by 9 people |
Keeping Your Computer Healthy
Is your computer feeling abit sluggish? Overtime computers can build up alot of junk that slows them down. Long start-ups, computer crashes, freezing & slow performance in general can all result. Keeping your computer healthy isnt as hard as it sounds & even beginners can do it.
This brief guide covers the basics, aswell as providing several links which cover some slightly more advanced topics.
This brief guide covers the basics, aswell as providing several links which cover some slightly more advanced topics.
Contents
So Whats Happening?
Brief Information About Computer Performance
All most everybody has a computer in thier home these days, or regularly acesses one. As advanced as computers may be, they slowly get cluttered and filled with junk. Similar to your home (if your anything like me) When you buy it, its clean and neat, but slowly space fills up, things get damaged and before long you run out of space.
Keeping your computer healthy is important to keeping your computer running at its peak aswell as increasing its lifespan. You may think you need a computer upgrade, but maybe you just need to clean it out abit.
Keeping your computer healthy is important to keeping your computer running at its peak aswell as increasing its lifespan. You may think you need a computer upgrade, but maybe you just need to clean it out abit.
Basic Computer Health
The Very Basics
As the famous saying goes "Prevention is better then a cure." And this couldnt be anymore true for computers. If you can prevent your computer from becoming cluttered in the first place, then you'll save yourself time and possibly a headache. So heres a few tips to keep your computer healthy on the day to day:-Only install programs you need.
-Delete files/un-install programs.
-Be aware of how much space your computer has.
-Organise your files! Make sure you dont have duplicates.
-Empty Your Recycle Bin.
-Clear Your Internet History.
The Defrag
Smoothing Out Your Computer's Performance
Defraging your computer is the fastest and easiest way to increase your computers performance. to access the defrag (on XP/2000/Vista):
Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter
Alternatively:
Right click on My Computer, select Manage, and click on Disk Defragmenter.
Click on the hard disk you want to defrag, and click on the Defragment button. Defragging can take time, but you'll be able to see the progress as the graphical display of your hard disks state is periodically updated. (IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED YOU DONT TOUCH YOUR COMPUTER DURING DEFRAG PROCESS)
Hold up! I dont want anything rearranged on my computer! DONT WORRY, Defragging doesnt move any of your files, even though it makes it sound like it does. All your files are stored on a disk (your hard drive)Problems occur when half your program is on one side of that disk and the other half on the other side, this takes time and can wear out your hard drive.
By defraging your hard disk rearranges itself so that programs are located next to eachother, this allows them to open faster.
Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter
Alternatively:
Right click on My Computer, select Manage, and click on Disk Defragmenter.
Click on the hard disk you want to defrag, and click on the Defragment button. Defragging can take time, but you'll be able to see the progress as the graphical display of your hard disks state is periodically updated. (IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED YOU DONT TOUCH YOUR COMPUTER DURING DEFRAG PROCESS)
Hold up! I dont want anything rearranged on my computer! DONT WORRY, Defragging doesnt move any of your files, even though it makes it sound like it does. All your files are stored on a disk (your hard drive)Problems occur when half your program is on one side of that disk and the other half on the other side, this takes time and can wear out your hard drive.
By defraging your hard disk rearranges itself so that programs are located next to eachother, this allows them to open faster.
Video Of Defragging Windows XP.
Just So You Know Exactly What You're Doing
How To Defrag Your Windows XP Hard Drive
The Prefetch
Clearing Out Windows.
Windows is designed to be smart, everytime you open a program windows remembers this and makes a temporary copy of this program in its 'Prefetch' folder, so when you open it next time, it will load faster.
Problem is, how many things have you opened on your computer and then never opened again? Quite a few i imagine, Its best to keep the prefetch full of things you use only on a regular basis, this will help startup times and general computer performance.
To reach the prefetch folder:
My Computer > Local Disk (C: by default) > Windows > Prefetch
Select everything in this folder and delete it.
Problem is, how many things have you opened on your computer and then never opened again? Quite a few i imagine, Its best to keep the prefetch full of things you use only on a regular basis, this will help startup times and general computer performance.
To reach the prefetch folder:
My Computer > Local Disk (C: by default) > Windows > Prefetch
Select everything in this folder and delete it.
EasyCleaner
A Simple Program To Help Out
EasyCleaner is a small program which searches the Windows registry for entries that are pointing nowhere. EasyCleaner also lets you delete all kinds of unnecessary files such as temps and backups. You can search for duplicate files and you can view some interesting info about your disk space usage!You are also able to manage startup programs, invalid shortcuts and add/remove software list.
EasyCleaner is exactly that its easy. You can download it for free Here
There is plenty of information on the site about how to use it, but ill cover the basics here. The best features of EasyCleaner are Registry, Unnecessary & Startup.
By using the Registry & Unnecessary features, EasyCleaner will list all your invalid and unnecessary files, all of which can be deleted. Clearing vital computer space.
By using the Startup feature, EasyCleaner displays all the programs told to run on startup, msn for example. Here you can easily stop programs you dont want running on startup (when you log on) This is very helpful in speeding up your startup times.
If your unsure about what programs should be running on startup, search for them on this website.
Removing Viruses & Spyware
Getting Rid Off Pests
Viruses and Spyware can slow down your computer, steal your information or make your computer unable to run.There are countless numbers of FREE Spyware and Virus programs that do the trick, but they are too many mention here, Please check out this page for virus and spyware removal information.
Computer Viruses & Spyware Removal Tools
Other Helpful Sites
For More Info
- Social Geeks
- Social Geeks is a tech based social network, the home for Techies, Hackers and includes over 3400 flash games! Got a tech problem? Ask away on thier forums.
- Geekdout.Net
- Simplifying Tech One Post at a Time, Geekdout is your resource for all your computer related isses and queries. Geekdout covers numerous categories and is regularly updated with insightful information.
- Top 7 Ways to Speed Up Your Computer
- Everyone knows that Windows computers can sometimes slow down over time. While not an exhaustive list of solutions to problems, this collection presents seven ways to speed up a computer.
Comments & Queries
Is Your Computer Running Faster?
Ramkitten wrote...
Thank you for adding this lens to Squidoo Lenses That Don't Sell A Thing. Wow! A technology-related lens with no sales modules? I never woulda thunk it. Nicely done, and very helpful. I don't know much about this, but I'm going to do a couple of the things you've suggested here. Thanks.
Posted April 08, 2009
Mortira wrote...
Great tips! We delete our browsing history at least twice a week, and always defrag after removing programs. We've been using the same computer for years with no problems! It really pays to take care of your electronics. * * * * *
Posted February 22, 2009
Snozzle wrote...
Excellent info and a reminder to myself that I must defrag again - thanks!
Mike.
Posted February 22, 2009
Marijoyce wrote...
Wow. Great lens. Just what I needed to get my computer back into shape. Thanks.
Posted February 15, 2009
Lensmaster
daninozz
This guide is fantastic it helped me soo much. finaly got my computer on the right track again :)
Posted December 17, 2008
by SammySpam
Sam is a self confessed computer addict. He loves earning money online and computer gaming. When he's not in front of the computer, he is playing socc... (more)
