Computer Tweaking
Tweaking Your Computer
Do you think your computer is too slow? Well how about you do something about it. Here is a list of 10 tips that can speed up your Windows XP system to its fullest. From speeding up your interface to deleting MSN Explorer.
Tip1: Speed Up Your Interface First go to Display Properties(right-click on desktop to access) Now choose the apperance tab and click effects button. Uncheck the following-
1)Use the following transition effect for menus and tooltips 2)Use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts 3)Show shadows under menus 4)Show window contents while dragging If that doesnt help enough try switching the interface completely to "Windows Classic Style".
Tip2: See Your Icons Faster
1)Open My Computer 2)Click on the Tools menu and select Folder Options. 3)Select the View Tab 4)Uncheck the very first box(Automatically search for network folders and printers) 5)Click Apply or Ok
Tip3: Turn Off Indexing The hard drive slows down because of indexing. Each time you try to click on basic commands like open, close, etc and they don't work fast then turn off the Indexing only if you don't use the Search feature by:
1)Control Panel 2)Admin tools 3)Services 4)Disable Indexing Services
Tip4: Check For Signed Drivers If your computer is crashing and the reason is because of a problem with a driver scan your drivers like so:
1)Start/ Run 2)Run program : sigverif.exe This will compile a list of your drivers that are approved and signed. Most likely it will be a unsigned driver.
Tip5: Organize Your File View Organization has always been a key element to speed up your computer. Go to a folder for pictures or songs(preferablly) and go to the Arrange Menu by right clicking. Then choose from the list:
1)Show in Groups(overall use) 2)Arrange by Modified(pictures) 3)Arrange by artist or Album(music)
Tip6: Run Command Line Apps Faster Applications can be run by using the Task Bar. Just type the application name into the Address Bar on the Task Bar and poof instant application. To get the address bar on the Task Bar:
1)Right-click on Task Bar 2)Go to toolbars 3)Select Address
Tip7: Optimize System Restore and Recycle Bin System restore takes up 2% of your Hard drive by default. Thats 5GB if you have a 250GB hard drive. To turn down the percentage:
1)Open System Properties 2)Go to System Restore Tab 3)Move the slider to the "happy" position
If you think that's a lot of disk space taken away the recycle bin takes up 10%. Thats 25GB of 250GB. To lower your usage of the recycle bin:
1)Right-Click the recycle bin 2)Go to properties 3)Move the slider to the "happy" position
Tip8: Dont Let Explorer Crashes Kick You Out If you are worried about your explorer crashing and taking the Taskbar and Start Menu with it do this:
1)Open My Computer 2)Go to tools 3)Go to Folder Options 4)Click on View Tab 5)Scroll down to (Launch folder windows in seperate process) and enable the option If explorer does crash and take your precious Taskbar and Start Menu hit Ctrl+Alt+Delete for your Task Manager. Then select:
1)File 2)New Task 3)Type in : explorer.exe
Tip9: Stop Windows from Keeping Thumbnail Cache Using files without thumbnails is better. But some still load up if you choose other views besides thumbnail. FIrst of all check if the thumb has a THUMBS.DB file. Deleting it will fix the problem but windows creates a new one automatically. Heres how to stop that:
1)In explorer go to Tools 2)Folder Options or open the Folder Options icon in Control Panel 3)Choose View Tab and turn off the (Do Not Cache Thumbnails) option 4)Click Ok
Tip10: Delete MSN Explorer Save 13MB of hard drive space by deleting the unused MSN Explorer if you are satisfied with your other Internet Service Provider.
1)Open Control Panel 2)Add or Remove Programs 3)Add/Remove Windows Components 4)Scroll through the list and uncheck MSN Explorer 5)Read the warning and Click Yes 6)Follow the rest of the On-Screen instructions
By:Hack4u