How To Tuneup Your PC

By: Gary Bracken

Make Your PC Run Fast Again By Scheduling A Regular Tune Up:

Your computer is just like a fine race car! Both must be
expertly maintained to run at their optimum speed and
performance levels. Unlike a formula 1 racer however, your PC is
relatively easy to fine-tune, and we will guide you through the
process with simple step-by-step instructions.

Initial tune-up

After getting all the programs setup on your PC the way you
want, there are a few tasks that will help you get the most out
of your system. The following maintenance tasks should be
performed initially and will form the basis of a solid tune-up
program for your PC:

1. Install and Update your Antivirus & Anti Spyware software:

The last thing you need is a computer virus ruining your day by
infecting your computer and either destroying valuable data, or
spreading your personal information all over the internet! We
cannot stress enough the importance of making sure you have a
solid and reliable Anti-Virus program installed on your computer.

Spyware and Adware is almost an even bigger problem these days
than Computer Viruses! If you have ever downloaded anything
online, music, books, files, etc...or if you have ever installed
downloaded programs on your computer, chances are you have
multiple spyware infections.

Pop-up windows and windows error messages are a prime indicator
of Spyware and Adware infections on your computer.

Spyware is a hidden software program created to steal your
personal information, and report back to their creators with
anything from your online browsing habits and patterns, to your
stored credit card numbers! identity theft is a growing problem,
propagated in part by Spyware!

2. Update your software and drivers

Make sure your computer has the latest video, hardware and
software drivers it needs to run at optimum speed and
efficiency. We recommend that Microsoft Windows Update be used
on a consistent basis. Microsoft and other hardware and software
manufacturers will regularly post updated drivers and fixes for
their products. Most vendors use the Windows Update tool to
distribute their updates.

The Windows Update tool can be accessed on your computer by
clicking Start, right-click My Computer, and select Properties.

Click the Automatic Updates tab, and select Keep my computer up
to date.

Keeping Windows updated can solve many errors you may experience.

3. Defragment your hard drive

Defragmenting your hard drive is an easy task that will improve
your system's speed and performance (especially noticeable with
larger programs).

As you install and uninstall different software programs, data
becomes scattered across your hard drive in various areas. This
results in your computer taking a longer amount of time to find
data it needs, which makes your system run slower. This holds
true even after installing a new program on your computer.

Starting Disk Defragmenter

Using Disk Defragmenter is easy and once started will work
without the need to monitor the process. Depending on the size
of your hard drive and the amount of fragmented files
defragmentation of your files can take up to several hours to
complete. Follow the procedures below to start defragmenting
your hard drive.

* 1. Shut Down all programs that are running. including
background programs and screensavers. * 2. Click Start, All
Programs, Accessories, then System Tools. * 3. Click Disk
Defragmenter. Follow the onscreen instructions. If Disk
Defragmenter starts itself over and over, then a hidden
background program is still accessing the hard drive. Restart
the computer in Safe mode and try again.

4. Create a Backup Or Restore Point Regularly On Your Computer

A Virus, Spyware or other bug could easily wipe out your data
without chance of recovery! Make sure you are regularly backing
up any data you don't want to lose (burning it to disk is an
easy and cost effective way of backing up important data).

Microsoft offers a Data Backup to automate the process, A virus
or software bug could wipe out data without any chance of
recovery. Devise a strategy for backing up your files now. Any
important data that you do not want to lose should be backed up
regularly. This can be done in any of a number of ways. Simply
write the files to a floppy diskette, USB drive, or a CD-R. You
might also consider using RecordNow!'s System Backup or
Microsoft's Data Backup to automate the backup process.

5. Clean Your Computer Registry Regularly

If you're running any version of Windows on your computer, then
you have a Windows registry. This Windows Registry is where all
the information about your computer is stored. The registry
includes installation data about the software you run and all of
your computer's preferences, settings, and registry keys.
Everything about your computer is essentially stored in your
windows registry.

Over time, as you install new programs, delete others, and use
your computer, the Windows Registry grows. Sometimes you will
get errors when you start your computer. In extreme instances
you will experience computer freeze-ups and possibly even system
crashes. Your computer can start running 'slower' as well, which
makes for annoying and time consuming 'hang' times, where you
essentially stare at your monitor in a trance, waiting for
control of your mouse cursor to be restored to you once again!

Fortunately, there is an easy solution to Registry build-up. You
need to run a registry cleaner tool on a regular basis
(depending on computer usage). This software will scan your
Registry to find the unnecessary data and delete it...the end
result should be a computer that runs as fast as the day you
brought it home!

RECOMMENDED: Put Your Computer Tune Up Schedule On Auto Pilot by
downloading and running our recommended Free PC Optimizer:
RegCure.

About the author:
Gary Bracken maintains RegCure.Registry-
Cleaner-Help.com and recommends you put your Computer Tuneup
Schedule on autopilot by running the FREE RegCure Registry
Cleaner Scan.