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Five tips for speeding up a slow PC

Date: July 26th, 2010 Author: Jack Wallen Category: Five Tips, Support Tags: Registry, Disk, PC, Machine, Microsoft Windows, Productivity, Operating Systems, Software, Jack Wallen

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When PC performance slows to a crawl, a few simple techniques can make a huge difference. Jack Wallen explains the first steps he takes to perk up a sluggish system.

Weve all experienced it. That PC you know should be zipping along but isnt. You add more memory, but its still barely chugging. Fortunately, its fairly easy to troubleshoot those ailing machines. Here are five steps you can take to help your machines run much faster.

1: Defragment
This one should go without saying. However, I am always surprised at how few people regularly do this or how many IT admins neglect to set up machines to do this regularly. Regardless of which Windows desktop OS you use, make sure you either manually defragment or set the machine up to automatically defragment. When machines get too fragmented, they suffer serious performance degradation. Usually, the built-in Windows defrag tool works fine. If you are looking for something a little better, try Defraggler. It can work on a whole disk or just a part of one.

2: Clean up the disk

Have you ever filled up a disk to 100%? If that disk contains both your OS and your data files, your machine is going to come to a screeching halt. One of the first things I check on a machine thats running slowly is how much of the hard disk has been used. If there isnt roughly 10% of the hard disk free, its time to clean house. One of the tools I like is CCleaner. It quickly clears out all temp files for you. Once thats done, its time to attack the obvious locations: Recycle Bin, Pictures, Music, Videos. Once you have cleared those out, you can remove old Restore Points and Shadow copies (from System Restore) and installed programs from your Downloads directory. If that doesnt clear up enough space, its time to start removing unused applications.

3: Clean up the registry

Ive seen plenty of machines get bogged down simply because of errors in the registry. Of course, the registry isnt something just any old user (or administrator) should attack. Instead, you want to use an application whose purpose is to clean up the registry. One of my favorite tools for that task is, again, CCleaner. When you run CCleaner, make sure you back up your registry (it will prompt you to do this). Then, run it a few times. The first time through, it wont catch all the errors. It usually takes about three times before all errors are removed. Once youve removed those errors, you might want to reboot to ensure the process is complete (and the machine is back to speed).

4: Remove spyware/malware

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This one always shocks me. If you are using a Windows operating system you BETTER have anti-malware on board or your machine is sure to get bogged down in the muck and mire of spyware. I tend to lean toward Malwarebytes for this. But dont just use the free version. Its good, but it doesnt include any sort of scheduler. And we know end users are horrible about running maintenance applications. For this, you will want to spend the coin to make sure your anti-spyware is up to date and running on a schedule.

5: Check the disk for errors

With a machine thats aging or whose hard drive has seen excessive use, sectors on that drive can wind up bad. To remedy this, youll need to issue a command and reboot your machine. The command I generally use is chkdsk X: /f /r (Where X is the drive letter you want to check). The f switch tells the command to automatically fix errors and the r switch locates bad sectors and recovers readable data.

Other solutions?
These steps arent foolproof, but theyre the first ones I take when a Windows-based PC is showing signs of slowing down. Do you have other means? What tools or tasks do you use to reverse this aging process? Share them with your fellow readers.

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Speeding up your machine.... jbbarnett19@... | 07/26/10 Disable JavaScript / Flash serpentsnare | 07/26/10 3-4 Weeks? murphym@... | 07/27/10 Maintenance? JonGauntt | 07/28/10 Why go on the attack? Zeppo9191 | 07/28/10 Automated maintenance Rolland St-Onge | 07/28/10 Maintenance... jpfoley | 07/28/10 Virus scans wdewey@... | 07/28/10 how about wake on lan and remote shutdown NEW Artty Sie | 07/28/10 Not a good practice alexisgarcia72@... | 07/28/10 turn off comnputers paul.mclaughlin@... | 07/28/10 Do you not have problems with Standby mode? Zeppo9191 | 07/28/10 Standby wdewey@... | 07/28/10 Standby NEW alexisgarcia72@... | 07/29/10 Not always safe to leave on NEW spam@... | 07/29/10 With UPS? NEW Neon Samurai | 07/29/10 now you can expand to ten steps.. :)) Powe | 07/27/10 Step 6, 7 and 8 NEW V.H. Scarpacci | 07/29/10 slow power up, except when ... amrse@... | 07/27/10 login script maybe? mugipw@... | 07/28/10

