Windows users often find that their computer performance slows down over time. What causes this behavior? Can this be prevented? If you perform regular computer maintenance, the answer is yes.
Most recent versions of Windows (XP, Vista, 7) have a tool called Disk Cleanup. You access this tool by clicking on the Start Menu, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools. Within the System Tools folder is the Disk Cleanup utility. Disk Cleanup frees space on your hard drive [1] by removing temporary internet files, Windows temporary files, downloaded program files, and empty the Recycle Bin. Be careful what you select to remove as this tool will also remove unused programs, Windows components, and older restore points/shadow copies.
Disk Defragmenter is another tool to keep your desktop computer or laptop running fast. It is in the System Tools area of your start menu like the Disk Cleanup tool. This moves data around on your hard drive so that previously fragmented files are in one spot on the hard drive. This makes it faster for the computer to access data on your computer.
Check Disk or Error Checking utility will scan your disk for errors and, if selected, will automatically fix any errors it finds. You access this by opening My Computer. Right click the drive you wish to scan and left click on Properties. Go to the Tools tab and select Error Checking.
Finally, regularly scan your computer for virus [2]es, adware, and spyware. You can do this with an all-in-one tool such as Norton or McAfee or use a free tool [3]. These programs can significantly slow down the speed of your computer. If you want a fast computer, removal of these programs will be one of the keys.