Three Things You Can Do to Keep Your Computer Running at Maximum Performance -

Home
>
Personal Technology
>
Three Things You Can Do to Keep Your Computer Running at Maximum Performance

Three Things You Can Do to Keep Your Computer Running at Maximum Performance

Although there are many things that can affect the performance of your computer, there are a few simply things you can do each month to help keep your computer running at maximum performance. This article will focus on two problems that impact the performance of your computer and will then explain what you can do about it.

Problem #1: Computer Hard Disk Files
Your computer is always writing information to your hard disk, no matter what you do. Your computer attempts to keep all file information in the same location on your hard drive. As you add and delete files, blank spaces are left between your files. As you add new programs or files, your computer tries to use these blank spaces.

Over time, this reading and writing of files can affect the way your computer performs. The files eventually become scattered in multiple locations on your hard disk rather than in the same location.

Your computer will still find the information. However, the more scattered the information becomes on your hard drive, the more accesses your computer has to make to find (and gather) the information. This requires your hard disk to work harder and do more reading/writing than is necessary. It will slow down your computer by as much as 200% and causes increased wear and tear on your hard drive.

Problem #2: Spyware
If you use the Internet, at some point you will download a file or software program onto your computer. Sometimes you will know something is being downloaded to your computer. Other times you will have no idea. (Although this article will not talk about small files called "cookies", you may want to look up information on this subject. Cookies are written onto your computer from the Internet.)

Free computer programs (often referred to as Freeware) are a big hit on the Internet. Every day thousands of users download these "free programs". Although there are some great freeware programs, these programs often have advertisements or tracking code associated with their use. The term "Spyware" refers to programs that gather information about your computer and (Internet) surfing habits without your knowledge. This information is then sold to a third party company as a means of generating revenue.

The problem with Spyware is that it also impacts the performance of your computer. It can make your computer very sluggish and unresponsive.

Three Steps to Improved Computer Performance
Now that we've discussed two problems that affect the performance of your computer, let's discuss three things you can do to get your computer performance back to normal. You should do these three steps in the order presented. Ideally, you should repeat them about once a month or whenever you notice a change in your computer's performance.

Step #1: Delete Spyware
The first thing you should do is to delete spyware files or programs from your computer. To do this, you can use a free software program such as Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition from LavaSoft. To get the program, go to www.download.com and search for "Ad-Aware SE" (without the quotes). Select "Download Now" and follow the installation instructions. Once the program is installed, you can scan your computer for spyware files. Then, you can select and delete them from your computer.

Note #1: Always be sure to use the "Check for updates now" option to keep your program current.

Note #2: You need to be aware that when you delete spyware files, some of those "free" programs you downloaded may not continue to work correctly. If you have a program you've downloaded and want to continue to use, check very carefully what you select to delete from the "Scanning results" once the scan has been completed.

Step #2: Clean up your Hard Disk
Once the spyware is removed, you need to clean up temporary and unwanted files from your hard disk. To do this on your windows PC, select the start option in the lower left hand corner of your computer screen. Then, select the program option. Under the program option, select "Accessories". Under the "Accessories" option, select "System Tools". From the System Tools option, select "Disk Cleanup".

Select the drive you want to clean from the pull-down menu and select OK. Usually, this is Drive C. If you have more than one hard drive, select one at a time. This program will then scan your computer for files that could be erased from your computer. You can safely erase all temporary and Recycle Bin files. You can also check the box of any other files you want the program to erase.

Step #3: Defrag your Hard Disk
Once all the spyware and temporary files are removed, you need to defrag your hard disk. This process simply rewrites your computer files so they are no longer scattered all over your hard disk, but are written in the same location for quick sequential access.

To defrag your hard disk on your windows PC, select the start option in the lower left hand corner of your computer screen. Then, select the program option. Under the program option, select "Accessories". Under the "Accessories" option, select "System Tools". From the System Tools option, select "Disk Defragmenter". First, select the hard drive from your computer. Usually, this is Drive C. However, many computers have multiple hard drives. Select one at a time.

You can select "Analyze" to have the program check out the hard drive and see if it needs to be defragged. The program will prompt you at the completion of its analysis. Use the defragment option as prompted.

Note: If you've never used this option before, I would recommend that you select the defragment option.

Once, you've completed these three steps, your computer and hard disk should be able to operate at maximum performance. Don't forget to repeat these steps at least once a month or whenever you notice a change in your computer's performance.

Larry Andrew is an educational consultant, author and publisher of http://www.ez-software-review.com. Learn how to purchase cheap, reliable and quality software for your home, school and business.

In The News:

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.mediapost.com/publications/%3Ffa%3DArticles.showArticleHomePage%26art_aid%3D92048cid=1254845412ei=tErqSMijHKjk6gPyyOQ_usg=AFQjCNGqdP4UmQ99RmV0k3miM5veI_Fw2gJust How bTech/b Savvy Does The Next President Need To Be?/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMediapost.com,nbsp;NYnbsp;-/font nobr5 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1These results are not surprising, given how each campaign uses btechnology/b and the candidates reported bpersonal technology/b use (see above). b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2008/09/30/DI2008093001430.htmlcid=0ei=tErqSMijHKjk6gPyyOQ_usg=AFQjCNH0NEOKPX-TjQIflKlUDt2g_BWoBgWashington Post bPersonal Technology/b Columnist/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fWashington Post,nbsp;United Statesnbsp;-/font nobrOct 2, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The Washington Post#39;s Rob Pegoraro will be online Thursday, Oct. 2 at 2 pm ET to discuss recent reviews and answer your bpersonal tech/b questions. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi%3Ff%3D/c/a/2008/10/06/BUCE13B8VG.DTL%26type%3Dtechcid=1254672015ei=tErqSMijHKjk6gPyyOQ_usg=AFQjCNEnaf7mYzT2pYlPrYuVZwZa1y8nWgA daily dose of postings from The Chronicle#39;s btechnology/b blog b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fSan Francisco Chronicle,nbsp; USAnbsp;-/font nobr10 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1There#39;s no shortage of places online to tell bpersonal/b stories. Want to write about your children? Go to a mommy site. Your vacation? Go to a travel site. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do%3Fcommand%3DviewArticleBasic%26articleId%3D9116298%26intsrc%3Dnews_ts_headcid=1254788180ei=tErqSMijHKjk6gPyyOQ_usg=AFQjCNHlsyp7lraV7UM3CEPu0CEWZA7SoQHigh-btech/b rides: Cars with cool btechnology/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fComputerworld,nbsp;MAnbsp;-/font nobr5 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Some car manufacturers are even designing their cars to offer a bpersonal/b touch by pulling up drivers#39; preferences based on fingerprint and other biometric b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.tricitiessports.com/default.asp%3Fsourceid%3D%26smenu%3D80%26twindow%3DDefault%26mad%3DNo%26sdetail%3D29166%26wpage%3D1%26skeyword%3D%26sidate%3D%26ccat%3D%26ccatm%3D%26restate%3D%26restatus%3D%26reoption%3D%26retype%3D%26repmin%3D%26repmax%3D%26rebed%3D%26rebath%3D%26subname%3D%26pform%3D%26sc%3D1131%26hn%3Dtricitiessports%26he%3D.comcid=1253501266ei=tErqSMijHKjk6gPyyOQ_usg=AFQjCNHI_IKBEgqopT4buzasRXJllll8YQimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=n8uGeq89QcoJimgurl=www.tricitiessports.com/clients/tricitiessports/10-4-2008-8-22-26-PM-9342967.jpg width=80 height=64 alt= border=1brfont size=-2TricitiesSports.com/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.roanoke.com/sports/vtfootball/wb/179370cid=1253501266ei=tErqSMijHKjk6gPyyOQ_usg=AFQjCNH9LZEnJYxcWXTvazIlnmy2_tDLiwStale Hokies prevail/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fRoanoke Times,nbsp;VAnbsp;-/font nobr6 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1bTech/b wins its fifth straight, but feels there#39;s work to be done on its bye week. By Randy King Virginia bTech#39;s/b Darren Evans (32) leaps over Western b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.idahostatesman.com/470/story/523620.htmlcid=1253501266ei=tErqSMijHKjk6gPyyOQ_usg=AFQjCNF_bk8eGpEPFDc4wlHWfDKKbZaM7wRecap: Virginia bTech/b vs. Western Ky/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrIdahoStatesman.com/nobr/font/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.idahostatesman.com/470/story/523533.htmlcid=1253501266ei=tErqSMijHKjk6gPyyOQ_usg=AFQjCNFFyPB5b4MLV0I1tmIr_Zg2Qme_iQNo. 20 Virginia bTech/b holds on to beat W. Kentucky/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrIdahoStatesman.com/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1253501266hl=ennobrall 205 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.masshightech.com/stories/2008/10/06/daily10-Tagsys-donates-60K-worth-of-RFID-tech-to-Merrimack-College.htmlcid=1254785579ei=tErqSMijHKjk6gPyyOQ_usg=AFQjCNGZ6QA3or5FQ9YolncPU8R5ydix9wTagsys donates $60K worth of RFID btech/b to Merrimack College/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMass High Tech,nbsp; USAnbsp;-/font nobr2 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The line is intended to help service providers track garments such as medical uniforms, work uniforms, bed sheets, hotel and restaurant linens and bpersonal/b b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

personal tech - Google News