Speed up your PC!
After having over 50 shortcuts on my desktop, 80% disk usage, 70 processes running in the background, and a 10 minute Windows start-up, I’ve decided to clean up my PC. I could have easily solved this problem by formatting my PC, but for me this is a big headache having to back-up all my documents, websites and creating a backup of all my databases, contacts, bookmarks…endless list…besides having to re-install everything from scratch, reconfigure my network and re-apply any settings and preferences in the applications which I use.
To cut a long story short, I’ve done a cleanup of my PC by applying certain Windows settings and by using third-party tools. If your PC is dying, I would suggest trying them out. Here they are:
The first attempt
Disable services which you don’t use.
Start Menu > Run … > Type “msconfig" > Startup Tab
- Background Intelligent Transfer Service
- Computer Browser
- Error Reporting Service
- Fast User Switching
- Fax
- Help and Support
- Indexing Service
- NetMeeting Remote Desktop Sharing
- Performance Logs and Alerts
- Portable Media Serial Number Service
- Remote Desktop Help Session Manager
- SSDP Discovery Service
- Secondary Logon
- Smart Card
- System Restore Service
- TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper
- Window Media Player Network Sharing Service
- Windows Time
Remove applications from your startup.
Start Menu > Run … > Type “msconfig > Startup Tab
If you do not use the Windows Search, you may disable file indexing. Access to files and folders will be faster, but searching using Windows search will take longer.
My Computer > Right-click on a drive such as C: > Uncheck “Allow Indexing Service to index this disk for fast file searching”.
If you are serious with file searching, I suggest trying out Launchy!
If you can do without some fancy staff, you may tweak Windows for optimal performance by removing some user interface elements such as shadows, fading effects, and many others.
Right-click on My Computer > Properties > Advanced Tab > Settings Button under Performance category > De-select any unwanted visual effects.
Disable beeps and unwanted sounds!
Control Panel > Sounds and Audio Devices > Sounds Tab
Remove wallpaper and screensaver
Right-click on desktop > Properties
You may find more Windows tips and hacks here:
- http://www.connectedinternet.co.uk/2005/12/03/10-simple-ways-to-speed-up-windows-xp/
- http://www.connectedinternet.co.uk/2005/12/05/10-intermediate-ways-to-speed-up-windows/
The second attempt
- Remove unwanted applications. I’ve being using a portable application called Revo Uninstall. It successfully manages to uninstall all applications even those which for some reason could not be installed from the normal Add/Remove Software tool. After uninstalling the software it also scans the registry for any leftovers, and files and folders which were not deleted.
- Remove unwanted files. I suggest analyzing you hard disk and see where the bulk is located. I’ve used a portable application called WinDirStat.
- Scan you PC for any spyware. I suggest Spyware Doctor.
- Scan your PC for viruses. You may use AVG, NOD, any many others for this one.
- Clean-up your registry. For this one I suggest Uniblue’s Registry Booster.
- And one last thing…defragment your hard disk! I suggest O&O Defrag.
Special thanks to Brian who contributed in my PC clean-up 
Feel free to send your comments or tips!
on June 16th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
I use Auslogics BoostSpeed for PC maintenance. It’s not free, but it’s really worth 30 dollars in my opinion. It’s a combination of 18 tools which work really well. Check it out here: http://auslogics.com/en/software/boost-speed
Also they have nice freebies: Disk Defrag and Registry Defrag.
I’m not sure I like AVG antivirus that much - it slowed down my computer too much for my liking. Avira AntiVir is a good free one.
on June 19th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
There is a program named XPlite which has options to uninstall unnecessary programs and other MS bloatware (like Outlook Express, Windows Media Player, MSN v4, Games, some server and XP kernel’s components …etc).
Another program (freeware) called nLite lets you to create your custom installation CD.
With these programs, one can create a smaller o/s footprint and thus making it faster to create backups and increasing the XP overall performance.
Don’t forget to clean up you hard disk (control panel -> Add or remove -> Add/remove windows components
Remember also to perform the scan-disk (on XP it will be performed on startup)
Also remove unnecessary services (like Automatic Update) — full list of services can be found here: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/guidance/serversecurity/tcg/tcgch07n.mspx
on June 19th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Thanks for your tips