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We get the opposite work@... | 07/28/10 Do you have Network drives? WetCoastDrew | 07/28/10 Very true - network drives and DFS NEW jdavis@... | 07/28/10 Restart the computer EVERY DAY! bobdavis321 | 07/28/10 Huh? Reinstall? anthemwebs@... | 07/28/10 You hit the nail on the head gcdimarketing@... | 07/28/10 Reinstalls and the geek squad NEW mike@... | 07/29/10 Oh, Yeah! "FFR"!! JonathanX | 07/28/10 Repair not reinstall simmo101@... | 07/28/10 Never had good luck with "Previous Restore Points ... NEW gmichaels | 07/28/10 They've saved my bacon NEW Juanita Marquez | 07/29/10 me neither NEW mailpowys@... | 07/29/10 Works for non-virus issues NEW Juanita Marquez | 07/29/10 Not me either NEW alexisgarcia72@... | 07/29/10 Nor I NEW jdavis@... | 07/29/10 miraculously NEW 2rs | 07/29/10 CHKDSK /R is a good fix. NEW eludeman30@... | 07/29/10 Windows Mentality NEW jdavis@... | 07/28/10 Overlooking the simple stuff NEW Juanita Marquez | 07/29/10 create a system image NEW Neon Samurai | 07/29/10

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Too dynamic NEW jdavis@... | 07/29/10 consider VM? NEW Neon Samurai | 07/29/10 No really alexisgarcia72@... | 07/28/10 My Linux PCs CodeCurmudgeon | 07/28/10 Oh, for the OS2 Days cjreynolds | 07/28/10 Such short times between reboots NEW DNSB | 07/28/10 Server reboots NEW alexisgarcia72@... | 07/29/10 Reinstall the OS? jjardel | 07/28/10 Restart/Reinstall periodically? Only if you don't have a clue... WebCzar | 07/28/10 Reimaging preferred here NEW DNSB | 07/28/10 Name a non-IT user that doesn't NEW Juanita Marquez | 07/29/10 real life experience NEW alexisgarcia72@... | 07/29/10 Exactly NEW Juanita Marquez | 07/29/10 One more tweak srbryan@... | 07/28/10 Along that line... Zeppo9191 | 07/28/10 Where is this option? {nt} SinisterSlay | 07/28/10 Option location Zeppo9191 | 07/28/10 Good Suggestion! NEW gmichaels | 07/28/10 Disabling option NEW DNSB | 07/28/10 Other, more invasive surgery/advanced tips daboochmeister | 07/28/10

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#7 SgtPappy | 07/28/10 I'd remove clean up registry SinisterSlay | 07/26/10 I used one... AnsuGisalas | 07/26/10 Sandox XnavyDK | 07/26/10 I don't think AV can be tested from a sandbox... AnsuGisalas | 07/26/10 Sounds better do it inside a virtual machine Furtilized | 07/27/10 AV works in SgtPappy | 07/28/10 or five minutes of boot time. bboyd@... | 07/26/10 CCleaner is safe gadgetguru@... | 07/26/10 CCleaner is the all in one tool! prugsa.kilgore@... | 07/27/10 I like Glary Utilities murphym@... | 07/27/10 Registry cleaners Gis Bun | 07/27/10 No Reg cleaner alexisgarcia72@... | 07/28/10 Agree... hazclan13@... | 07/28/10 Please tell us what you use to speed up PC's? NEW mailpowys@... | 07/28/10 Registry bloat not a big issue anymore NEW AnsuGisalas | 07/28/10 Avast ! NEW santeewelding | 07/28/10 Registry size still increases over time NEW mailpowys@... | 07/29/10 Configure CCleaner correctly - file extensions etc Andrzej_Ladosz | 07/28/10 Be Wary of Registry Cleaners tomas@... | 07/28/10

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Others Ed Woychowsky | 07/26/10 registry cleaning makes me itch Neon Samurai | 07/26/10 Empty space scrubbing bboyd@... | 07/26/10 Try Uniblue diman75 | 07/26/10 Speaking of Waste-Programs G-Systems | 07/28/10 Startup processes and more Audiblenod | 07/26/10 Hit the dust!!! mdevere | 07/27/10 Block any fans during blowing Andrzej_Ladosz | 07/28/10 Blocking Fans While Blowing skeech51@... | 07/28/10 Not going to happen pfdsotm | 07/28/10 Fans & memory NEW jdavis@... | 07/28/10 Not entirely true NEW pfdsotm | 07/29/10 Memory NEW jdavis@... | 07/29/10 Not a smart move! pfdsotm | 07/28/10 RE: Five tips for speeding up a slow PC diman75 | 07/26/10 RE: Five tips for speeding up a slow PC XnavyDK | 07/26/10 MyDefrag Neon Samurai | 07/26/10 Reload - makes a significant difference mailme@... | 07/27/10 Yep, there's nothing better than Reinstall... Furtilized | 07/27/10 Image maker Dogcatcher | 07/27/10

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it works n/t XnavyDK | 07/27/10 Use Acronis billw@... | 07/28/10 Well, they work -- sort of. NEW DNSB | 07/28/10 Disagree hazclan13@... | 07/28/10 Almost a complete match joyce@... | 07/28/10 Cleanup Tools JonathanX | 07/28/10 Sector drift... RipVan | 07/28/10 Acronis alexisgarcia72@... | 07/28/10 System file check Furtilized | 07/27/10 Good suggestion NEW shinycar10@... | 07/29/10 RE: Five tips for speeding up a slow PC zoobadger | 07/27/10 Defrag is overrated; clean install is underrated LedLincoln | 07/27/10 Clean Install murphym@... | 07/27/10 Exactly! jasonemmg | 07/27/10 XP Pro CD to Rebuild XP Home Machine? jdayman@... | 07/27/10 XP Pro & Home Gis Bun | 07/27/10 Reinstall of Branded versions of XP may not work phil@... | 07/28/10 Rebuild - yawn joyce@... | 07/28/10 Recovery... JonathanX | 07/28/10 less than an hour.. versus.. an afternoon Neon Samurai | 07/27/10

