Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Computer Tech - How to tune up your computer for free!

The following are ways to optimize your computer and increase overall load times and memory usage. I have been doing this for several years now and have found these methods very effective on customer computers. This is the true "Free PC TuneUp"!

1. CCleaner

CCleaner is a program that will clear out your computers temp files and fix your registry. I run this program on every computer i receive regardless of what it needs.

2. Msconfig

Msconfig is a windows tool that is used to configure startup programs. Search for it on your computer or start/run/msconfig. Click the startup tab and from there you can configure what programs you actually use when you start your computer. I usually only leave the entries that relate to drivers or the computer, though you do not have to. If its an entry for a program like quicktime/skype/google/messenger/adobe/office etc. I uncheck it. You can drastically increase your startup time and overall computer performance using this tool. This is one of the most useful tools in windows.

3. Disk Defrag
Defragmenting your hard drive will increase your read/write times to your hard drive which will increase your performance. Check out Defraggler by piriform, the same company that makes CCleaner. I use it along with the standard windows defragmenter every couple of months.

4. Others
If you have a desktop computer make sure it is free of dust. Spray it out!
Reset your internet explorer to all defaults in internet options if you use it.
Check what plugins and addons you have installed in firefox! Remember everything you have added increases the amount of memory needed to run firefox. If necessary reinstall firefox or reset it to get a fresh fox with no additional addons or plugins. The difference in memory usage can be huge sometimes!
Update your computer with windows update! Stop ignoring it, I know you do!
Uninstall programs you do not use.

38 comments:

  1. Already downloaded CCleaner but will continue to follow this post. Thanks for the help.

    ReplyDelete
  2. CCleaner is awesome! i use it daily

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love cc cleaner on of the best.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great and easy to follow instructions!
    Really helpful to those who don't know how to tune up their computer :)

    thanks! :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. thanks! that's some really useful info!

    ReplyDelete
  6. As a Technician I can say we use all of these on our clients machines :)

    great post and informative.

    Another great program is "Teracopy" faster than normal windows copying.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thats awesome. Thanks for all the information.

    ReplyDelete
  8. i've been using ccleaner for a while now. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Like frameaj1 said, as a technician these are products I use to tune-up my client's comptuer(s).

    Nice background btw :p

    ReplyDelete
  10. Or just buy a mac (for now at least)

    ReplyDelete
  11. windows advanced system care seems to be an all-in one program.

    ReplyDelete
  12. @-M
    Windows advanced system care is made by a corrupt company. I'd rather use my methods over IOBit software anyday.
    http://antivirus.about.com/od/antivirussoftwarereviews/a/iobittrustingantivirus.htm

    ReplyDelete
  13. Nice tips, I use all of these.

    ReplyDelete
  14. great tips for end-users! just make sure that you don't go switching things your not sure about when using msconfig or your computer might have trouble when it boots.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Once again, great info! I'll probably use this, actually.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Great info I already use all of them, but I'm sure there's a ton out there that are clueless. Keep em coming!

    ReplyDelete
  17. All good stuff but pretty common knowledge. I really hate those "speed up your computer" commercials. Preying on the computer illiterate to make money... oh wait... I'm trying to do the same... Oh well...

    ReplyDelete
  18. I'm going to look more inro this, thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Yep, this is a good list. *Tips hat at you, sir* --Computer Manufacturing Engineer

    ReplyDelete
  20. i've used CC cleaner, its a very good program, but you have to use it often if you dont like it taking ages.

    ReplyDelete
  21. CCleaner will be used today :D

    ReplyDelete
  22. Good info, will use this later

    ReplyDelete
  23. thank you. this is definitely relevant to my interests

    ReplyDelete
  24. great info! another awesome addition could be ninite. it lets you bundle applications for easy installation from the internet. just run the tiny program it gives you and it auto downloads and installs all the software you selected opting out of any crap add-ons. ninite.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. great read following for sure!

    ReplyDelete
  26. CCleaner is good, been using it for over a year now.

    ReplyDelete
  27. CCleaner is a really great program

    ReplyDelete
  28. Great tips. I know to defrag my computer at least but not the others.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I'm a computer forensic examiner. CC cleaner really screws us over if used properly.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Good info. You reminded me I need to do a defrag

    ReplyDelete