Speed It Up! A Non-Technical Guide for Speeding Up Slow
Computers http://www.dropshippers.co.za/
Does your PC perform like grandma on a cold winter morning? Does
it limp along slowly through everyday tasks, such as starting up,
shutting down or just opening an email? Are you wondering if your
PC’s get up and go has got up and left? If you answered yes to any
of these questions, this is the book for you. http://www.dropshippers.co.za/
Sure, there are uber-geeky guides out there that provide tweaks
and customizations appealing to the pocket protector nation, but
there is no other book that addresses these common problems at the
everyday consumer level. We think it’s time for a book that covers
all of these topics in a way that appeals to real humans, like you.
Let us help you keep your PC running like it did the day you
brought it home from the store. http://www.dropshippers.co.za/
• Troubleshooting–We show you how to diagnose the cause of your
PC’s dawdling behavior. We help you determine whether the culprit
is your hardware, software, the network, a cluttered registry, or
even a virus. http://www.dropshippers.co.za/
• Software–We show you dozens of easy, non-techy things you can
do to speed up Windows, your applications, your Internet apps, and
more. http://www.dropshippers.co.za/
• Hardware–We show you easy upgrades you can do yourself. The
solutions we provide are easy to implement. http://www.dropshippers.co.za/
• Network–We show you how to easily fix network issues that are
robbing you of precious time. http://www.dropshippers.co.za/
• Buyer’s advice–If it’s time to put your beloved PC out to
pasture, we offer some tried and true advice for choosing a new PC
and keeping it in tip-top condition. http://www.dropshippers.co.za/
CATEGORY: Windows Operating Systems http://www.dropshippers.co.za/
COVERS: Windows XP, Windows Vista http://www.dropshippers.co.za/
USER LEVEL: Beginning-Intermediate http://www.dropshippers.co.za/
Table of Contents
Part I: Quick Diagnosis for Sluggish PCs
What’s Slowing Down Your Computer?
- Signs That Your Computer Is Getting Slower
- It Takes Longer for Your PC to Start
- It Takes Longer to Do Familiar Tasks
- Your Computer Gets Sluggish When You Have Two or More
Windows
- Open at a Time
- Your Computer Pauses for Long Stretches at a Time–or Freezes
Up
- Signs That Your Computer Really Isn’t Getting Slower–Even if
You Think it Is
- New Programs Run Slowly
- Your Computer Has Trouble Running the Latest Games
- You Upgrade to Windows Vista and Your PC Gets Sluggish
- Internet Sites Take Forever to Load
- It Takes a Long Time to Copy Files Across Your Network
- Quick Fix: Five Quick Steps to Improve Your PC’s
Performance
- Quick Step 1: Reboot Your Computer
- Quick Step 2: Delete Unnecessary Files
- Quick Step 3: Remove Unused Programs
- Quick Step 4: Defragment Your Hard Disk
- Quick Step 5: Add More Memory with ReadyBoost
- The Bottom Line
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2
Before You Start: Protect Your Data
- Potential Problems: What Can Go Wrong When Speeding Up Your
PC
- The Wrong Programs Are Uninstalled
- Valuable Data Gets Deleted
- A Registry Edit Goes Bad
- You Have to Reformat Your Hard Drive (and Reinstall
Windows)
- Hard Disk Maintenance Fails
- A Hardware Upgrade Doesn’t Take
- Backing Up and Restoring Your Valuable Data
- Choosing a Backup Device
- Backing Up in Windows Vista
- Restoring in Windows Vista
- Backing Up and Restoring in Windows XP
- Protecting Your System with System Restore
- Setting System Restore Points
- Restoring Your System
- The Bottom Line
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Part II: Simple Speedups Anyone Can Do
Removing Spyware and Viruses
- Dealing with Computer Viruses
- How Computer Viruses Slow Down Your System
- How to Catch a Virus
- How Do You Know If a Virus Is Slowing Down Your System?
- Preventing Virus Attacks with Safe Computing
- Protecting Your System with Antivirus Software
- Speeding Up Your System After a Virus Infection
- Dealing with Spyware
- How Spyware Slows Down Your System
- How to Become Infected with Spyware
- Is Spyware Slowing Down Your PC?
- Avoiding Spyware-Infested Websites and Programs
- Speeding Up Your PC with Antispyware Programs
- Removing Stubborn Spyware Programs
- The Bottom Line
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4
Cleaning Out Unnecessary Programs
- Removing Unwanted Programs and Files from Your Hard Disk
- Why a Crowded Hard Disk Slows Down Your System
- How Much Free Space Do You Need?
- Discovering All the Files Stored on Your Hard Drive
- Understanding Bundleware
- How to Free Up Valuable Hard Disk Space–and Speed Up Your
PC
- Deleting Bundleware with PC Decrapifier
- Deleting Unwanted Files with the Disk Cleanup Utility
- Deleting Files Manually
- Emptying the Recycle Bin
- Archiving Little-Used Files
- Uninstalling Unwanted Programs
- Removing Unwanted Programs and Processes from Your Computer’s
Memory
- How Too Many Programs in Memory Slow Down Your PC
- Discovering Programs That Load Automatically–Without Your
Awareness
- Which Startup Programs Should You Delete?
- How to Get Rid of Autoloading Programs
- Deleting Startup Programs from the Startup Folder
- Deleting Startup Programs from the Registry
- Deleting Startup Programs with the System Configuration
Utility
- Deleting Startup Programs with Windows Defender
- Removing Programs That Slow Down Your PC
- Speeding Up Microsoft Outlook
- The Bottom Line
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5
Optimizing Your Hard Disk
- Defragmenting Your Hard Disk
- Understanding Disk Fragmentation
- How Disk Defragmenting Works
- Using the Disk Defragmenter
- Checking Your Hard Disk for Errors
- How ScanDisk Works
- Using ScanDisk to Speed Up Your PC
- Using Other Disk-Optimization Tools
- Diskeeper
- Fix-It Utilities Professional
- Norton SystemWorks
- PC Tools Disk Suite
- PerfectDisk
- System Mechanic
- WinUtilities
- The Bottom Line
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6
Making Windows Go Faster
- Speeding Up Windows (XP and Vista)
- Install the Latest Drivers
- Delete Unused Fonts
- Turn Off System Sounds
- Don’t Look for Bootable Media on Startup
- Optimize Windows’Display Settings
- Reconfigure Processor Priority
- Eliminate Background Services
- Disable File Indexing
- Optimize Virtual Memory
- Turn Off System Restore
- Speeding Up Windows XP
- Reboot Often
- Don’t Browse Network Folders
- Improve Windows XP’s Swap File Performance
- Speeding Up Windows Vista
- Disable Windows Vista’s Aero Interface
- Remove Windows Vista’s Sidebar
- Turn Off Windows Vista’s User Account Control
- Turn Off Unnecessary Windows Vista Features
- Use ReadyBoost
- The Bottom Line
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Part III: Power Speedups for Power Users
Cleaning Up the Windows Registry
- Understanding the Windows Registry
- How the Registry Works
- Organizing the Registry
- Editing the Registry
- Launching the Registry Editor
- