How do I make my computer run faster?

Question

Hi all,

Over the past few weeks my laptop has been running significantly slower then usual. When browsing the net, pages will randomly freeze and explorer will shut down and close all other explorer windows open.

I regualrly defrag my hard drive (when it says its needed) and perform disk clean-up. I also run weekly virus check (using norton) and weekly adware scan (using Window's Defender.)

Earlier I also went through all my installed software and uninstalled things which I no longer use. When doing this I saw I have two versions of Yahoo messenger in my add/remove list.. one named 'Get Yahoo' sized 29.39MB and the other named 'Yahoo! messenger' sized 25.27MB. The funny thing they both state that they were last used in June when I use it everyday?! I obviously dont need both... does anyone know which one is safe to delete or would just have to take a lucky guess?

If anyone has any other useful tips to help make your system run quicker? any other software? help appreciated

i check for spyware also using Ad-aware from Lavasoft and Windows defender.

Answer 1

Hi, Thanks for question.. here are the tips and tricks
1. Empty Your Desktop.
2. Empty ur task bar items .. u can access it from Start menu to .. it will always make a process which consume memory.
3. Check out system configuration utility and check whether all important softwares are loaded? remove yahoo messenger, quick pic and any other messenger etc from list.. if u want to use it .. use it explicitly that is load it when required
3. Another thing, don't use Yahoo Toolbar unless needed.. if you don't want to use it close it for a while.. it also consume memory.. U can uninstall and reinstall yahoo messenger by customizing setup to provide only Yahoo messenger not all.
4. Check out your performance setting..
and improve the application performance..
5. make ur desktop low weighted i.e. got to desktop options and Uncheck all special effect of windwos like smoothing movement, all possible color etc.
I think it will work..

Answer 2

I looked at my programs and I have Yahoo Browser and Yahoo Messenger. Both of these are needed.

It seems to me that you have done just about everything that is required to have a smooth running computer.

My only suggestion is that if you have a lot of music file or if you are running a large gaming program, they may be slowing it down. I would delete as much music as possible and get rid of your pictures if you have any and download them to Yahoo pictures for safe keeping.

Do you have all of the lastes patches and updates from Microsoft Windows?

Good luck.

Answer 3

Try to use firefox whenever possible.
Or get the latest version ie7 if you do not have it already. You may have to set autoupdate feature of windows update to ON.
Use privoxy, a small proxy server, uses very little resources, but is very helpful to monitor all internet activities arising from your computer. Install it, and set your browser to use a proxy server at port 8118. When it runs it gives you a online log of each file requested by your browser, it has even filters to block banners, ads from a web page, it gives you control on what you want to see, and what you do not want to see on a given page. Blocking advertises also frees some internet bandwidth.

Answer 4

That definitely seams like virus no way.
Tray McAfee security center it includes every thing inside or Norton Internet Security.

Answer 5

If you are sure u do not have a virus. then try yahoo anti spy
spy-wear slows down your PC a great deal.

http://toolbar.yahoo.com/

Answer 6

first mayb u could buy a different computer or a new one or u could buy a new processor for it thats wat makes it run fast or u could take it to someone or sum place and ask them to look at ur laptop and wats wrong with it