Remember: Only regular computer maintenance will protect your system from slowdowns and viruses!
Run MSCONFIG. Clean up the start-up tab.
**If you don't know what this means you probably shouldn't be doing it!
Navigate to Start | Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs.
**Click the programs you do not use, and press uninstall.
Spyware and Adware are a major cause of computer slowdowns. Protect your investment for the long term!
This common practice condenses the files on your hard drive which have been written sporadically over time. Condensed files means a reduced access time --> an easy speed boost!
This is another thing that should be done often, and probably overnight.
With todays huge hard drives defragging can take hours. Defrag overnight and save yourself the frustration of waiting.
Navigate Start | All Programs | Accessories | System Tools | Defrag Wizard.
First (1) Analyze the disk, then (2) defrag it, windows makes this two step process incredibly easy!!