Are you running the same windows install from 5 years ago? If so the best method of getting some speed back would be a clean windows install. I know this is not an easy task but if you have the ability to do so its the best way. If this is not an option or your windows install is not that old doing some cleanup may help somewhat. I use CCleaner and have for years. Never had a problem with it though as others have said you need to know what not to clean. Windows built in Disk Cleanup tool is a safe alternative but make sure as others have said do not enable compression of old files. I remove this option from all PC I work on by editing the windows registry so end users can’t enable this horrendous feature by accident. Info on disabling this feature here. http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/t1063492456
Once cleaned up I delete all Windows System Restore points, reboot and run a defrag using either windows built in defrag program or a third party program. Once complete enable System restore if disabled to clear restore points. CCleaner has the ability to delete all but the latest restore point BTW. Note never delete restore points or disable System Restore if your system may need to be restored as it will not be possible. Other things to look into. How many unneeded programs load on startup. Programs you seldom use have no need to load on startup. Also many regularly used programs have no need to run on startup. So many programs these days want to load on startup an older PC will be slowed to a crawl. CCleaner has the ability to see most things that load on startup and the ability to disable or get rid of the ones you do not need. This is an advanced tool and should not be used if you do not know what you are doing. I keep a tight ship for the most part on my PC’s. Here is a screen shot from the startup tool in CCleaner.
again, many thanks for this very useful information.
wonderwrench- thanks especially for supplying that link regarding annoyances- most informative;
mchain- how true…the simplest answer is always the best fix. The problem is…preparing a good enough question so others can give you suggestions for a fix;
ady4um- again many thanks for your followup. From the info that you and mchain have provided, me thinks that I have probably been doing more harm than good to this computer by consistently running the cleanmgr utility from Start. I have always run it “as is” without ever unchecking anything. You would think that Microsoft would have provided a heads up about when not to compress the HDD.
I will report back on my efforts.
BTW, I find it curious that not one forum member (or guest) has reported back on their experiences with the programs advertised on TV for speeding up your computer. Can it be that all avast! Forum users have super speedy computers and have had no need for these things?
I actually started this thread hoping to learn if my avast! Free Version would stop the “free” scan that these programs claim to do and that I was most reluctant to allow to do.
Have a great weekend everybody!
8)
Well, in my case, as already mentioned, I really don’t use them. Not because I have some super computer, but because to seemingly “improve” some specific feature or resource, you need to sacrifice another one.
For example, the reason the OS uses the HDD as virtual memory is to be able to “do more things” than what the main RAM is capable of. So when some “optimizer” states that it “transfers the virtual memory from your relatively slow HDD into your relatively faster RAM”, it is just wasting more resources. Of course, you get what the “optimizer” promised you, but the final effect is not a positive one.
So, I don’t know about other forum members, but in my case I can’t tell you about my experience with such tools, and it has nothing to do with whichever computer I have :).
BTW, I find it curious that not one forum member (or guest) has reported back on their experiences with the programs advertised on TV for speeding up your computer.
You have to be careful what you install and run on your computer. You can get into serious trouble if you pick a bad one.
For example, a thread over at CNET.com forums illustrates such a horror story here:
You do not want to do that. Note this a XP Pro system.
Most TV ads are trying to sell you a product, and software advertised tends to be on the shady side, with bad code, etc., or program is written so you have to purchase it to fix your system, it logically follows they created the problem, so…
Now you are stuck. Bad news all the way around. Good advice in the link above as well.
If you do purchase software, get it only from reputable vendors.
I’ve spent many hours helping my fellow seniors re-install their Operating System after they fell for one of those “increase your computer speed by 150%” Products.
It usually runs faster once I’m finished but only because starting again from scratch gets rid of much accumulated garbage.
I’m also a firm believer of the old saying “If it ain’t broke, don’t try to fix it.” ;D
If you truly have a problem, then by all means solve the problem but, don’t invite problems by trying to fix what ist broken in the first place.
Computers just like people do get older and there akways comes that time when they are ready for retirement.
I just updated my laptop to an intel i5 processor and didn’t realize just how much technology had advanced and what speed really means. ;D
Again and again…many thanks for this great information!
And bob3160, special thanks for tip about the speed experienced with the intel i5 processor.
I will look for that spec when I go shopping for a new computer.
And mchain…thanks for that link to CNET. I rated your response as most hepful! That thread is a must read for anyone thinking about using Fixcleaner but me thinks that Mr Aeromarc, the OP for the thread, had serious issues before he/she tried the Fixcleaner software. I have studied using “regedit” and know enough about editing the Windows Register to know not to try it…ever! Reading that thread was a great reinforcer of that policy, for me at least! Also I can add that the link to the Help available at Microsoft that you provided to Aeromarc, is a great source of information. The “most viewed” answer about recovering deleted files introduced me to Panda Recovery and to Undelete Plus. And I now know to never use the Shift-Delete feature! LOL!
Regarding some followup to my original post about loss of speed on this old computer of mine:
My old system keeps slowing down opening files and folders, and especially when opening up Internet Explorer (and I keep MSIE up to date and lean and mean).
I am thinking that perhaps this is just an age related thing and not preventable.
I connect with Road Runner (Time Warner) Cable which is sefl-protected, and with avast!Free Antivirus
but I have always kept this computer on, all the time.
Anybody care to report their experiences doing this, or not. Doesn’t shutting down the system and restarting it next day cause more harm?
Also, as I have explained earlier in this thread somewhere, I have captured the information that I use and manage using only the Microsoft Wordpad Program. It was always easier (and cheaper) than learning new software and I was always just too busy, and worried about Office Suites and security features, etc.
I am now thinking that maybe Wordpad might be part of my problem. Anybody have any experience with use of Wordpad? Can it get corrupted with time or can it get overused somehow? Can I have too many wordpad documents on my system?
Again, let me say how grateful that I am for everybody’s help (and patience) with my problems.
I will hate to put this old girl down. I never did get anybody to respond saying that they had actual experience with the advertised programs on TV.
So I took the advice of many and did not try out the TV Advertised Speed Up Programs and continued doing what I have always done. Which is, keep my security up to date, running cleanmgr, and restarting about once a week (but not ever shutting down).
I have always never shut down this computer and I keep it connected to the internet by cable all the time too. Maybe I have just kept it on too long and it is tired out! LOL!
And, probably most importantly, I have just resigned myself to being patient. I don’t get the almost instant responses anymore when I double click and I miss that, but this old girl is 7 years old now and I think that I must now face the inevitable and begin the search for a new computer. Anybody buy anything new, lately? What will a new PC with that intel i5 processor that bob3160 likes, cost me?
Have a great weekend everybody!
