How to maintain my pc?

[speedy_s]

Right i have been looking into this a bit and also a bit annoyed that when i installed by pc was blazing fast but now it has become quite slow and less reponsive. So how do i go abt make it as fast as it originally was without a reinstall?

Thanks a lot

p.s. btw i do run defrag and spybot/adaware perodically.

[DaftpuNk]

Maintenance is a tough one, in most cases ongoing performance can be achieved by doing things right in the first place. But there are many ways to achieve that.

It may take an entire rebuild to get the most optimum configuration, so it depends how you have things setup at the moment. Here's a few simple things that can be done for now though.

Temp folder clearing:

Delete everything in C:\$windows\Temp\ and C:\Documents and Settings\$username\Local Settings\Temp\. Run "Internet Options" in control panel and clear the history, and all temp files. *Regardless* of whether you use IE or not. Next clear the temporary files in the web browser of your choice, tools -> options -> privacy tab -> "clear all" for firefox.

System Tray:

All those little icons by the clock on the taskbar *ARE* wasting resources, get rid of all of them. If something is a shortcut to an application you can run off the start menu, are you really that lazy that you need to have it wasting RAM etc? Yes they may not take much individually, but in total it will be a factor.

A defrag once all this is done should be of benefit, but results with Windows' defrag app can be varied depending on what disk partitioning you use, due to the virtual memory file being present on the OS disk.

[scotty6435]

Defrag, spware clean, registry repair and optimisation, uninstall all non-vital software and re-install newest versions to get rid of junk files and re-organise HDD better, check startup programs.

[speedy_s]

registry repair and optimisation

which is the best program fo this?

[Trippledence]

I find theres a point where you jsut have to formatt and start again. I try and keep things clean with add-aware and the like. But some times it jsut becomes time for a fresh start. Makes you organise things better.

[silon]

yes trippledence, i agree with u on that. windows being itself will somehow get bloated and slow over time, nothing u do seems to help. windows grows old i guess


DaftpuNk, is it safe to delete those temp files?
ill try to back them up to a temporary place first

[scotty6435]

Get something like 'tune up utilities' or 'system mechanic' for lots of file deletion and registry tools that you'll find useful. There are free versions but they tend to be scattered tools and not so effective.

If you've had your windows up for 6-12 months and it's had lots added and taken off then nothing will revive your system like a nice reformat

[russ0r!]

Overclock your CPU?

I noticed the biggest improvement when I upgraded from 512Mb to 1Gb. RAM is very important to Windows.
Also try setting your Virtual Memory (Paging file, whatever you want to call it) to be no smaller than 1.5Gb and have a maximum size of 3Gb. It also helps if its on a different Hard Disk to your windows install.

To be honest, I just install Windows on a separate partition to everything else, and then reformat and reinstall on that partition every 6 months or so. Saves me backing everything up every time, and keeps performance up to scratch.
Windows, by nature, gets (even more?) bloated and slow after a while.

[silon]

you know what scotty6435?
i once used tuneup utilities' 'optimize registry' or 'defrag registry' feature, i cant remember its name exactly, but anyways, it deleted lots of stuff from the registry. after my reboot, i found out it deleted crucial fonts to the OS, i rebooted into a system filled with squares and thai-like words LOL!

[0iD]

JV16 powertools is my fave when cleaning the registry, albeit manually or automatially. For spyware I use Pest Patrol or Microsoft's AntiSpyware Beta. Also F-Prot antivirus, Diskeeper lite or O&O defrag for defragging duties and Kiero, Agnitum or Zonealarm for firewalling.

[Tobeman]

Yes, always jv16. I've used them for about 3+ years and are always improving! I dont trust anything else through problems they create. We use it at work all the time

[scotty6435]

you know what scotty6435?
i once used tuneup utilities' 'optimize registry' or 'defrag registry' feature, i cant remember its name exactly, but anyways, it deleted lots of stuff from the registry. after my reboot, i found out it deleted crucial fonts to the OS, i rebooted into a system filled with squares and thai-like words LOL!

I've used it since my system's been up (maybe 6 months) along with at least another 10 tools and it's running just as fast as it was first put together. Run all scans 2-3 times a week after a fresh install and it'll fly for as long as you want.

p.s. I currently have these tools installed: adaware, Spybot, spy sweeper, zone alarm, avast!, system mechanic pro, tune up utilities, CCleaner, diskeeper v9.

[SilentDeath]

Remove real player, wmp7/8/9/10 (not the codecs.. just the program), MMJ, kazaa or any other bloatware...
Unles syou install lots of bloatware the registry shouldnt be too bad.. Ive never bothered cleaning it..

See what programs are running at startup. Remove things like Realplayer, Msoffice, quicktime etc.. - which all add themselves to startup each time they are run.

Also if your drives are fat32 run defrag every week.. for ntfs you dont really need to bother, although it will help a bit.. but I havent done mine for about a year

Also remove any software firewall, and get a hardware firewall from ebuyer for ~£10-15. Use a portscan site to check its working good...
Antivirus does not need to scan in real time, so disable that, but do a full scan every week or so. Making sure software is upto date and resonably secure is more important imo (most people seem to forget or not bother).

[BEANFro Elite]

The latest System Mechanic has hundreds of system tweaks and is even able to defrag the RAM!! Bet you never thought that RAM could fragment

[scotty6435]

Remove real player, wmp7/8/9/10 (not the codecs.. just the program), MMJ, kazaa or any other bloatware...
Unles syou install lots of bloatware the registry shouldnt be too bad.. Ive never bothered cleaning it..

See what programs are running at startup. Remove things like Realplayer, Msoffice, quicktime etc.. - which all add themselves to startup each time they are run.

Also if your drives are fat32 run defrag every week.. for ntfs you dont really need to bother, although it will help a bit.. but I havent done mine for about a year

Also remove any software firewall, and get a hardware firewall from ebuyer for ~£10-15. Use a portscan site to check its working good...
Antivirus does not need to scan in real time, so disable that, but do a full scan every week or so. Making sure software is upto date and resonably secure is more important imo (most people seem to forget or not bother).

Changing startup programs is probably the best way to keep your system running quickly. Why have acrobat reader hogging precious RAM for a 5 second boost in load time?

Software firewalls don't interfere with anything and work fine with a hardware firewalls, why take it out? You lose lots of functions if you do. A good softwall doesn't take much memory or CPU time and is a hundred times easier to configure than a hardware based firewall. My router blocks DDOS, ping scanning and keeps my network secure but I wouldn't dare take out my ZoneAlarm.

Also, WMP is great for me, got real and quick alternative so quicktime and realplayer are toast and it actually only has a few registry entries.... it's hardly bloatware.

[Lee H]

Take it I'm the only one that formats and reinstalls nearly every 2-3 monhts then ?