STC Newsletter Article

This article was originally published in the May 2005 issue (Vol 11, No. 4)

Renee Schurtz is a member of the Puget Sound Chapter

STC UUX Community Newsletter
Usability Interface

Just Kick It: Six Things You Can Do to Make Your Computer Run Faster

By Renee Schurtz

Are you frustrated by a computer that slows your productivity? Do you ever get the urge to kick it or throw it out the window? Before you hurt your toe or strain your back, there are a few simple things you can try to tune-up your computer and make it run faster.

Run Check Disk
Clean up the hard disk
Change the size of the page file
Manage spyware and viruses
Remove unnecessary applications from start-up
Defragment the hard disk

The instructions below apply to the Windows XP operating system, although there are some similarities to Windows 2000 and Windows 98. If you’re attempting these on a computer at work, you may not have the necessary user privileges to run some of the utilities.

Some of these procedures include the risk of losing data or crashing your computer, so it’s best to back-up your computer before attempting them, to restore it later, if necessary.

The procedures should be performed in the order they are listed. Finally, these tricks won’t cost you a thing. The utilities and programs listed here either come with the Windows XP operating system, or they are freeware and available to everyone.

Run Check Disk

Windows XP’s equivalent of Scandisk is called Check Disk. This utility checks your hard disk for both file system errors and bad sectors, which can slow down your computer. All files must be closed for this utility to run. Note that the scanning portion of this utility can take several hours.

To run Check Disk

Open My Computer and select the disk you want to check.
From the File menu, click Properties, and click the Tools tab.
Under Error-checking, click Check Now.
From Check disk options, select both the automatically fix file system errors, and the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check boxes.
Click Start.

Clean up the hard disk

Windows operating systems require a certain amount of empty space on the hard disk to run properly. If your disk doesn’t have enough empty space, your computer can slow down or even produce errors and lock-ups. You can gain more space on your hard disk by uninstalling unused Windows XP components or unused programs, deleting temp files, deleting temporary Internet files, and deleting other files that you no longer need or use.

Using the Disk Cleanup utility will clean many of the unused and unnecessary files on your hard disk. If you are unsure if you should remove something, just leave it. You can always remove it later.

To access Disk Cleanup

Click Start, point to All Programs, and point to Accessories.
Point to System Tools, and click Disk Cleanup.

To delete files

Click the Disk Cleanup tab
Select the Downloaded Program Files, Temporary Internet Files, Recycle Bin and Temporary Files options.
Click OK.

To uninstall Windows components

Access Disk Cleanup, click the More Options tab
In the Windows components section, click Clean up.
Clear the check boxes for those components that you want to remove, and click Next.
Click Finish.

Note: If you’re unsure of the function of a specific component, select it and you will see a general description in the box below. Click Details to view specific components.

To uninstall programs

Access Disk Cleanup, click the More Options tab.
In the Installed programs section, click Clean up.
Select the program to uninstall, and click Remove.

To delete Computer Restore files

Access Disk Cleanup, click the More Options tab.
In the System Restore section, click Clean up.
Click Yes when asked if you want to delete all but the most recent restore point.

Change the size of your page file

The page file, also called “virtual memory,” is a reserved block of space on your hard disk that is used to simulate RAM. It’s an integral part of the operating system. If the size of the page file is too small for the load on your memory, your computer can slow down significantly. The size of this file can be changed to maximize computer speed and minimize problems by managing memory for most applications.

There is no consensus on a recommendation for page file size, since much of it depends on the load placed on your RAM and how much RAM you have. But many, including Microsoft, recommend an initial size of 1.5 times the amount of RAM on your computer. This is the default amount set by XP, and for most users this will be sufficient. However, the size of the file might need to increase if you regularly work with a heavy load on your RAM. Working frequently with image editing programs, databases, CAD, or other programs that require a lot of memory means that your page file size may need a higher setting.

The recommendation for the maximum size setting is 3 times the RAM. If you use memory-intensive programs, you may need to use a little trial-and-error to find the right initial size. See The Elder Geek for more detail on fine-tuning the size of your page file.

To change the size of your page file:

Click Start, right click My Computer, click Properties, and click the Advanced tab.
In the Performance section, click Settings, click the Advanced tab.
In the Virtual Memory section, click Change, and select the Custom Size radio button.
Set the Initial Size and the Maximum Size.
Using the recommendations above, if your computer has 512MB of RAM, your initial size will be 768MB, and your maximum size will be 1536MB.

Manage spyware and viruses

Are you getting a lot of pop-up windows on your screen? If so, you may have spyware on your computer. Spyware can slow your computer to a crawl, constantly interrupt productivity, and completely freeze your computer. See Smashing Spyware (www.stc-psc.org/oct-nov_newsletter/spyware.html) and CNET (http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-10165_7-5601335.html) for more information on spyware.

Install and run Spybot Search & Destroy (www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html) and CWShredder (www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html) to scan your computer and remove any spyware. It’s also important to keep your antivirus software up-to-date and perform a regular scan of the computer to locate and remove any viruses.

Remove unnecessary applications from start-up

Many applications will install to the start-up directory by default, which means they will load or open when you turn on your computer and continually run in the background, using up precious resources. Many of these programs do not need to be on all the time. Removing unnecessary applications from start-up will free up memory, enabling your computer to run faster. If you are unsure if you should remove a particular program or item, just leave it until you can do more research to confirm that it should be removed. Most items can be re-enabled to start-up by checking the box and restarting. See PCWorld (www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,73163,00.asp) and Pacman’s Portal (www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.php#WHAT_IS_THE_PROBLEM?) for more information.

To remove programs from startup:

Click Start, and click Run.
Enter “msconfig”, and click the Startup tab.
Clear the check boxes for those programs you want to remove from start-up.
Click Apply, Close, and Restart when asked.

Defragment the hard disk

Defragmenting consolidates your files and the fragmented spaces on your hard disk, thereby reducing the amount of time it takes your computer to access, search, and save files. Be sure to close all applications and windows, and turn off your antivirus program before starting this utility. This process can take a very long time, up to several hours, and should not be interrupted.

To run Disk Defragmenter: