Over time, even the fastest computers slow down. A lot of times junk builds up from just normal use. A slow computer doesn’t always mean you have a virus or spyware. In order to prevent your computer from becoming bogged down you should do routine maintenance. This week we are highlighting some free utilities you can use to keep your computer running fast.

CCleaner

An abbreviation for Crap Cleaner, CCleaner is the easiest way to delete unnecessary files. Click “Analyze” and the program searches for temporary files that various programs have saved on your computer, including ones from the internet. It can also empty your recycle bin and delete cookies. After analyzing, click “Run Cleaner” to delete the files and finish the process. Deleting these files means that applications have less garbage to sort through when starting up. Also, deleting these files can restore generous amounts of hard drive space that was otherwise wasted. CCleaner also features other tools that can improve application loading times. Click “Tools” on the left hand navigation bar. The fast and organized uninstall tool lists what programs are installed on your computer and allows you to simply run their uninstall files if desired. Reducing the number of unnecessary programs you have installed improves system performance as well as frees up space. Click on “Startup” to list the applications that startup with your computer. Deleting unnecessary startup apps can dramatically increase the time it takes to start your computer. I suggest deleting the entries that you recognize but don’t need to start up every time you start your computer. Finally, clicking “Registry” brings up a registry cleaner that can scan and remove old or unnecessary registry files that are often left behind after uninstalling a program.
CCleaner can be found at http://www.ccleaner.com/

WinDirStat

Windows Directory Statistics creates a graph to show you what is taking up space on your hard drive. Different file types are shown in different colors and larger files appear bigger on the graph. By quickly looking at the chart, you can see what files and folders are taking up your hard drive. This is especially useful when you notice your hard drive is almost full and you want to find out what is taking up all the space.
WinDirStat can be found at http://windirstat.info/

Ad-Aware

Ad-Aware is the most popular free spyware protection. It identifies and eliminates spyware, Trojans, and other malicious software. Also, it runs efficiently in the background without demanding significant system resources. Ad-Aware can also repair the damage that spyware has already done. Consistent updates help keep your protection current.
Ad-Aware can be found at http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad_aware_free.php

More Advanced Topics

Many times when I’m going through a computer that runs slower than it used to I find a lot of things running that don’t need to be. There are typically a few programs running in the background anytime you are using your computer. However after a while, if you’re not careful, these “background” processes can grow in number and really slow down your computer. See, your processor can really only do one thing at a time, just really, really fast. If there are a lot of programs competing for that one processor, programs have to wait. When it’s the program you are using that is waiting, your computer seems very slow. In order to get your application to the front of the line, you have to stop the other processes that are running and don’t need to be. To do this, right click the taskbar and click “Task Manager” and then click the “Processes” tab. This is a list of everything that is running on your computer. Some of the items are crucial for proper operation. Some are a waste of computer power. And some you want to be running. What I suggest doing is killing the processes that your recognize and don’t want right away. Then if you see something that doesn’t look right but you’re not sure about, just do a Google search for the process name. There are a few sites out there that have a database of known processes and what they do. These sites will advise you on whether to end it or not.

When you restart your computer, some of these unwanted processes may come back. Then I suggest looking into how to keep it from starting up with your computer. Sometimes you will have to open the program that started the process and tell it not to start up with the computer. Other times you have to search online for a solution to keep a pesky program from starting up.

If you have any questions about these or other ways to speed up and maintain your computer be sure to post in the comments!