What is the very best way to clean up my computer? It is running really slow?

Question

2000-2002 Model Dell

Answer 1

Check http://www.pc-optimizer-pro.com
With pc optimizer pro you can safely clean, repair and optimize your computer.
It will help improve your system performance.
Good luck!

Answer 2

If your virus/spyware free, there are a couple things you can do get your computer working faster. If you using your computer for normal stuff and not gaming. You don't always need more RAM you just need to perform a few maintenance task.

First, if you haven't cleaned your registry in a while. This is necessary. Your registry holds all the information regarding updates, installs, un-installs etc. Each one of those events produces a key. That key needs your PC's resources and free space. So, if you clean your registry, you make more resources available for speed. Do a registry scan if you got more than 20 errors you should clean it.
http://www.delete-computer-history.com/what-is-the-best-registry-cleaner.html

2. Clear your Windows cache files, this is your temporary file. It can grow up to a large volume and stop your computer from using RAM properly. In a sense slow it down by preventing it from using free space.Here is how:

1. Quit Internet Explorer, Firefox, or any other web browser
2. Click Start, click "Control Panel", and then double-click "Internet Options".
3. On the General tab, click "Delete Files" under Temporary Internet Files.
4. In the Delete Files dialog box, click to select the "Delete all offline content" check box , and then click OK.
5. Click OK.

3. Manage your startups. Your excess CPU usage is due to too many programs running in the background. You can cut these to barebones by alter your msconfig. Here is how:

1. Open your Start menu.
2. Click Run
3. In the command screen type "msconfig.exe"
4. In the "system configuration utility",click either "service" or "startup" tab
5. Uncheck all programs that your are no longer using.
6. Click "OK"

Other great tip is increasing your virtual memory to simulate more RAM. This will give you a bit more resources for multiple program use or CPU heavy programs. Check the link to alter your virtual memory spec.

Hope this link helps. Shows you how to do everything step by step. You should get a least 60-120% more resources and speed
if you follow the tips.

Answer 3

First of all uninstall whatever programs you are sure you dont need. Uncheck unnecessary items from loading at startup. Next run diskcleanup or download a program like CCleaner and get rid of the junk- temp files, recycle bin etc. Analyze the drive for fragmentation. If its badly cluttered, its an important cause for slowdowns, slow opening of files, jerky behaviour etc.You might want to run chkdsk before this as well.

Answer 4

You can check what is running by using MSCONFIG from the command line. this will tell you what is running at start up and allow you to change it. I would look there and make sure nothing is running in the back ground that you don't need. Then do a simple disk clean up by going to my computer and right clicking your drive and going to properties. you will see disk clean up option there.

Then if you have the money beef up your RAM to the max...I would say your older dell (optiplex 280??) will hold a gig at best and if your lucky 2 but max it out if you can and its a cheap upgrade.

Answer 5

Using a registry cleaner can clean up your computer and then make your computer faster,Why?the reason is that there may be some regsitry errors and remnant,corrupt files and temp files in your computer to cause "computer slow".
Everytime you install and uninstall software on your computer and surfing online you create junk in the computer registry.over time, the registry can grow to enormous proportions, especially if the various programs you've installed do not do a good job of deleting and/or updating it's Registry entries.You need to scan and clean your computer with registry cleaner to make it fast.Good Regisry Cleaner will improve your computer and Internet performance dramatically!It even can speed up your computer by 300% or more!
There are some comparison and review of TOP 5 registry cleaners.
http://www.speeduppc.info/
You can download and scan your computer for free.

Answer 6

taking out all the programs that you don't really use, scak disc all the days, delete all kind of internet link, history of internet.

or another option to start again is to reinstall windows but you will need todo a back up in order to preserve all your files (this back up will help you to see all the files and in the meanwhile you for sure are going to delete some useless files)

10 points anwser if i really helped you =)

Answer 7

do disk cleanup
then empty cookies and internet files
defrag

then go windows update get a copy malicious sofware removal tool

Answer 8

In addition to what jim1 said you can also try Window Washer. I have it on my computer and it really helps speed my computer up when it starts slowing down.

http://privacy-software-review.toptenreviews.com/window-washer-software.html
http://www.amazon.com/Webroot-Software-Inc-10202-Window/dp/B000070MQZ
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?dest=9999999997&product_id=5379002&sourceid=1500000000000001827170

Answer 9

You can use ccleaner for optimizing the speed of your pc you can download it for free just click on this link: http://www.ccleaner.com .

Answer 10

you can format your hard disk and reinstall yur operational system.
if it is windows xp here is a tutorial how to that:
http://www.myitbyte.com/2007/06/21/how-to-install-windows-xp/