Some of the tips from which I am about to give are probably going to come as no surprise or nothing new to some of you, but some of this information is very likely things you did not know or didn’t know enough.
Some of these things are things I have picked up over the years or learned from Tech Support. Subjects covered in this article are:
Defragmentation
Start-up Configuration
Cleaning Cache (both IE, Mozilla, Netscape, DNS and Java)
Cleaning Cache for Mac Users
Managing Add-Ons
Registry Cleaning
Programs that are free to use that help your computer run faster and smoother.
Defragmentation
The first thing I want to discuss is defragmentation. When you install a program and then later uninstall it or you delete cookies, you leave pieces of it behind in the registry (which we will talk about in a moment), in your files and a lot of other places. So, in order to keep these fragmented files from slowing your computer down you need to do a defragmentation at least once a day. There are a few programs out there that help you do this (or you can use the one that is already loaded on your computer in your System Tools file, which is found in Accessories on your Program File tab on your Start Menu)
Some of the free programs I recommend are:
Diskeeper Lite (pro is nice, but I have heard it is very slow)
Smart Defrag (I use this one personally and it is great, you can set it to do a basic clean or a deep one, which is optimize your system
Ultimate Defrag Free Edition (this one allows you to push all rarely used files and directories to the backburner sort of speak and bring your most frequently used stuff to the front burner, making your system move faster when loading)
Start-Up Configuration
This one is simple, but can be a bit scary for anyone who has never done this. First off, you need to know that if you make a mistake and turn off something that should not have been turned off, you can simply turn it back on by following the same steps listed below:
Click Start
Click Run
Type in “msconfig” (without the quotes)
Go the last tab and turn off all non-essential programs that load when your computer is starting up. Like unclick your messengers and thing like that, those you can start yourself when your computer fully loads. This will make your computer load so fast it will surprise you.
Clearing Caches
Temporary Files and Cookies
Internet Explorer:
Depending on your version on Internet Explorer, the steps for this might be a bit different, but most IE versions follow the basic steps outlined below:
Internet Explorer 6:
Open Internet Explorer.
Click Tools in the upper toolbar.
Click Internet Options to open Internet Properties.
Click the General tab
Click Delete Files under "Temporary Internet Files".
Check Delete all offline content.
Click OK on the Delete Files dialog box.
Click Apply and then OK.
Internet Explorer 7:
Open Internet Explorer.
Click Tools in the upper toolbar or click on the Tools icon.
Click Internet Options to open Internet Properties.
Click the General tab
Click Delete under "Browsing History".
Click Delete Files under "Temporary Internet Files".
Click Yes on the Delete Files dialog box.
Click Close and then OK.
Internet Explorer 8
Open Internet Explorer
Click Tools menu
Select Internet Options.
Click the General tab
Under "Browsing history", click "Delete..."
In the new window, be sure the Temporary Internet Files box is checked. You can uncheck everything else you don't want to delete.
Click Delete.
Mozilla Foxfire
Click Tools in the upper toolbar and select Options.
Click the Privacy Icon.
Click Clear across from the Cache option.
Click Ok.
Exit and re-launch the browser.
Netscape Browser
Click Edit in the upper toolbar and select Preferences.
Click Advanced.
Click Cache.
Click Clear Memory Cache.
Click Clear Disk Cache.
Click OK.
Clearing DNS Cache
Click Start
Click Run
Type in “cmd” to bring up your command prompt.
Once it loads, at the end of the url that is already there, type in (without quotes) :
“ipconfig/flushdns” and hit enter. It will tell you when it is done,
should only take a few seconds
Clearing Java Cache
Click Start
Go to Control Panel
Click on for Java (by either single or double clicking it)
The Java Control Panel appears.
Click Settings under Temporary Internet Files.
The Temporary Files Settings dialog box appears.
Click Delete Files.
Click Delete Files.
The Delete Temporary Files dialog box appears.
There are three (or two depending on your system and Windows Version) options on this window to clear the cache.
Delete Files
View Applications
View Applets
Click OK on Delete Temporary Files window.
Note: This deletes all the Downloaded Applications and Applets from the cache. But do not worry, none of this is important stuff you have to have, this is just junk that is slowing your computer down.
Click OK on Temporary Files Settings window and you are done. This should be done at least once a week or more if you play a lot of java games.
Java Web Start
Open Java Web Start (either via the icon on your desktop or in your Programs folder).
Click on File then Preferences.
Click on the Advanced tab.
Click on the Clear Folder button, then click OK.
Close the Java Web Start Application Manager.
Clearing Caches for Mac Users
Safari 1.0 for Macintosh
Open Safari.
Click on Safari in the upper toolbar and Select Empty Cache.
Click Empty on the Are you sure message box.
Exit and re-launch the browser.
Firefox for Macintosh
Open Firefox
Click on Firefox in the upper toolbar and Select Preferences.
Click the Privacy Icon.
Click Clear across from the Cache option.
