FREE SPEED BOOST  - 8 STEPS TO A FAST PC!

START NOW: 12 Minutes Tune-Up

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FREE SPEED BOOST: 8 SIMPLE STEPS TO A FASTER PC…

#1 - Remove Temporary Files from Your Hard Drive
Windows uses temp files to perform various tasks, and store files. But these files can remain on your hard drive long after you are done with them. Periodically removing/ deleting them can create more space available on your hard drive, and increase performance.

1. Click My Computer Right-click on the hard drive and select Properties.
2. In the General tab, click on Disk Cleanup. A new window will open with check marks next to various sections including Temporary Internet Files, Temporary Files and Recycle Bin.
3. You can check all of these, but we recommend that any options to compress files should be unchecked. Compressing files may save some space, but it will slow your computer down significantly.
4. Click OK, and then confirm that you want to delete them.

#2 - Reduce Recycling Bin Size
The default setting for windows Recycling Bin can be 10 percent of your available hard drive space! With the size of new hard drives hitting 200 GB, this is far too much. Follow the steps below to resize your Recycling Bin. And don’t forget to delete files from the recycling bin periodically.

1. Right-click on the Recycle Bin on your desktop.
2. Select Properties.
3. Drag the slider to 2 percent.
4. Click Apply.
5. Click OK.

#3 - Internet Optimization
Decreasing the size of your Internet browser cache will help keep it from becoming overloaded, and slowing down your machine. We recommend setting it to around 50- 60 Mb.

    MS Explorer

1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. Click on the Tools menu and select Internet Options.
3. Under Temporary Internet Files click Settings.
4. Adjust the slider or manually enter a size in megabytes.
5. Click OK.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Open Firefox.
2. Click on the Tools menu and Options.
3. Select the Privacy section and click on the Options tab.
4. Enter a size in megabytes.
5. Click OK.

#4 Internet Optimization (Continued)
Internet Files Deleting temporary Internet files from your browser, can dramatically improve your browsing speed. MS Explorer

    Open Internet Explorer

1. Click on the Tools menu and select Internet Options.
2. Under Temporary Internet Files click Settings.
3. Click Delete Cookies, Delete Files
4. Click Clear History, or reduce the history to below 20 days.
5. Click OK.

Mozilla Firefox

1. Open Firefox.
2. Click on the Tools menu and Options.
3. Select the Privacy section and click on the Options menu.
4. Click the Settings tab, and review which items will be deleted.
5. Un-check the Saved Passwords, and any other form of data you do not want to lose.
6. Click OK.
7. Then click Clear Now button in the Private Data section
8. Click OK

#5 Uninstall Programs You Don't Use
Having a lot of games and applications on your PC can rapidly fill up your hard drive and make running the programs you use every day more difficult. Also, most new computers come with demo versions of software, or free-ware that you probably didn't even know was loaded on your computer. Deleting these programs can free up much needed space on the hard drive, and increase its speed.

1. Click on Start and open the Control Panel.
2. Select Add or Remove Programs. The list may take a few seconds to open completely.
3. Once the list appears, find the program you’d like to remove and click on it. The box will be highlighted and extra options will appear to the right.
4. Click on the Remove tab and follow the directions laid out by the uninstaller program.

#6 - Clean Up Your Desktop
Having many files and folders stored on your desktop can slow down your machine. It is preferable to store files and folders within the My Documents folder. This also makes backing up your data much easier, and helps your computer find the path to the files quicker. You may also have unused shortcuts scattered throughout your desktop. Drag any shortcuts you don’t use to the Recycle Bin. And delete. Use the Shortcut function to place new shortcuts to folders you frequently use.

1. Find the file you wish to create a shortcut
2. Right-click on the file, and select Create Shortcut

#7 - Clean/Repair Windows Registry
Problems with the Windows Registry are a common cause of Windows crashes and error messages.  Problems can occur for many reasons, including references left behind after uninstallation; incorrect removal of software, missing or corrupt hardware drivers, or orphaned start-up programs.  **If you are looking for a FREE solution, try Eusing's Free Registry Cleaner software.  This is a FREE download from Eusing's website, and is an excellent choice.  We have also listed a few other products (best paid services) at the bottom of this page.

# 8 - Defragmenting Your Hard Drive – Final Step
“Defraging” your hard drive works by moving fragmented (or non-continuous) sections of data to unused parts of the hard drive. It then re-assembles the fragmented sections into one continuous section on the hard drive. Thus, optimizing the storage of data, and increasing the speed at which the computer can search for the information. The process may take several hours if you haven’t performed this recently. Our suggestion is to run defrag just before you’ve finished up for the night. In the morning you should see a new image of your hard drive, and notice an improvement in the performance.

1.    Right-click on the Start Menu

2.    Select Programs

3.    Select Accessories

4.    Select System Tools

5.    Select "Disk Defragmenter" (or Defrag).