I spent 5 hours cleaning up my computer last night

feejer222 · Apr 19, 2008

First I scoured it for software I have downloaded and don't use any more, and uninstalled it. I don't know if there is any benefit to this if the programs are not running but I did it anyway.Skype is one of the worst culprits I have found. I un-installed it from a previous computer and it instantly speeded up. I also got rid of Limewire. I use it occasionally but not enough to keep it.

Then I ran PC Doctor CLICKY. This is something that I bought some time ago. I find that if I leave it running it slows the computer down on its own so I shut it down until I need it. The fact that it takes an age to re-start stops me from using it as often as I should.

After that I ran AVG CLICKY I have had this anti virus software for ages and I believe it to be one of the best. It too seems to have a slowing effect on the computer when left running but I leave it running for safety's sake.

Then I wheeled out Ad-Aware. CLICKY A third anti virus anti/spyware type software.

After that a disk clean up and de-frag. I am astounded at how quick the computer has become. It took about 5 hours total whilst watching TV but has made the computer like it was when it was new again.

jmdaniel · Apr 19, 2008

One thing you can check on is all the crap that gets loaded at startup. To do so, (assuming you are using Windows), click the Start button in the lower left corner, select Run, then type msconfig in the resulting "Open:" box. This will take you to the System Configuration Utility. Select the Startup tab, and scan through all the lines with a checkmark next to them. These are the programs are loaded at startup, and quite a few aren't needed. Expand the Command column, and you will get a better idea of what most of them are. Remove the checkmark from the ones you don't want running, then click OK. You will be asked if you want to reboot, and you can choose to, or not to, it really doesn't matter. If you choose to reboot, or the next time you do pull up the computer, you will be prompted with a box that states that changes were made. Click the checkbox to not be reminded again, and click OK.

There is a lot of stuff needlessly loaded at startup on most computers, so this should help.

DailyCommuter · Apr 19, 2008

I spent two hours cleaning my feejer last night and now its twice as fast too!!!

feejer222 · Apr 19, 2008

jmdaniel said:
One thing you can check on is all the crap that gets loaded at startup. To do so, (assuming you are using Windows), click the Start button in the lower left corner, select Run, then type msconfig in the resulting "Open:" box. This will take you to the System Configuration Utility. Select the Startup tab, and scan through all the lines with a checkmark next to them. These are the programs are loaded at startup, and quite a few aren't needed. Expand the Command column, and you will get a better idea of what most of them are. Remove the checkmark from the ones you don't want running, then click OK. You will be asked if you want to reboot, and you can choose to, or not to, it really doesn't matter. If you choose to reboot, or the next time you do pull up the computer, you will be prompted with a box that states that changes were made. Click the checkbox to not be reminded again, and click OK.
There is a lot of stuff needlessly loaded at startup on most computers, so this should help.

Thanks I'll try that too.

DailyCommuter said:
I spent two hours cleaning my feejer last night and now its twice as fast too!!!

rogdeb · Apr 19, 2008

jmdaniel said:
One thing you can check on is all the crap that gets loaded at startup. To do so, (assuming you are using Windows), click the Start button in the lower left corner, select Run, then type msconfig in the resulting "Open:" box. This will take you to the System Configuration Utility. Select the Startup tab, and scan through all the lines with a checkmark next to them. These are the programs are loaded at startup, and quite a few aren't needed. Expand the Command column, and you will get a better idea of what most of them are. Remove the checkmark from the ones you don't want running, then click OK. You will be asked if you want to reboot, and you can choose to, or not to, it really doesn't matter. If you choose to reboot, or the next time you do pull up the computer, you will be prompted with a box that states that changes were made. Click the checkbox to not be reminded again, and click OK.
There is a lot of stuff needlessly loaded at startup on most computers, so this should help.

Question please ?? In the "Start Up" tab, how do I expand the "command" column ?? I've clicked and stabbed at all I can think of - nuthin' :huh:

Been wanting to do this clean-up, just never knew how, so thanks JM

03HiYoSilver · Apr 19, 2008

rogdeb,

I don't know if you can. But with this nice Utility, you can Click on Edit to View the In-Depth path to the program.

https://www.mlin.net/StartupCPL.shtml

rogdeb · Apr 20, 2008

Thank you HiYo -- I'll be downloading that and try it.

jmdaniel · Apr 20, 2008

rogdeb said:
Question please ?? In the "Start Up" tab, how do I expand the "command" column ?? I've clicked and stabbed at all I can think of - nuthin' :huh: Been wanting to do this clean-up, just never knew how, so thanks JM

In the bar with the column headings; Startup Item, Command, and Location, you will see a barely visible vertical line between Startup Item and Command, and again between Command and Location. Move your cursor up close to either of these vertical lines, and the cursor will transform into its own vertical line, with an two arrows, one pointing left, and one right. While you have the cursor looking like this, and hovering over the vertical line between Startup Item and Command, left click, hold, and drag your mouse to the left, narrowing the Startup Command column. Do the same to the line between Command and Location, but drag the mouse to the right. This action will unhide most of the Command column.

Good luck!

kiteman11 · Apr 20, 2008

Buy a Mac and spend more time riding and less time working on the shit software that the PC's have. Just my opinion after years of headaches with Microsoft.

jmdaniel · Apr 20, 2008

kiteman11 said:
Buy a Mac and spend more time riding and less time working on the shit software that the PC's have. Just my opinion after years of headaches with Microsoft.

And that is helpful how? You have a Mac, congrats. You have now fulfilled the obligatory requirement for a Windows thread being hijacked with the "Buy a Mac, I have one" post.

Now back to the topic....

DaSpyda · Apr 20, 2008

While AVG is good for free, you can go to download.com and get the bitDefender Free edition and it will sniff out some more stuff...

Get SpywareBlaster, also, and it runs in the backround to make sure stuff doesn't get d/l'd in the meantime.

It astounds me how many people will go out and buy a new PC because their present one runs too slow...

Adding more memory is also a great idea...and it's cheap!

RadioHowie · Apr 21, 2008

kiteman11 said:
Buy a Mac and spend more time riding and less time working on the shit software that the PC's have. Just my opinion after years of headaches with Microsoft.

Have another sip for us, okay?

twowheelnut · Apr 21, 2008

Howie? How the hell could you miss this opportunity?

Get it right next time, ya yump!

RadioHowie · Apr 21, 2008

twowheelnut said:
Howie? How the hell could you miss this opportunity?
Get it right next time, ya yump!

Took me about half a second to get the "message", to which I reply:

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!

I feel better now, but may need reconstructive surgery.

feejer222 · Apr 21, 2008

DaSpyda said:
While AVG is good for free, you can go to download.com and get the bitDefender Free edition and it will sniff out some more stuff...
Get SpywareBlaster, also, and it runs in the backround to make sure stuff doesn't get d/l'd in the meantime.

It astounds me how many people will go out and buy a new PC because their present one runs too slow...

Adding more memory is also a great idea...and it's cheap!

Thanks Spydey..info saved for future use.

rogdeb · Apr 21, 2008

jmdaniel said:
rogdeb said:

Question please ?? In the "Start Up" tab, how do I expand the "command" column ?? I've clicked and stabbed at all I can think of - nuthin' :huh: Been wanting to do this clean-up, just never knew how, so thanks JM

Click to expand...

In the bar with the column headings; Startup Item, Command, and Location, you will see a barely visible vertical line between Startup Item and Command, and again between Command and Location. Move your cursor up close to either of these vertical lines, and the cursor will transform into its own vertical line, with an two arrows, one pointing left, and one right. While you have the cursor looking like this, and hovering over the vertical line between Startup Item and Command, left click, hold, and drag your mouse to the left, narrowing the Startup Command column. Do the same to the line between Command and Location, but drag the mouse to the right. This action will unhide most of the Command column.

Good luck!

DONE -- thanks to JM & Feejer

Toecutter · Apr 22, 2008

I did some of this stuff, myself. Thanks for the lead on this!

Additionally, I went in and changed settings in power management to never turn off monitor or hard disks, and not hibernate. I turn off the computer at bedtime, and the monitor when I leave it for a while, and with the other recommendations, my machine is running like it stole something!

:clapping: for Feejer222 and JM!!!

jmdaniel · Apr 22, 2008

Toecutter said:
:clapping: for Feejer222 and JM!!!

I've learned a ton on this forum; it's nice to give a little back.

Jeff

GunMD · Apr 22, 2008

If you've added RAM to your PC be sure to change the pagefile size. I like to set the "Initial Size" and the "Maximum Size" to the same number (usually 1.5 times the amount of RAM you have installed) in order to avoid the fragmentation that occurs when the page file grows and shrinks.

From Microsoft (applies to XP)

How to manually change the size of the virtual memory paging fileYou must be logged on as an administrator or as a member of the Administrators group to complete this procedure. If your computer is connected to a network, network policy settings may also prevent you from completing this procedure. 1. Click Start, click Run, and then type sysdm.cpl in the Open box.

2. Click the Advanced tab, and then click Settings under Performance.

3. Click the Advanced tab, and then click Change under Virtual memory.

4. Under Drive [Volume Label], click the drive that contains the paging file that you want to change.

5. Under Paging file size for selected drive, click Custom size, type a new paging file size in megabytes (MB) in the Initial size (MB) or Maximum size (MB) box, and then click Set.

If you decrease the size of either the initial or maximum paging file settings, you must restart your computer to see the effects of those changes. When you increase the paging file size, you typically do not have to restart your computer.

Notes• To have Windows select the best paging file size, click System managed size. The recommended minimum size is equivalent to 1.5 times the RAM on your computer, and 3 times that figure for the maximum size. For example, if you have 256 MB of RAM, the minimum size is 384 MB, and the maximum size is 1152 MB.

• For best performance, do not set the initial size to less than the minimum recommended size under Total paging file size for all drives. The recommended size is equivalent to 1.5 times the RAM on your computer. It is good practice to leave the paging file at its recommended size. However, you may increase its size if you frequently use programs that use much memory.

• To delete a paging file, set both the initial size and the maximum size to zero, or click No paging file. We strongly recommend that you do not disable or delete the paging file.

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