Click Ok.
Exit and re-launch the browser.
Microsoft Internet Explorer for Macintosh
Open Internet Explorer.
Click Edit in the upper toolbar and select Preferences.
Click the arrow beside Web Browser.
Click Advanced.
Click Empty Now.
Click Ok.
Exit and re-launch the browser
Clear Java cache on a Mac
Open a Finder window.
Click on Applications, Utilities, Java and open Java 1.4.2 (or later version) Plug-in Setting.
Click the Cache.
Click on the Clear button. Then close the window.
Close the Java Plug-in Control Panel.
Managing Add-Ons
Click Tools
Click Tab - Manage Add-Ons
Make sure scroll box says "Add-ons currently loaded in Internet Explorer".
Now this next part is scary, but trust me this works. Plus remember that you can go back and undo this; nothing here is permanent (like forever gone). Now disable everything except:
"Shockwave Flash Object" (might say Adobe Flash now)
"SSVHelper Class"
"Sun Java Console"
Also if you open PDF’s in your browser, you might want to leave that option on there as well, however, everything else can go.
Cleaning up Registry
When you delete a program, pieces of it get left behind in your registry and the safest way to remove them from your registry is by cleaning it using a program. I use a program called Advanced SystemCare Free and it does this as part of its Care Program. It is safe to use and so easy my mom can use it (sorry mom). You do not have to be tech savvy to use Advanced SystemCare.
Advanced SystemCare also offers you the following tools:
Software uninstaller
Game booster
Internet Booster
Smart Defrag
Smart RAM (increases your RAM automatically)
Registry Defrag
Spyware remover
Security enhancer
Privacy Sweeper
Free Programs to Help
All of the program I mentioned in this article are 100% free to download and safe to use. Worried about spending money on a program, don’t be, I guarantee you can find a program that does everything you want it to and it not cost a thing. Try the following sites:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/
http://download.cnet.com/windows/
http://www.freewarehome.com/
There are three (or two depending on your system and Windows Version) options on this window to clear the cache.
Delete Files
View Applications
View Applets
Click OK on Delete Temporary Files window.
Note: This deletes all the Downloaded Applications and Applets from the cache. But do not worry, none of this is important stuff you have to have, this is just junk that is slowing your computer down.
Click OK on Temporary Files Settings window and you are done. This should be done at least once a week or more if you play a lot of java games.
Java Web Start
Open Java Web Start (either via the icon on your desktop or in your Programs folder).
Click on File then Preferences.
Click on the Advanced tab.
Click on the Clear Folder button, then click OK.
Close the Java Web Start Application Manager.
Clearing Caches for Mac Users
Safari 1.0 for Macintosh
Open Safari.
Click on Safari in the upper toolbar and Select Empty Cache.
Click Empty on the Are you sure message box.
Exit and re-launch the browser.
Firefox for Macintosh
Open Firefox
Click on Firefox in the upper toolbar and Select Preferences.
Click the Privacy Icon.
Click Clear across from the Cache option.
Click Ok.
Exit and re-launch the browser.
Microsoft Internet Explorer for Macintosh
Open Internet Explorer.
Click Edit in the upper toolbar and select Preferences.
Click the arrow beside Web Browser.
Click Advanced.
Click Empty Now.
Click Ok.
Exit and re-launch the browser
Clear Java cache on a Mac
Open a Finder window.
Click on Applications, Utilities, Java and open Java 1.4.2 (or later version) Plug-in Setting.
Click the Cache.
Click on the Clear button. Then close the window.
Close the Java Plug-in Control Panel.
Managing Add-Ons
Click Tools
Click Tab - Manage Add-Ons
Make sure scroll box says "Add-ons currently loaded in Internet Explorer".
Now this next part is scary, but trust me this works. Plus remember that you can go back and undo this; nothing here is permanent (like forever gone). Now disable everything except:
"Shockwave Flash Object" (might say Adobe Flash now)
"SSVHelper Class"
"Sun Java Console"
Also if you open PDF’s in your browser, you might want to leave that option on there as well, however, everything else can go.
Cleaning up Registry
When you delete a program, pieces of it get left behind in your registry and the safest way to remove them from your registry is by cleaning it using a program. I use a program called Advanced SystemCare Free and it does this as part of its Care Program. It is safe to use and so easy my mom can use it (sorry mom). You do not have to be tech savvy to use Advanced SystemCare.
Advanced SystemCare also offers you the following tools:
Software uninstaller
Game booster
Internet Booster
Smart Defrag
Smart RAM (increases your RAM automatically)
Registry Defrag
Spyware remover
Security enhancer
Privacy Sweeper
Free Programs to Help
All of the program I mentioned in this article are 100% free to download and safe to use. Worried about spending money on a program, don’t be, I guarantee you can find a program that does everything you want it to and it not cost a thing. Try the following sites:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/
http://download.cnet.com/windows/
http://www.freewarehome.com/
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