How to speed up a slow and bogged down computer
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If you computer is running slower than normal, is freezing or crashing often it could most definitely be caused by 1000′s of junk files, excess cookies and unnecessary programs automatically starting when Windows starts up. So if I were to optimize your system this is what I would do as your tech, but since I’m feeling rather nice today I will give you my secret tech tips complete with instruction! Fist you will download 2 FREE programs and install them on your computer. Both programs are very light on your system, uninstall easily if ever needed and do NOT include any “crapware”. Both pieces of software will run on XP, Vista or Windows 7. I have had all 3 OS and it runs great on them all.
1. Download Advanced System Care Free~ I’ve been using this program for the last several years and it’s a great and powerful program that can scan and clean your system in minutes not hours. It has a one-click approach to help protect, repair, clean, and optimize your PC. With over 35 MILLION downloads since 2006, this fantastic, award-winning free registry cleaner and system optimizer is a “must-have” tool to speed up your slow computer. 100% safe with no adware, spyware, or viruses; a PC maintenance program that’s incredibly easy to use.
2. Download ATF Cleaner FREE~ This program will clean all users temp folders, clean out the Java cache, which seems to be harbouring more and more malware. It will clean Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Opera browsers, including the cache, cookies, history, download history, saved passwords and visited links. It takes about 2 minutes to run and clean.
Ok so you have downloaded the 2 pieces of software to your desktop. First close ALL running programs as you should anytime you install software. Click on the Advanced System Care set up icon and follow instructions to install. If you don’t want to install the tool bar for your browser just UNCHECK the box and it won’t be installed. Once it’s installed a page in your web browser will appear as a Welcome and User Guide. You can read the instructions or just close the browser. You will also see that before ASC runs for the 1st time it will ask to create a Restore Point allow it to do so. Although I will say in the years of using this program I have never once on any of the computers I’ve installed it on had to restore from a restore point.
Running Advanced System Care FREE
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ASC will start to run on its own under the “Maintain Windows”. After it’s finished click “Repair”. Allow it to finish repairing then click on “Diagnose System” then click “scan”. Allow the software to run through this segment and again click “Repair”. You will notice under the “Security Analyzer” it will more than likely say “suggestions”and take you automatically online to view this segment. Do not attempt to change or alter any of these files unless your a tech and know what your doing. You will see several entries that have yellow question marks next to them but unless your a tech this will read like Greek to you. Basically I use these types of analysis to see all the different services, processes, etc running on a computer. Again don’t alter them unless you know what processes you need or not, many are Windows system processes and are needed. Just simply close out of the browser and click on “OK” in the other box. Finally you can move onto a click “Utilities” button. Under the “Tune Up” tab select Internet Booster, click on Go!It will then prompt you for your Internet speed if you don’t know your bandwidth transfer rate you can quickly check it online at Bandwidth Place I then take an average of the two speeds and set the meter in that area. (Mine is set to 512 kbps, yea my Internet provider SUCKS!) That will complete then move on to the “Shortcut Fixer” let it finish and then select “Repair”.What you see here are just broken links and shortcuts from your system. It not the actual system files. It’s good to remove what’s in this box. Now go to the “Admin Tools” tab and select “Start Up Manager”Now this is the best part of all! Simply UNCHECK the items that you no longer wish to automatically start and stay running when Windows starts up then click “APPLY” then “OK”. UNCHECKING these DOES NOT delete the program it just stops it from auto starting.You can always click on the icon to start the particular program or if you want it back in the start menu just go back into Advanced System Care and click the box next to what you want to auto start hit “Apply” then “OK”. Obviously you will see there are many other features that you can use to help optimize your system however many of the other options are advanced so unless your comfortable and know what your doing it’s best to leave well enough along or have a tech look at your system to make more advanced changes. Final thing to do is click on the “Options” link on the upper bar to the right and uncheck “Execute at Windows Start Up” then “Apply” and “OK” This will make it so Advanced System Care doesn’t start every time Windows does. You don’t need it to run all the time. I would recommend doing the above ”Cleaning” steps once a week or so.
Running ATF Cleaner
This one is really simple. Click on the ATF Cleaner icon check “Select All” it will take a minute or so to clean a box will pop up and tell you how much was cleaned, click “OK”. If you use Firefox or Opera click on those tabs and do the same for those browsers. If neither of those is installed on your system the boxes will be greyed out. I recommend running ATF Cleaner once a week or more if your on the Internet a lot.
That’s it now re start your computer and you’ll notice a difference in the way your system starts up and runs.
