computer cleaning????

Question

My computer is getting a little slow.... how do I clean it out? Other possible solutions appreciated. Please be specific!

Answer 1

10+ things you should know about troubleshooting a slow PC = http://downloads.techrepublic.com.com/download.aspx?docid=172694

Registry tweaks to accelerate Windows XP = http://downloads.techrepublic.com.com/abstract.aspx?docid=173620&tag=nl.e138

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=122339

23 Ways To Speed WinXP = http://www.techbuilder.org/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=59201471
Game XP = http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=game+xp&spell=1
http://www.pcnineoneone.com/training_videos
Windows Powertools (exe) = http://software.techrepublic.com.com/download.aspx?docid=276277&tag=nl.e138

Adding more ram may help. Go to and put in your system specs at = http://www.crucial.com/support/install.asp = "Eliminate the hassle and risk of getting the wrong memory — guaranteed or your money back! In just 3 easy steps our Memory Advisor™ tool will show you exactly the right upgrade for your computer."
http://www.crucial.com/systemscanner = " The Crucial System Scanner automatically detects your computer's information and gives you the details you need to purchase a compatible upgrade. To run the Crucial System Scanner, you need Microsoft Windows 95 or higher. " +
For a good price see: = http://www.newegg.com and/or

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Home.jsp - http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Home.jsp
http://www.memoryx.com/
http://www.4allmemory.com
Test your ram with these: Memtest86L= http://www.memtest.org +

RAM Reliability Test = http://hcidesign.com/memtest

Ram Idle = http://www.freewareweb.com/cgi-bin/archive.cgi?ID=1423
Adding more ram may help.
Also Control/reduce what loads at startup with = Codestuff Starter = http://www.webattack.com/get/starter.shtml .
Clear your cache and go to your local settings folder and empty your "temp" folder.
http://www.tweakhound.com/xp/WindowsXP.htm
Speed tweaks = tweaks and downloads to optimize PC speed without overclocking = http://www.setiathomescreensaverspeed.co.uk/index.html
http://arstechnica.com/guides/tweaks/sgp-tweaks.ars
http://www.tweakxp.com/performance_tweaks.aspx

Windows XP Tweaking – Startup and General Performance Tweaks = http://arstechnica.com/guides/tweaks/sgp-tweaks.ars
= "A guide for tweaking your system."

For desktop pc better performance, I suggest you set your desktop background/wallpaper and screensaver to "none", then right click on desktop, click properties, click 'appearance', choose ' windows classic style'.
Then Start/Settings/Control Panel/Display/display properties/screensaver/monitor power/power schemes/settings/turn off monitor after 10 minutes, and set the next 2 drop down boxes ( 1. Turn off Hard Disks, and 2. System Standby) to "never"/apply/ok/ok.

Go to Start/Settings/Control Panel/System/Advanced tab /under Performance click on Settings / Visual Effects tab/
Adjust for best performance / Ok / Apply / Ok
Then Start/Control Panel/Display/display properties/screensaver/monitor power/hibernate/take check mark out of "Enable hibernation"/apply/ok/ok. Do not to use hibernate on desktop
If I'm going to be away from the pc for more than an hour, or whenever there is lightning in the area, then after shutting it down properly, I unplug the UPS (which all the computer stuff is plugged into) and disconnect the cable.\

To manage your startup programs, use
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/starter.html = CodeStuff Starter

or
http://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml

http://www.pcreview.co.uk/startup

also see = Autoruns = http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/Autoruns.html =
This utility, which has the most comprehensive knowledge of auto-starting locations of any startup monitor, shows you what programs are configured to run during system bootup or login, and shows you the entries in the order Windows processes them. These programs include ones in your startup folder, Run, RunOnce, and other Registry keys. You can configure Autoruns to show other locations, including Explorer shell extensions, toolbars, browser helper objects, Winlogon notifications, auto-start services, and much more. Autoruns goes way beyond the MSConfig utility bundled with Windows Me and XP.
Autoruns' Hide Signed Microsoft Entries option helps you to zoom in on third-party auto-starting images that have been added to your system and it has support for looking at the auto-starting images configured for other accounts configured on a system. Also included in the download package is a command-line equivalent that can output in CSV format, Autorunsc.
You'll probably be surprised at how many executables are launched automatically!
Autoruns works on all versions of Windows including Windows XP 64-bit Edition (for x64) and Windows Server 2003 64-bit Edition (for x64).


http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_scriptuse.html = Silent Runners Revision 49.

http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm

Paul Collins START-UP = http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm
http://sysinfo.org/startuplist.php

Process Explorer = http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/ProcessExplorer.html

http://www.processlibrary.com/freetools/

Startup List 2.02 = http://www.techspot.com/downloads/3552-startup-list.html

http://www.netsquirrel.com/articles/index.html

What's Running is a product that gives you an inside look into your Windows 2000/XP/2003 system. Explore processes, services, modules, IP-connections, drivers and much more through a simple to use application. Find out important information such as what modules are involved in a specific process. Control your system by starting and stopping services and processes. Configure your startup programs easily. = http://www.whatsrunning.net/whatsrunning/main.aspx
Version 2.2 of What's Running = http://www.whatsrunning.net/whatsrunning/main.aspx

http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/ProcessExplorer.html

http://www.processlibrary.com/freetools

http://www.indiahowto.com/how-to-clean-up-windows-xp.html

Clean your cache, = http://www.stevengould.org/software/cleanup and/or
Disk Cleaner = http://www.diskcleaner.nl ,or
Open up IE and go to Tools/Internet Options/General tab and Delete Temp files and History, then Boot into safe mode, = http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001052409420406 , then enable CHKDSK, = Click your "My Computer" in the start menu, R-Click the C: Drive, go down and click on properties in the drop menu. When the properties folder opens, click on the Tools Tab, The first item in the list is to do CHKDSK. Put a check mark in all the boxes/start/yes/apply/ok . The PC should be rebooted in safe mode to do the scan. To view the results of a CHKDSK go to Administrative Tools > Event Viewer > Application, look for the most recent Winlogon event and double-click on it.

Then reboot into safe mode = http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001052409420406?OpenDocument&src=sec_doc_nam , or Start/run/msconfig/Boot.ini tab/check /safeboot - reboot. Afterwards uncheck it and reboot., then go to Start/all programs/accessories/system tools/disk cleanup , and run disk cleanup: Start/All Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Disc Cleanup and put a check in ALL the boxes(Note: Only check the "compress old files" box if you are running very short of disk space, as those files which haven't been accessed recently will be compressed to save disk space, but at the cost of slightly slower access times to those files. Nothing will be deleted or "cleaned up" as a result of checking "Compress Old Files."). Click OK then Yes in the next little window. Let it finish.

Then run Disk Defrag from safe mode. After booting into safe mode go to Start/all programs/accessories/system tools/Disk Defragmenter. When you open "Defrag", click on "analyze", and it will tell you if you need to defrag or not. (or see = http://www.dirms.com ).

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/treeview/default.asp?url=/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/proddocs/chkdsk.asp

Answer 2

Hello. The first thing you might want to check is how many apps are running at the same time. To get a view of what's all happening, click on CTRL+ALT+DELETE. Assuming you've got XP or close to it, it'll show you all that's going on. Maybe some apps could be shut down until you need them. Also, how much SDRAM do you have on your pc? If you've only got 128, then I'd recommend getting either another 128mb card OR if you can and the pc allows get a 256mb SDRAM card. This will give your pc more memory to power and run various apps. You should also run SCAN DISK in System Tools to see where space can be freed up, and if it shows you something do it. Then you should run disk defragmenting in system tools. Click on analyze, and then ONLY if it says so... then defrag your system to make your system files more harmonious and less bushwacky. Also look over on Add+Remove on your system to see which programs you don't need or want. Another thing you could do is to in the RUN area type in MSCONFIG. When you see the things that are coming up in the start menu and such, whatever you don't want UNcheck those items and click OK. You'll have to restart your pc, so click okay. Then when it comes back on, click the box so it won't show up the next time you start your pc. Lastly, I would recommend running your antivirus and antispyware programs to check things out. If you don't have them... then get these free apps which are real good online: Spyware Terminator, the latest AVG Antivirus, and then as an extra goodie get CCleaner to clean out your cache on your drive so that malware can't see where you've been. Use it after a day of being online. Good luck.

Answer 3

Most important to performance is what automatically launches and camps out in your system tray.
There's really no easy way to explain how to clean out the start up and hidden auto launch programs. You just need to go through each application that's not part of the OS and check its properties and make sure "start on windows start up is disabled" and "show icon in systems tray is turned off"
You can remove start up programs in the OS menu.
The hidden stuff needs to be identified in the Task manager-and tracked down.

