Computer Tune-up (Windows PCs)

Please Note
These various computer sections are now becoming out of date in 2007 and you must regard any advice as being at your own risk. They are unlikely to be updated for the Vista operating system. However, the 'Free Software' Items below will be updated from time to time, as they are particularly useful.


Computer Tune-up and Maintenance
Ok, so you lot surf the net and download the odd program, JPG or MP3 file - but how much maintenance do you do to the computer to keep it in fine fettle? I'm not a top computer expert but here are a few tips which work for me.

Just by using your PC, or after installing and uninstalling software, minor slow-downs will add together and gradually nobble performance without you really noticing each reduction. You just get the feeling that it used to be faster. You can tune up your computer with a little care and attention. Have a look at what I do - but don't touch a thing unless you know how to get out of trouble and - most important - don't ask me. If your copy of XP is old, I recommend the Service Pack 2 update.

1 The Hard Disc Drive
2 Performance Gobblers
3 Tweaks & Upgrades
4 The Virus Threat
5 ISP and Opera
6 Trouble

It is a good policy to make changes only one at a time and reboot the computer between changes, then you can undo things more easily. Windows XP has a useful 'roll-back' feature. First thing to do is install an antivirus program and a firewall make sure that they are updated (they all have an update facility).


Free Software

Open Source - These are all legal, free programs which were written and updated by the 'Open Source' community:

Other Free Software (the first group are 'must haves' for computer protection). Always keep security software up to date (as in 'check for updates').

Free Web Browsers:

NB. Browser Wars (wiki): Most browsers generate additional page hits by refreshing webpages when the user navigates 'Back' through page history, a few browsers (like Opera) reuse cached content, without resending unnecessary requests to server. This tends to 'penalise' Opera and keeps it low in the statistics.

Sort-of Free:


Tweakers:


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