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In our previous article Improving Windows’ Performance – Part 1 we covered how to reduce the slowness on your Windows operating system by removing unnecessary processes and programs.  Here are more ways to speed up Windows and keep your productivity as high as possible.

1.) Defragment your hard disk.

Defragmenting places relative data closer together so the hard disk can run more efficiently. To open it, click the Start button, type Disk Defragmenter in the search box, and click on that icon when it comes up.

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Select the disk you want to defragment under Current Status.

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Next click Analyze Disk.

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Enter an administrator password if it prompts you for one. You can check the fragmentation of the disk in the last run column. If it is above 10%, click Defragment disk. Enter an administrator password if necessary. The process can take from several minutes to a few hours.

 2.) Use Disk Cleanup to clean your hard disk.

From the Start button, type Disk Cleanup in the search box. Click it in the list of results.

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In the Drives list, Click the hard drive you want to clean up and then click OK.

In the Disk Cleanup dialog box, on the Disk Cleanup tab, select the check boxes for the file types that you want to delete, and then click OK.

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Click Delete files in the next window that appears.

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3.) Don’t run too many programs at once.

Lots of web browser windows or tabs and open email  messages can particularly bog things down. Reply to the messages and close them as soon as possible.  Also, keep only necessary browser windows and tabs open.

One of the most common causes of a slow Windows system is having more than one antivirus program running. Action Center will notify you if you are running more than one program at the same time. Action Center can be accessed from the flag icon on the task bar to the lower right of the screen.

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By selecting Open Action Center, Windows can help you remove one of the antivirus programs.

For more ways to speed up your home or office systems, consult your local IT professionals.

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Onsite_PC_Solution_Windows_Performance

Has Windows slowed down significantly since you first purchased your machine?  Here are 3 steps to help speed up your Windows 7 or 8 system.

1.) The Performance Troubleshooter automatically finds the culprits that are slowing you down

To open the Performance Troubleshooter, click the Start button and then click Control Panel.

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Type troubleshooter in the search box and then click Troubleshooting.

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Click Check for performance issues under System and Security.

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Click Next. Windows will attempt to pinpoint the issues that are slowing it down.

2.) Deleting programs you never use to help speed up your system

This can include manufacturer’s programs, as well as ones you installed or didn’t mean to install. Utility programs are notorious for dragging Windows down. These include virus scanners, backup tools, and disk cleaners.

To uninstall a program, click Control Panel from the Start button.

Next select Programs and Features.

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Select the program you want to get rid of and click Uninstall.

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3.) Limit the number of programs that run at startup

Programs that run in the background that you don’t need waste memory and slow down the startup time for Windows.

You can find many of these programs in the Notification Area of the Windows taskbar. This area is at the bottom right of the screen.

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By clicking the up arrow, you can see the hidden icons, showing some of the programs that are running in the background.

Other background programs can be detected by AutoRun for Windows.

By un-checking a box next to the undesired startup program, you can prevent it from running when the computer starts.

Another way to examine and remove startup programs is with the System Configuration Tool.  To open this, click the Start button, type msconfig in the search box, and click the the same- named icon.

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Click the Startup tab and sort through the programs to find the ones you want prevent from starting.

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If you are not sure whether it is safe to remove the program, perform a Google search of the program name. There is a possibility that the program you are removing is an essential process or one that enhances the functionality of the operating system.

For more information on speeding up a sluggish computer, consult your local IT professionals.

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In the never ending battle to keep your computer running quickly and smoothly, one of the less obvious culprits are the programs that start each time you start your computer.  Most if not all programs load in the background so you don’t actually see them starting up.  They are however taking up resources and slowing your computer down not just when they are running, but especially when they are starting up.

Here’s how you can use the free program CCleaner to manage your startup programs, spare your computer’s memory and keep it running fast.

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1. Download and install CCleaner free

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2. Open CCleaner

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3. Click on Tools and Right click on any startup programs that are not 100% needed and disable them from starting up

If you are not sure which programs are necessary and which are not, consult with your office or home IT support.

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A slow computer is not just a pain to work with but it can drastically slow down your productivity at home or in the office. There are almost an unlimited number of reasons your computer is running slowly. If the slowness started after a new software or hardware update, or you recently recovered from a virus infection, here are some steps to take to speed up your home or office computers as well as your productivity.

Remember to always backup your data before trying any of the tips below.

    1. Run a virus scan. Modern viruses run in the background and hog up your computer’s resources

 

    1. Delete temporary files stored on your computer. Go to My Computer-> Right click on the C drive->click Properties then select Disk CleanupDisk_Cleanup

 

    1. Download the latest Windows updates, hotfixes and Service Packs

 

    1. Uninstall unused programs: Start button->Control Panel->Programs and Features Remove programs you no longer use. If something doesn’t look familiar, leave it alone as it may be required for your computer to run properly

 

    1. Don’t run unnecessary programs at start-up

 

    1. Update your operating systemwin7_rtm_08

 

    1. Purchase a new computer. Computers have become so affordable these days that the best performance boost you can get for the price is purchasing a new computer for your home or office

 

If the above tips don’t help, contact your local computer repair shop to have a computer tech examine it.

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