How to keep your computer running like new?

[echarcha]

All of us who use MS Windows have noticed that as days go by and we add more data to our hard drives and add software other than the standard operating system provided tools, the computer starts to slow down.

Usually we all have some sort of anti-virus, firewall and anti-spyware software installed.

Now how would you keep your laptop running at the same speed like the day you bought it new? What tools do you recommend?

I am trying to create this thread where we can have a knowledge repository from actual experiences with techniques and tools.

[BABU_HYDERABADI]

Originally Posted by echarcha

All of us who use MS Windows have noticed that as days go by and we add more data to our hard drives and add software other than the standard operating system provided tools, the computer starts to slow down.

Usually we all have some sort of anti-virus, firewall and anti-spyware software installed.

Now how would you keep your laptop running at the same speed like the day you bought it new? What tools do you recommend?

I am trying to create this thread where we can have a knowledge repository from actual experiences with techniques and tools.

From My Experiences

1) Keep your disk less than half full and try to defrag it at least once every month
2) Keep your registry clean

[raniraja]

Originally Posted by BABU_HYDERABADI

From My Experiences
1) Keep your disk less than half full and try to defrag it at least once every month
2) Keep your registry clean

Defrag?? haven't used after DOS days. Keeping registry clean? How? I use Glary registry repair. It tells me about unused entries and deletes them on command. Doesn't hurt the registry any.

[Sane Less]

Originally Posted by BABU_HYDERABADI

From My Experiences

1) Keep your disk less than half full and try to defrag it at least once every month
2) Keep your registry clean

It is not just those two but lots of services get added. After bootup, I just go to task manager and kill all those processes that I think are not useful. Of course, it is painful and I have to usually google to figure out if something is useful or not... but it helps a little.

[swami]

Periodically emptying the windows>prefetch folder will help speed the booting time

[sarv_shaktimaan]

I review every once in a few months what programs I have installed and if I use them on a regular basis... if not then I uninstall (things like Microsoft works, limewire, etc all gone).

I got rid of the Vista sidebar as it was quite worthless after initial newness.

Have minimum number of icons on the desktop.

[jana05]

I wonder to which version of Windows you are asking, but in general here is some info on what I do with XP/Vista...

The only times I ever use windows is only bcoz I am forced either at work(mostly used) or at home(least used)....otherwise I am happy with my Linux flavours.

With time windows degrades in performance and I have had a bad experience too esp with Vista (which came preloaded with my desktop)...at one point of time, starting a browser would take more than 5 minutes....

• - remove all fancy themes
• - Never use IE, use G.Chrome, M.Firefox & use "Noscripts"
• - replace windows media player with "Media player classic"
• - Trim all un-necessary services either make them manual or disable them...(check documentation on net for required services - blackviper.com is one such site)
• - Optimize for performance by going to properties of MyComputer
• - change the pagefile to separate partition, don't keep on the same C drive
• - When you view document files, use M$-wordviewer,M$-excel viewer, M$-powerpoint viewer
• - Windows explorer is not designed for convenience, use an add called QTtabbar
• - Keep all softwares on one partition
• - Keep all data on another partition (Data in my-documents on c-drive is a useless concept)
• - If you have a big hard-disk, make separate partitions for small sized data files & another for large size data files. Adequately format the drives with the correct block size....( a little, just a little technically involved stuff)
• - Make a schedule to defragment the drive once a week/15 days... (Don't defrag if u have a SSD disk)
• - Clear Pre-fetch
• - Use CCleaner free version
• - Use Anvir Task manager to check for all advanced stuff (can't write all the details for this, check website)...
• - Use GKrellm to monitor your system...
• - Keep the bludy taskbar, system tray neat and tidy
• - Use notepad2/notepad++ instead of basic notepad
• - Using system restore, keep the size to about 500MB max...check web for how to do it...
• - When you have fine tuned your system, take a ghost image copy...for easy restore...
• - Adventerous? Try tweak tools
• - I use Avast AV at home...
• - Also clean your system of dust
• - Use Foxit Pdf reader instead of Adobe
• - Use Secunia PSI to find out the security status of ur system

This way, I atleast don't have to format the system atleast for a year or two... More as and when I remember....

Overall I think the most important point to remember is more features from M$, more confused they get as how to handle...

Disclaimer: My opinions - it might wrong too...so plz check, read & use at ur own risk if u want to try...

[jana05]

And more...

Use free zip softwares....like 7zip,.... winzip are all bloated.
Another important thing when you buy a new system - take a snapshot using ghost imaging software and store it in a good place..... then remove all the un-wanted softwares. Most of the softwares that are bundled with ur PC are actually a waste and bloated softwares.... they degrade over a period of time....windows garbage collectors are themselves garbage....kuch boltha hai, kuch aur karta hai....

Add #1: And yes of course, the startup....How did I forget the startup... this is actually a bigger culprit. Remove the un-wanted ones....including the ones who say, they will update your system automatically...its actually waste - they consume space and keep shitting on your memory.... Go to msconfig and remove the un-wanted ones...

Add #2: Check the performance of ur system, Start -> Run -> "perfmon.msc"..... check the logs...u can get an idea... culprit type who/what will be a little clear...

[Ravi]

It's amazing how fast a fresh Windows installation is before you start piling crap on it.

Utilize virtualization as much as possible. For instance, install only necessary apps on main installation and let heavy apps like database server run in VM. In work environment, your IT team can usually make a dedicated (or shared) VM available to you, so that saves a lots of CPU cycles.

1) Startup apps : control what you want and don't want. start->run type 'msconfig'. Use startup apps and services
2) Take a snapshot of system soon after all necessary apps are installed. Restore this snapshot every six months or so. Disable Windows System Restore.
3) Page file = twice the size RAM; preferably on a different partition on a different drive. Boosts perfornamce.
4) Set path environment variable as small as possible. Not every freaking executable needs to be in your path.
5) In BIOS, see if you can alter Hard drive settings for performance. Note that options 3 above and this option can reduce lifespan of drives. So back your stuff up regularly
6) Instead of IE, use Firefox/Chrome with as few add-ons as possible. Even if you have tons of add-ons, disable the ones you dont use regularly. FF can significantly slower your machine if you don't use addons wisely.

- If you have a good sized USB flash drive lying idly, you can use it as extra RAM using Windows ReadyBoost.
- Turn off indexing if possible in newer Windows.
- De-fragmentation is usually overrated as a performance enhancer. So do it only once in a while.
- Don't use HijackThis just because your read about it somewhere.
- May sound wierd. But uninstall anti-virus if you know what you're doing.

[For generic work use Linux LiveCd where you can do pretty much everything you need to].

[jana05]

Originally Posted by Ravi

...............
- If you have a good sized USB flash drive lying idly, you can use it as extra RAM using Windows ReadyBoost.
..........
- May sound wierd. But uninstall anti-virus if you know what you're doing.
............
[For generic work use Linux LiveCd where you can do pretty much everything you need to].

I used to use 4GB usb stick for ReadyBoost until I properly tuned up my system... then didn't require it...
FYI: the USB has to be "ReadyBoost capable", not every USB stick will work... "ReadyBoost" should be written on the stick...the access time on the USB has to be less than 1millSec...

No-AV means people definitely will get psyched.... it also means no "below the belt entertainment" + tensions for baburao...

Ravi bhai> Have you tried HijackThis...? whats ur experience?

Do you use Linux, which distro? Did you solve ur other Virtual DVD problem?

[sprite]

here si what I do

1. After installing and uninstalling a program I always defragment and compact registry.

2. Use run-->msconfig to choose services and programs that I need at startup

3. defragment after uninstalling and installing big programs

4. I avoid scheduling tasks in say anti-virus. Also setting screen-saver to pop-up at regular intervals also slows down system

5. I also disable services like 'email scanner' etc in anti-viruses that I dont need.

6. I always Install latest BIOS/driver updates from my comp manufacturers website andcheck for updates periodically

7. Also by tweaking registry one can adjust the 'unresponsive processes kill timing" (reduce it)

[Gajodhar]

Almost all the things are covered here.

I would like to say that for much better deframnetation than built-in utiliy, use a small tool called smartdefrag. This is a very well reviewed freeware. From personal experience, this does a much better job - not only does it defrags, but also optimizes the file locations.

[jana05]

A few more tricks are there...but they are generally fraught with risks and apply to special circumstances...for example if you don't use a particular device, you can disable the driver...

[sprite]

Originally Posted by Ravi

- If you have a good sized USB flash drive lying idly, you can use it as extra RAM using Windows ReadyBoost.
.

can you elaborate on this ravi pai...I use XP and Vista on my laptops (different machines).

[raniraja]

Originally Posted by jana05

I used to use 4GB usb stick for ReadyBoost until I properly tuned up my system... then didn't require it...
FYI: the USB has to be "ReadyBoost capable", not every USB stick will work... "ReadyBoost" should be written on the stick...the access time on the USB has to be less than 1millSec...
Thanks.. didn't know that..

Ravi bhai> Have you tried HijackThis...? whats ur experience?

Hijackthis is a routine thing, a diagnostic. Don't have much problems on my personal PC, but the cybercafe PCs ..

BTW, I wanted your feedback on various ghost/deep freeze kind of recovery utilities..