It's really a shame that the PC manufacturers don't take the overwhelming demands of Windows software into consideration when building or upgrading their new models.
Unlike Macs where the hardware and operating system software are produced by the same company, the PC industry is a hodgepodge of computers from different manufacturers that seem to ignore the hefty RAM needs, demanded by all Windows programs.
If you're one of the users who either voluntarily upgraded to Vista, or went kicking and screaming, you're probably stuck with a computer that runs about as fast as your original 386.
Here are some tips on speeding up your computer:
- Increase your RAM. Vista needs at least 2 GB to even move. If you have a 32 bit computer, most of these max out at 4 GB so increasing RAM has its own limits. However, even adding 1 GB can result in some immediate benefits.
- Vista code is written so that when it runs earlier versions of Microsoft programs, everything comes to a virtual standstill. For instance, if you are using Outlook 2003 you will get error codes, rebooting and complete stalling. Same is true for all Windows based programs, even those not produced by Microsoft (e.g., Quicken). If you want speed, you may need to replace your frequently used programs with all the latest versions.
- If you use nothing other than Outlook even in its latest version (2007), you will see problems with speed because Outlook needs every ounce of memory it can suck up, and then some. Add another GB at least, especially if you need other programs open at the same time.
- Clean out your temp files and your recycle bin. Even your deleted files stay on your computer soaking up memory as long as they stay in the recycle bin, which needs to be manually emptied just like a regular trash can. Go to My Computer, right click on Drive C, choose Properties, General tab, Disk Cleanup. Check each box and hit OK.
- Buy and use regularly a “registry cleaner”. This finds all sorts of junky data you don't need and gets rid of it. The first time you use it you can expect some amazing results and an obvious increase in speed. Run it twice a week and it will keep all that space freed up on your drive.
- Is your computer always trying to “index files”? This is one of the most common complaints of Vista users. In reality, individual computers don't need to have anything indexed. Unfortunately, there isn't one easy way to just tell your computer to STOP forever. There is a way, however, to turn off individual files that are scheduled to be indexed.
- Double click on your My Computer icon
- Rick click on Drive C
- Choose Properties
- On the General tab, uncheck the box that says “Allow indexing service…”
- Click Apply
- The next box asks you to confirm changes – click OK
- You will then see “ignore all” – click on that and the system will then stop indexing all these files.
- NOTE: This will have no effect on indexing Outlook files. The only way around this is to stop using Outlook OR add enough RAM so that the indexing can easily run in the background unnoticed.
- Vista provides some very robust graphics for its icons, backgrounds, etc., however, all these bells and whistles that make Vista look good also slow it down.
- Don't use a desktop background! It might look nice, but the picture alone could be soaking up most of your RAM. Change to a plain color. Considering the fact that you don't even get to look at your desktop 98% of the time you're using your computer, why even bother with anything other than a simple plain single colored background?
- Instead of using all these pretty icons that come standard with Vista, you can actually revert to the Windows XP squared off gray colored icons. Go to your control panel, Personalization, Windows Colors and Appearance, and from the drop down menu select “Windows Standard”
- Check for unnecessary programs and services running in the background. Open your Windows Task Manager and click on the Processes tab. Most of these have readily identifiable names that can be stopped by using the “end process” button at the bottom. Windows allows many processes to run in the background even though you are not using the associated program. For instance, things like Media Center and Media Tray keep running when there is no need for them. Another issue you will find is that multiple instances of Internet Explorer appear. Make sure that each instance of Internet Explorer that shows in the Processes is the same number of pages you have open. All too frequently you may close a window but it doesn't disappear from the Processes which means the system is still allotting that much memory to its use.
Tags: computer fix, windows