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Looking for some speed tweaks to get your slow computer running faster? Here are some quick tips that can produce significant changes in system performance. If you have any questions about any of these tips, please call (919) 962-Help or submit an online help request at http://help.unc.edu . Additional tips can be found in this document [ http://help.unc.edu/3116 ] Windows: Optimizing the Speed & Space of your Hard Disk.
This tip will turn off all of Windows XP's shadowing and fading graphics within menus. This gives the computer less to think about as it goes about its tasks, helping performance. This tip will not work in Windows 9x or Windows 2000.
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To do this, right click on My Computer , and select Properties .
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Select the Advanced tab.
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Under the Performance section at the top, click the Settings button.
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Select Adjust for best performance in the upper-half of the window.
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Now click the Apply button in the lower right.
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If you dislike the changes, you can reset them by choosing Adjust for best appearance .
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You can also check/uncheck items individually in the lower portion of the window.
This tip will help you prevent programs you don't need from starting up. Many programs that start when Windows does will create an icon in the tray in the lower right-hand corner of the screen. For an example we'll use AOL Instant Messenger.
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By right clicking the AIM icon in the system tray you can prevent the program from starting or showing itself in the tray. Many programs can be prevented from starting in this way.
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Depending on the program, you may have to right click the icon, select Preferences, and examine the menu to prevent it from starting or showing itself in the system tray.
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In this example, click on Sign On/Off on the left. Then uncheck the box that says Start AIM when Windows starts . Selecting this option won't remove the program, but will prevent it from starting when Windows starts.
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As you go about disabling programs from starting up, DO NOT disable Socket Watch from starting up, as your OpenAFS client may use it.
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NOTE: If you are not sure whether you should stop a program from starting up, it is best to leave the program alone.
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If you have questions about a program, call (919) 962-HELP.
This tip will help you defragment your computer. Defragmenting moves files so that they lie closer to themselves in terms of physical location on the hard drive, which means smaller file access times. Defragging can take some time, so plan on not using your computer for a while after you start.
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Double click on the My Computer icon to show your computer's hard drives.
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Right-Click on the hard drive (C: etc.) you would like to Defrag, and select Properties .
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Click on the tab at the top of the window, and select Defragment Now .
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You will now see a window with a small picture of hard drives and two buttons at the bottom that say Analyze and Defragment.
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Clicking Analyze will assess whether or not you need to defragment your computer. If so, click . If not, close the window.
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If during your Defrag you get an error message saying other programs are preventing a successful completion, close as many open programs as you can. If you need assistance, please call (919) 962-HELP.
Some programs (Kazaa, Imesh, and others) install software that runs constantly in the background and either collects information on you (spyware) or delivers advertisements (adware). Not only are these programs invading your privacy, they also cause your computer to run more slowly. Sometimes removing spyware or adware means that software like Kazaa that relies on these programs may no longer work. A scan with Ad-aware can take some time, so plan on not using your computer for a while after you start.
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To remove existing spyware and adware, download Lavasoft's shareware version of [ http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/ ] Ad-aware from [ http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10045910.html?part=69274&subj=dlpage&tag=button ] download.com .
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Save the program to your desktop and install it by double-clicking on it.
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After installation is complete, double click on the Ad-aware icon on your desktop (or open it from the Windows Start button, under Programs).
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To begin a scan, click , then .
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During the scan, Ad-aware may seem to pause, but that is normal.
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After the scan, you will be shown the Scanning Results log.
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If the items in the log aren't already checked, right click and choose Select All to put a check next to all of them. Click , then click .
Document Overview
Tags: Spyware, adware, defragment, memorySubjects: Windows
Genre: Tutorial
Audience: Everyone
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
Copyright 2002-2007 The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
This
work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
