what are some ways to speed up my slow computer?

Answer 1

Please have the patience to read ALL of these:

1.Download CCleaner from http://www.ccleaner.com/ and run it’s Cleaner section, once daily, before shutting down your computer. It removes all the trash files that are created while surfing through the net. Use its Issues section once every 2 weeks to delete all the unused registry keys. If you have a lot of Auto Start entries, then you can remove them from its Tools > Startup. But keep the important ones like firewall and the real-time protection shields of your anti-virus and anti-spyware. Another good cleaner, Disk Cleaner, can be used along with CCleaner for even better results. http://www.diskcleaner.nl/download.php

2.Keep a decent anti-virus, a strong firewall and at least two anti-spywares in your computer. Always keep the real time protection shield (or resident shield) of the anti-virus and one of the anti-spyware active. Update them and scan your computer once every week with both the anti-spyware and once every 2 weeks with anti-virus. I have given the links to some free and good anti-virus, anti-spyware and firewall; get them all:
AVG (Download this: avg75free_432a904.exe): http://free.grisoft.com/doc/5390/lng/us/tpl/v5#avg-anti-virus-free
AdAware SE: http://www.download.com/ad-aware-se-pers...
SpyBot Search and Destroy: http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/spy...
Comodo Personal Firewall: http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/
Never keep two anti-virus or firewall on a single system. If you are already using a good anti-virus or firewall, then you need not download the corresponding one. You can, however, use as many anti-spywares as you want, provided you use the real-shield of only one of these.

3.Only for those with 256MB or less RAM: Keep a virtual memory booster as an auto-start entry. It frees the clogged RAM. I use RAM Booster, which is very effective. Here is the link to download it:
http://www.download.com/rambooster/3000-...
After downloading it, follow the steps:
* Click on Edit > Options and tick the follow options:
(a) Set auto optimisation on
(b) Show CPU usage
(c) Start minimised
(d) Launch automatically at start up
Also, change the ‘Auto Optimisation Level’ and 'MB of RAM to free at auto level' as per your requirement.

4.Keep at least 35% of your C: free. Transfer all the music, image and video files to other drives.

5.Defragment the hard drives (especially C:) once every month. To defrag, go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Defragment. It takes a lot of time (50 minutes or over) so don’t become impatient. It’s for your computer’s good.

6.Optional: You may get the free Google Web Accelerator to boost up your Internet speed.
http://webaccelerator.google.com/

7.Keep your Recycle Bin empty.

8.Use minimum possible shortcut icons on your desktop.

9.If you have genuine Windows, then keep it updated every month.

10.Trim down the number of games if you have way too many.

11.You will hate this suggestion, but believe me; blank wallpaper helps a faster startup.

12.Only for those with strong memory: Turn off the automatic updating features of all the software that you have got and manually check for updates once in a while, BUT ONLY IF YOU CAN REMEMBER TO DO SO. For example, if your anti-virus got updated daily, then manually check for updates daily and if it got updated weekly, then check for updates every 3-4 days. Only for genuine Windows XP users: I will also recommend turning off Automatic Update feature and check manually for Windows patches once or twice every month (again only if you can remember to do so). To turn off Automatic Updates, go to Start > Control Panel > Automatic Updates > Turn off Automatic Updates. But the Security Center will show a warning if you do so, so in order to stop it from badgering your head, go to Start > Control Panel > Security Center > Change the way Security Center alerts me. Untick the box next to Automatic Updates. That’s all!!

13. Windows has some highly vulnerable features, which are hardly ever used, but are turned on by default. From the link, you can download a pack of free and absolutely small software (all less than 60KB), which you can use to disable these features. I will recommend downloading “Unplug n’ Pray” (disables Universal Plug n’ Play) and “Shoot the Messenger”. Those who don’t have any Service Pack in their Windows XP (pirated copies) can download “XPDite” to patch up a few vulnerabilities. To test the efficiency of your firewall, you can grab “Leaktest”. All these may seem unrelated to your question, but they do indeed help in speeding up your computer indirectly.
http://www.grc.com/freepopular.htm

If nothing of what I have mentioned works, then its time you upgrade your RAM. For computers connected to the Internet, you should preferably have 512MB or higher RAM. For gaming computers, the minimum should be 1024MB or 1GB of RAM. If your statistics reads less than the values mentioned, then better upgrade. Also, the processor should be at least a Pentium 4 or its equivalent, AMD Athlon. Reformatting the hard drives once every year is also recommended.

Answer 2

The fastest and most cost effective way to speed up your computer, is to add additional RAM memory.

Cleaning out unnecessary files, defragging and other basic computer maintenance will also help.

Answer 3

Theres a few ways, some practical, some not. First you could smash it with a hammer and buy a new one. ( not practical) Second you could buy more memory, the cheapest and easiest way to gain speed ( practical) and third you should update your drivers, get rid of as much crap as you can afford to lose on your hard drive, and then give it a massive defrag. ( very practical)

Then lose the 56k modem and get broadband for gods sake. Its 2007, get with the program.

Answer 4

Clean out the startup list: check things that you don't really need to start every time you boot. Check whether you need to defrag or cleanup your disk.

Answer 5

If you need to download Ccleaner you can find it here http://bitly.com/1sW2eze

It fully protects you pc from virus and malaware!

Answer 6

remove the spyware and limit the programs running at startup