Prior to attempting to fix a slow computer, you must make
certain that the information on your computer will be protected. A few of the
procedures applied to fix a slow computer can cause existing but as yet hidden
problems to surface, which may either keep Windows from starting or even
prevent your computer from starting.
However, before you can start with the process of cleaning
and repairing your slow computer, you must first make sure your data files and
other info is safe,
Pay attention to this word of advice! It is imperative that
you make sure your data will be secure. Some of the procedures used to fix a
slow computer may cause existing but as yet concealed problems to show up,
which may either keep Windows from starting or even prevent your computer from
starting.
The initial steps involve backing up your data files, but
even prior to that, you have to get your files ready. Make sure all your
crucial data files are stored in one, easy-to-find location.
Windows generates a personal profile for every user account,
which consists of a set of subfolders in the Documents and Settings folder.
Your profile holds your personal files, usually your photos, music and videos.
After you have done your first backup, additional backing up
and setting up a backup schedule is quick and easy and will take as little as
ten minutes a week. Besides, you will be able to let Windows do nearly all the
work.
Your Outlook Express e-mail messages, Internet Explorer
Favorites and cookies, and information about your settings and preferences are
also stored in the My Documents folder. Move all data files stored elsewhere
into the My Documents folder to make backing up easier. You could for instance
move it to the "D" drive, where your other data files are stored.
This is if either you have two hard dives or the one you have is partitioned.
Setting up a backup schedule after you have done your first
backup, is quick and easy and will take as little as ten minutes a week and it
will be done automatically by Windows.
Windows includes Backup, which does the backups adequately,
although you may need to install it if you are using XP Home edition. If you
use Windows XP Professional, the Windows Backup utility (Ntbackup.exe) should
be ready for use. If you use Windows XP Home Edition, you will need to install
the utility.
Insert your Windows XP CD into the drive and, if necessary,
double-click the CD icon in My Computer. On the Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP
screen, click: Perform Additional Tasks. Click Browse this CD. In Windows
Explorer, double-click the Value Add folder, then Msft, and then Ntbackup.
Double-click Ntbackup.msi to install the Backup utility.
To start Backup:
Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories,
point to System Tools, and then click Backup to start the wizard. Click Next to
skip past the opening page, choose Back up files and settings from the second
page, and then click Next.
Decide what to back up
Don't check the All information on this computer to back up
all the data on your computer. Think again prior to deciding on this option. If
you've installed heaps of software, your backup could add up to several
gigabytes. For most people, the My documents and settings option embodies a
better alternative. This option preserves your data files (including e-mail
messages and address books) and the personal settings stored in the Windows
Registry.
If several people use your computer—as might be the case on
a shared family PC—select Everyone's documents and settings. This option backs
up personal files and preferences for every user with an account on the
computer. If you know that you have data files stored outside your profile,
click Let me choose what to back up.
Decide where to store your backup files:
On the Backup Type, Destination, and Name page, Windows asks
you to specify a backup location. Your computer's hard disk. The easiest but
not ideal backup location is a separate partition from the one you're backing
up. If your hard disk is partitioned into drive C and drive D and your data is
on drive C, you can safely back up to drive D. However, if this hard drive runs
into a problem you may have difficulty in restoring the backups.
Unfortunately, the Windows Backup utility can't save files
directly to a CD-RW or DVD-RW drive. You can backup to the following;
- A Flash memory stick or other removable media. This is an
option if you don't have multiple gigabytes to back up.
- A shared network drive. You're limited only by the amount
of free space on the network shared drive.
- An external hard drive. External hard drives have dropped
in price lately. Consider getting an 100 GB or larger drive and dedicating it
for use as a backup device.
- You may be able to find a website to which they will let
you backup for a nominal fee.
After you've chosen a backup location, enter a name for the
file, click Next to display the wizard's final page.
Setting up a Backup Schedule:
You can repeat the backup steps once each week and perform
regular backups, but it may be better to set up an automatic backup schedule
for Windows. When you get to the final page of the Backup Wizard, don't click
Finish. Click the Advanced button, and click Next to open the When to Back Up
page. Choose Later, and then click Set Schedule to open the Schedule Job dialog
box. You can set almost any schedule you want by looking at the options
available in this dialog box.
After you click OK to save your changes, Windows runs the
backup automatically. Don’t forget to leave your computer on. You can back up 5
GB of data in about 10 minutes. In addition, you don't need to worry about
shutting down running programs, either, thanks to a feature called volume
shadow copy, the Backup utility can safely create a copy of any file, even if
it's currently in use.
Except for Windows backup, there are other options you can
use. In fact, just about any type of backup is better than doing nothing and
hoping that your data will magically take care of itself. We copy our data
files to DVD, because we can then delete older data files on the hard drive,
which take up a lot of space. It also comes in handy if you need a certain file
again for, say, a reprint.
Now that you have done the backup of your files, you can start
with the process of fixing your slow computer.
To really speed up your slow computer you need to:
- Remove unused applications.
- Clean your browser’s history, temp data and your Favorite
or Bookmark list.
- Optimize the Windows Registry
- Scan for and remove threats like viruses, malware etc.
- Make the boot process considerably faster.
- Kill all those superfluous startup applications.
- Free your PC’s memory whenever possible.
- Schedule your cleanup programs to run automatically.
- Place all your data files together in one easy to use
location.
- Defrag and organize your disks so that your most used
files are in the fast lane.
- Optimize, tune and tweak your PC for optimal speed and
stability.
I have researched and tested several products over a period
of several months and in order for me to get our slow PC’s performance up to
speed again, I made use of not less than 17 different products, each of which
is designed to do a certain task on the computer. Eventually we ended up using
11 of these apps (all freeware) on a regular basis, which keeps our PC’s
performing clean and error free. Read more here...
In forthcoming articles, I’ll explain to you step by
step, how to get rid of unnecessary startup programs, how to clear out
forgotten programs, unused, unnecessary and junk files and how to clean and
streamline the Windows registry.
Tom has been fascinated by computers ever since he bought his first Sinclair ZX81 Computer in 1983. It used a standard cassette recorder for recording programs and the monitor was an ordinary black and white television set.
Tom says that since then he has been hooked on computers and he's sure he has spent more time behind a computer screen than he's been sleeping.
Improve the performance of your slow computer and make it faster than it has ever been, even when it was brand new. How To Fix Your Slow Computer shows you how to easily get rid of slow performance, hang-ups, funny behaviour and system failures.
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