Answer 4

unfastened and cleans and cleans purely! Ccleaner is the perfect there is - that's unfastened. in case you like a extra thorough cleansing, the whole pc - the C tension, OS, classes, records... there's a application noted as 'format' blanketed interior the OS installation disk (unfastened). Boot with the abode windows installation CD, and delete the partitions/format.. Your pc could be truly wiped sparkling up!

Answer 5

This is pretty simple if you follow the directions I've laid out.

A major cause of slow PC's is fragmentation of the hard drive.
You need to defragment the HD at least once a week if not more depending on how much you use your computer, and what you do with it.

One way is to use the defragment utility built into Windows XP. It is slow but does the job rather well. Go to:
Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools and then click on System Defrag to run the tool. It may take several hours, so let it run overnight or simply walk away from your PC for a few hours.

A great program for defragging automatically is Diskeeper. It costs $30 but is well worth it. Go to http://www.download.com and search for Diskeeper. Read the Publishers Description and the Editor and User reviews. It can be scheduled to run automatically as the program deems necessary, and if you are using your PC and the program launches itself, it will take a backseat to whatever you are doing and give you the priority for CPU usage. I think you'll agree it's a good program to have. It precludes your needing to remember to defrag at regular intervals.

Another major cause of a slow PC is programs that are running in the background. Here's another really good Microsoft tool. It’s called Autoruns and it was written by SysInternals who were recently bought up by Microsoft.

Before you download the program create a folder under program files called Autoruns. Leave Windows Explore open.

Launch Internet Explored and go to the following Microsoft web page.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/utilities/autoruns.mspx

Go to the bottom of the page and download the Autoruns program. After it downloads open the file. It is a Zip file. Unzip the file and you will see 4 files. Drag and drop those 4 files to the Autoruns folder you created under Program Files.

Once you have the 4 files in the C:\Program Files\Autoruns folder you can double click on the file titled “autoruns”.

This will bring up a window with several tabs at the top. Click on the “Logon” tab. It will list the programs that are running on your PC and eating up resources. Look them over carefully and turn off any that don’t absolutely have to be running. Simply click on the “check mark” in the little box beside the program name. Clicking on it will remove the check mark. Once you have edited the Startup list, click on Apply and then on OK.
NOTE: Leave items that show Windows; System 32; Program Files; etc. alone. Shutting them off may cause some things not to work.

Once you have exited the window, reboot your PC for the settings to take effect.

WARNING: Don’t go into the other tabs and start deleting things. You will probably give yourself major headaches if you do that. Stay focused on the “Logon” List only.

Another good thing to have is a little program called FreeRAM XP Pro. It is free and is available from http://www.download.com This program puts a little RAM meter on the System Tray and shows how much RAM you have remaining that you are not using at any given time. I think you may be surprised at how little RAM you have to run other programs. Also, once it is installed you can right click on the little meter, then click on RESTORE and it will open the RAM display window. You can tweak the settings so it will display your CPU usage also. Then just click “Minimize” and then “To System Tray” to return to the Task Bar.

What happens when you run out of or run real low on RAM is that the OS recognizes the low or no RAM situation and starts using a section of your hard drive as memory. This is called virtual memory, or a swap file. The PC is constantly writing and reading from your HD. Comparitively, it is a very slow process. Check your motherboard manual and determine how much RAM each slot can hold. It will also tell you what type of RAM you need. You can also go to http://www.crucial.com or http://www.4allmemory.com and run their analysis utility to determine what kind and how much RAM is installed in your PC. Depend on your MoBo manual to determine the RAM limits of each slot though.

Hope this helps

Answer 6

Registry cleaner can clean your computer and then speed up it.
Comparison and reviewof registry cleaner:
http://www.speed-up-computer.info/index.php?t=speedup

Answer 7

how many songs approx have you got on it, whats the disk space and processor speed...

ok get to point, start, programs, accesories, system tools, disk cleanup, select all boxes then ok. then go to control panel, internet options, delete cookies temporary files and clear history :)

Answer 8

see this
http://www.deskdecode.com/how-to-clean-your-dirty-desktop-computer-inside-and-out/

Answer 9

ccleaner & cleanup.