The best free way to speed up your computer has to be by
removing unnecessary startup items using System Configuration Utility. When you
log into windows, many programs can start themselves automatically. Some of
these are helpful while others just take up precious computer resources. You
can easily see a list of these programs using the System Configuration Utility.
The quickest way to access this valuable tool is by going to
the Start Menu and clicking Run. In the Run box, type in “msconfig” (without
the quotes) and press OK. If you are using Windows Vista, you may not see Run
listed on the Start Menu. Instead, type “msconfig” in the search bar at the
bottom of the Start Menu and press enter.
Once you have the System Configuration window open, click
the Startup tab. All of the items listed here are small programs or helper
applications that are set to run as soon as you log into Windows. It may be
hard to decipher what some of these programs are, but a quick Google search
should provide more than enough information.
Each item has a checkbox on the left which determines
whether or not it will run when the computer is logged on. Go through the list
and clear the checkbox for any unnecessary programs. Be careful not to disable
anything that may be related to anti-virus software or the computer hardware. Click
OK and restart the computer.
After restarting, a pop up window will appear with the
message “You have used the System Configuration Utility to make changes to the
way Windows starts.” Put a check in the box at the bottom next to “Don’t show
this message or launch the System Configuration Utility when Windows starts”
and click OK.
If you were able to remove a lot of programs form the startup
list, you may immediately notice a dramatic improvement in your computer’s
performance.
