adjust Visual Effects link. Click this link.

       By default, Windows selects the Let Windows Choose Whats Best For My Computer radio button.

       You can boost your computers overall performance by clicking the Adjust For Best Performance radio button, but this is an extreme step, as it turns off many of the UI (user interface) features that you may regularly use, such as the Common Tasks pane that appears on the left side of most windows.

       If you want the best of both appearance and performance worlds, click the Custom radio button and then use the checkboxes to select your desired settings. Click the Apply button to see your changes right away.

 

 

Boost Your PC

       Memory plays a huge role in PC performance, particularly when the computer boots and when it runs multiple programs simultaneously.

       Many computer motherboards have extra memory slots that let you add memory, but Vista users have another performance-boosting option: Windows ReadyBoost.
ReadyBoost uses flash media, such as a USB flash drive or an SD (Secure Digital) card, to give your computer some extra memory when your PC tackles memory-hungry tasks.



(Almost) As Good As New

       Although these OS cleanup methods should free your PC of some of its clutter and speed up its overall performance, it probably wont perform quite as well as it did when it was brand new.

       In fact, were you to wipe the hard drive clean and completely reinstall the OS, your PC still couldnt offer the performance it once provided.

 

The reason your PC cant perform as it once did

       It isnt running the same software as it once did.

       With technology improving so rapidly, we find that software manufacturers soon forget about the old hardware and begin writing programs that need the faster hardware, says Jon Bach, president of Puget Custom Computers. If you want to use that software, then you have to keep up and buy the new hardware. So if you are happy using the programs you are today, your computer will not go obsolete. It is when you need to use new programs, and often you dont have a choice, that you find yourself needing a newer and faster computer.
Compare the programs you now use consistently to the programs that you ran three years ago. Did you run antivirus, antispyware, and firewall software back then (You do run these critical security applications now, dont you) What about iTunes or IM applications

       Chances are, youve installed several new programs or updated versions of old programs over the past few years.

       That new software expects your PC to have new hardware components, such as a new processor and memory.

       Although you refreshed your OS, your old hardware probably hasnt changed, and it may have trouble keeping up with new software.

 

The good news

       You can refresh some of your most important hardware (especially the memory) easily

 

Clean The Registry

       The Windows Registry is a database that houses information about the operating system's configuration.

       Windows updates the Registrys configuration entries whenever you install or uninstall new hardware or software or make changes to Windows settings.

       Over time, the Registry accumulates corrupt or obsolete information.

       These bad Registry entries weigh down your PCs performance by slowing the PC or even crashing it.

       So why shouldnt you open up the Registry and clean out the bad entries You can, of course. Windows includes a Registry Editor for such a purpose.

       However, you can easily damage the Registry by accidentally removing or changing important entries. Because the Registry is so critical to Windows operation, a damaged Registry may destroy your copy of Windows permanently.

       Thus, we recommend that you use a third-party Registry cleaner application, which can automatically root out the bad entries and offer some protection against accidental Registry damage. CleanMyPC Registry Cleaner ($29.95; www.registry-cleaner.net), for example, creates a backup of your Registry in case the original sustains damage during the cleaning procedure.

       After backing up your Registry, the CleanMyPC Registry Cleaner scans the Registry and lists problems by category. The software provides information about each bad Registry entry and explains why you can remove it. If you spot entries that youre nervous about removing, you can deselect them so that the software leaves them alone. Once youve protected any files you want to keep, CleanMyPC Registry Cleaner removes the bad entries.

       Be forewarned that accessing the Registry, whether manually or with software, carries some risk for your OS (operating system). Back up all of your PCs important data to removable media or another PC before you attempt to clean the Registry.

 

Dump The Malware

       Nothing slows down your computer as thoroughly as malicious software (often referred to as malware), such as adware, spyware, and viruses.

       Chances are you already have virus software, but if youve never scanned your computer for adware (software that pops ads onto your screen) and spyware (software that quietly monitors your activities and sends personal information back to the softwares creator), its time to get a scanner.

       Aside from breaching your privacy, these programs hog your PCs resources, slowing it down and even (in extreme cases) crippling your operating system.
Many software publishers now offer complete security packages that protect your PC against adware, spyware, and viruses simultaneously. If you dont have such a package, check out PCLive Security (www.pclive.com). The free, downloadable security software regularly scans your PC and removes malicious software. It also blocks pop-up windows and manages the Windows Update process, automatically downloading and installing critical Windows updates. PCLive bolsters its software with a subscription service that provides technical support for security-related issues.
CyberDefender Early Detection Center ($29.99; www.cyberdefender.com) is another easy-to-use security suite. The software has an antivirus scanner that protects your computer from any viruses that find their way to your computer, including email viruses. Other safety features include a spyware scanner and spam blocker, as well as a toolbar that automatically installs into your Internet browser to protect you from phishing sites, which are fraudulent Web sites that often mimic legitimate sites. CyberDefenders main window lists each of its major features and includes a single button that activates the feature or starts its scanner. We like the spyware scanner in particular, as it provides clear descriptions of the spyware it finds.

 

Put On Your Digital Tool Belt

       You dont have to be a computer wiz to use Windows built-in utilities, but why bother mucking around in the bowels of your operating system when you can enlist the help of a pro Thats the thought behind utility software suites, which feature tons of tools geared toward keeping your PC in top condition.

       Utility suites generally let you manage all system cleanup tasks from a single interface, which means you wont need to poke around in the Windows Control Panel or try to remember how you got rid of those temporary Internet files a few months ago.

       Whats more, utility suites often have extra tools that help you diagnose problems or automatically run multiple tasks.

       Avanquest SystemSuite 8 Professional ($59.95; www.shop.avanquest.com) has a One-Click Optimize feature that removes temporary Internet files, checks the hard drive, runs a hard drive defragmenter, cleans the Registry, and enables Automatic Updates while you walk the dog.
SystemSuite 8 also includes a diagnostic utility that helps you track down problems when your computer is acting funky. The tool checks the PCs hardware, monitors your system resources, and tracks Windows error messages. The Diagnose section also features MediaVerifier, which can check your CDs and other removable media for problems that would prevent them from being read by other computers and media players. Add to these handy tools antivirus, antispyware, and firewall capabilities, and SystemSuite 8 is a one-stop shop.
Symantec, which is well-known for its antivirus and other security software, also offers a comprehensive utility suite, Norton SystemWorks 2008 Basic Edition ($49.99; www.symantec.com). Like SystemSuite 8, SystemWorks can diagnose and automatically fix a variety of computer problems. It also has a One-Button Checkup feature that cleans out your systems clutter to ensure better performance. SystemWorks monitors your system performance and provides the tools youll need to keep your operating system in good shape.