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Hmmmm Gis Bun | 07/27/10 less than an hour is maintenance Neon Samurai | 07/27/10 Sorry NEW n.gurr@... | 07/29/10 Ninite NEW n.gurr@... | 07/29/10 nice script builder site NEW Neon Samurai | 07/29/10 In thine image... donzall | 07/28/10 Partitioning murphym@... | 07/28/10 Absolutely! JonathanX | 07/28/10 Clean Install Addresses Symptoms, but not cause brad@... | 07/28/10 Reinstall - NOT! NEW jdavis@... | 07/28/10 Repair vs clean install vs imaging NEW LedLincoln | 07/29/10 Agree - cost/benefit not so hot for defrag blarman | 07/28/10 RE: Five tips for speeding up a slow PC linux for me | 07/27/10 let Windows manage it Neon Samurai | 07/27/10 This can lead to file fragmentation Zeppo9191 | 07/28/10 pagefile defrag doesn't take long enough to worry about NEW Neon Samurai | 07/29/10 RE: Five tips for speeding up a slow PC Gis Bun | 07/27/10 RE: Five tips for speeding up a slow PC cantoris@... | 07/28/10 Speed up windows abder_faiz@... | 07/28/10 WZC.. hazclan13@... | 07/28/10

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RE: Five tips for speeding up a slow PC insan4it@... | 07/28/10 Get more RAM insan4it@... | 07/28/10 RE: Five tips for speeding up a slow PC deportago | 07/28/10 CHKDSK /r hazclan13@... | 07/28/10 chkdsk on raid NEW michel@... | 07/29/10 RE: Five tips for speeding up a slow PC ksrmurthy48@... | 07/28/10 RE: Five tips for speeding up a slow PC YankDownUnder | 07/28/10 I'm surprised... willyd357 | 07/28/10 But still in need of windows? DesertJim | 07/28/10 Not a solution alexisgarcia72@... | 07/28/10 Off topic Zeppo9191 | 07/28/10 6th tip polderboy | 07/28/10 RE: Five tips for speeding up a slow PC roy.evison@... | 07/28/10 I don't know how these things work RipVan | 07/28/10 rip van NEW roy.evison@... | 07/29/10 RE: chkdsk X: /f /r, not working. simple.fatima | 07/28/10 RE: chkdsk X: /f /r, not working. NMowatt | 07/28/10 RE: chkdsk X: /f /r, is working! NEW simple.fatima | 07/29/10 RE: Five tips for speeding up a slow PC zstern | 07/28/10 Read deeper Dogcatcher | 07/28/10

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RE: Five tips for speeding up a slow PC omotayo.lawal@... | 07/28/10 RE: Five tips for speeding up a slow PC laseray@... | 07/28/10 simply restart... GrizzledGeezer | 07/28/10 Disable the background indexing service medbiller@... | 07/28/10 Agreed blarman | 07/28/10 I agree - Disable Indexing NEW Sudsy100 | 07/28/10 Additional tips koredyte | 07/28/10 How does this effect program installs? babycody@... | 07/28/10 Depends on how you do it SinisterSlay | 07/28/10 Disable Themes Services netvicious@... | 07/28/10 Desktop Files Fill Memory! bellnhook@... | 07/28/10 Desktop Files - use shortcuts instead frwagne@... | 07/28/10 RE: Five tips for speeding up a slow PC partsguy1@... | 07/28/10 Check msconfig | Boot tab | advance options for slow boot WetCoastDrew | 07/28/10 Remove Duplicate Files such as pictures and video brad@... | 07/28/10 Defragment multiple times mullachv@... | 07/28/10 RE: Five tips for speeding up a slow PC Epodair | 07/28/10 Often Overlooked... Andy Strolger | 07/28/10 General System Speed Up JonathanX | 07/28/10 Cleaning up temp files NEW DNSB | 07/28/10

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RE: Five tips for speeding up a slow PC polderboy | 07/28/10 "I 'm running a professionel OS: Linux" Bo Tym | 07/28/10 RE: any good all-in-one suites? RB1955 | 07/28/10 The most effective tip is: NexS | 07/28/10 The right steps but in totally the wrong order! NEW Mr. Fix | 07/28/10 ALWAYS START WITH A BACKUP! NEW Mr. Fix | 07/28/10 agree, but should be in a different order NEW Artty Sie | 07/28/10 RE: Five tips for speeding up a slow PC NEW ivoyhip@... | 07/29/10 let's not forget the fans NEW michel@... | 07/29/10 Add RAM! NEW terry.sanderson@... | 07/29/10 Also check the anti-virus software NEW g-man_863 | 07/29/10

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