As you use your computer over time, you may have noticed that it seems to work a little slower than it did when you first began using it. Perhaps it takes a little longer to open a program or file, or it seems to take a little extra time to save or delete a file. This is a common occurrence with computers running Windows simply because of the way the Operating System manages its information.

The good news is that the Operating System also contains several easy-to-use tools that allow the user to clean up their system and improve the overall performance.

First, Free Up Extra Disk Space

Your computer uses your hard drive for more than simply storing your files. The computer also uses the hard drive to assist with its virtual memory needs. So, if your hard drive is full, this can cause a slow down.

Identify files you no longer use and either delete them or move them to a disc or other removable media. Make sure that if it is a program you no longer use, you use the "uninstall" feature in the "Add/Remove Programs" section of the control panel. This will ensure that all of the program's components are removed and the registry entries are removed.

DO NOT delete files if you do not know what they are, or if they are program files. Simply deleting system and program files can cause serious errors that may prevent you from using the computer further.

Once you have gotten rid of the files you don't use anymore, it's time to tell the computer to get rid of the files it does not use anymore.

Use the Disk Cleanup wizard which is usually found by going to:

START >PROGRAMS >ACCESSORIES >SYSTEM TOOLS >DISK CLEANUP.

The tool will analyze your hard drive and determine what files it can remove. If you have more than one hard drive in your machine, you will need to select which drive you want to clean up first.

After it has analyzed your hard drive, you will need to check off the boxes for the types of files you want to cleanup and remove. If there are boxes checked for files you do not want to delete, simply uncheck the box. Files that typically selected by users are:

Once you have selected the file types you want to clean up, click "OK" and confirm by clicking "YES" when you are prompted by the program.

After the cleanup begins, just let it run. It is best not to try and perform other tasks while the wizard is running.

When the Disk Cleanup wizard has completed, the window will close. CDP recommends you reboot your machine now and then go on to the Defragmenting step.

If you use your computer regularly, the Disk Cleanup should be run every 30-60 days.

Rearrange Files So Programs Run Faster - Defragment

When your computer saves a new file, it first needs to find space to store the files. That sometimes requires that the Operating System split up the files into sections so, that they fit. For instance, a large file may be partially in Sectors 301-499, partially in Sectors 1024-2048, and partially in Sectors 4096-8124. The user may not realize the file has been split up in this way, except that as these file splits occur over and over again, they then notice a slow-down in the computer's performance.

By defragmenting your hard drive, the computer works to rearrange the files to bring the various pieces of file together in consecutive sectors. The result is that the computer can read, load, and save files in less time, improving the user experience.

To access the Disk Defragmenter in Windows XP, simply go to:

CONTROL PANEL > PERFORMANCE AND MAINTENANCE > REARRANGE ITEMS ON YOUR HARD DISK TO...

Once the control window appears, select the appropriate drive and click "Defragment" to begin.

This process will take a while - in many cases several hours.

You will receive a window when the process completes allowing you to view a report or close the program.

If you are using Windows Vista:

By default, Vista comes with a newer defrag program that automatically defragments on a set schedule, usually weekly. To double check that this option is enabled, go to:

CONTROL PANEL > PERFORMANCE INFORMATION AND TOOLS > ADVANCED TOOLS > OPEN DISK DEFRAGMENTER

From here you can select scheduling options and run a defragmentation session now.

Defragmenting your hard drive should be done once a month at a minimum if you are using your computer every day.

Check Your Computer For Disk Errors

This service checks your hard drive and file system for bad sectors that can cause significant slow down on your system. There are a number of causes for bad sectors, some that can be corrected and some that cannot. This check will identify bad sectors and identify if files or folder components have been misplaced.

By performing these three services periodically, in addition to running a good spyware program and a good antivirus program, you can help keep your computer operating at its best.

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