Speed up your PC

Here are a few quick ideas to consider to speed up your PC. If you want to learn more about the items discussed below, consult your local IT pro.

Add more RAM

Add as much as your PC can handle. In the past, RAM (Random Access Memory) was very expensive. Now it's about $50 per GB (Giga-Bytes). Your PC should have at least 2 GB. If your PC is 3-4 years old, it may have only 512 MB (Mega-Bytes). Bring your PC to a local PC store and have them install it. The results can be amazing.

Perform a Disk Cleanup

Windows has a built-in tool to take care of this.

Defragment your hard drive

After you have cleaned up your drive, defrag it. As with the Disk Cleanup, Windows has a tool to take care of this.

Remove unused programs

Visit your Control Panel and display Add/Remove Programs. Delete unneeded toolbars and programs that you haven't used for years.

Remove your antivirus and adware protection programs

This isn't recommended unless you have no choice, but these programs can have a major negative impact on PC performance.

Get a good Registry Cleaner and Disk Optimization program

The best known consumer program to clean your PC's registry and optimize your hard drive is Norton Systemworks. Only use this program if you are knowledgeable loading specialized software.

This article is provided by Fred Litt, Family Technology Associates, Allendale, NJ. Fred welcomes your comments and questions. Visit www.FamilyTechnology.com to learn more about Fred's professional efforts.