Major performance setbacks in computers are due to the hard disk access. When the files are demanded, hard drive spend nearly 70% of the time in searching for the physical location of the file from organizing mechanism. This cannot be improved much by choosing faster hard disks (such as 10,000 RPM, SATA or any other technology). Let us see the steps to improve the speed of your computer

• Organizing files in appropriate directories

Create directories according to your need. When you bring new files, documents or downloading files from web keep them in appropriate directories meant for it.

• Backup & Deleting unwanted files and directories

Frequent review on the files you kept in your hard disk should be done. If you find any file unnecessary delete it or you can take copy of that into a compact disk or DVD and delete from the original location. It is a best practice to use a marker to write details of your backup along with date on the media, while backing up the files.

• Deleting duplicate files and directories

What is the use of having two same files in different locations/ or in different name. Identify them carefully and delete the replicated copy from your hard disk. There is a tool provided in PCWorld site Click Here. You can download and use it freely.

• Emptying recycle bin, history & other temporary locations

Usually when we browse through internet and/or running some applications such as WinZip etc., temporary files will be created in various locations which are used by the applications for time being. Most of the applications, or when they are abnormally closed, these files will not be deleted automatically. Over a long period of usage, they will be accumulated in the temporary directories. One good example is “Temporary Internet Files”. Deleting these file by searching them is a tedious job instead we can use some tools for cleaning such files from your hard disk. One among these is again from PCWord site Click Here. You can download and use it freely.

• Regular execution of disk de-fragmentation utility that comes with your operating system

Files which comes to your hard disk cannot be removed in what order they come. Some files will be deleted immediately after their first use, some kept for a long period and some never being deleted at any time. This process makes the files to be scattered around the physical places of hard disk and when they are demanded locating them is going to be a big task for the operating system. To make these files physically organized by removing empty fragments is done by disk defragmenter. This is a system tool which comes with our operating system. Frequently (usually three month once) running this defragmenter tool will definitely speed up your computer noticeably.

• While you complete your work properly shutdown your computer

While you choose shutdown option after completing your work the operating system frees most of the temporary files, closes all opened documents and saves your settings in to the persistent storage. When you turnoff your computer or unplug it from the power source without shutting down, restarting becomes a long process and makes the unwanted files kept undeleted. A good support of Uninterrupted Power Supply is mandatory to save your hard disk from corruption and lose of valuable data.

• Disable most of your themes & visual enhancements

Keeping colorful themes, huge sized wallpapers will drastically deteriorate your computer performance. Keep your visual enhancement disabled through effects options in your display settings. Keep default theme of your operating system possibly.

• Keep your desktop and most frequently used folder neat & clean

Folders which you use regularly/ most frequently (obviously including your desktop area) should not contain vast amount of files. This makes the folder to be loaded faster. Organize such huge volume of files in subdirectories with suitable name.

• Don’t install a software or utility without knowing what is it?

When you find software/freeware/shareware from any CD/DVDs accompany with magazines or from any other sources like web, mail attachments and CDs brought from your friends, Don’t install them without knowing what is it. Carefully read the document/ help files given with them, decide whether they really useful for your need and install them. Try to minimize the number of third party/ learner-developed applications in your system.

• Uninstall applications unused for long time by carefully deciding whether the application is required or not

When you open Control Panel » Add Remove Programs, you can able to see the list of applications along with the frequency which they used in your computer. Find the applications which you never used for a long time and uninstall them. This will minimize the registry entries and make your other applications to be loaded faster.

Have a safe and faster computing!…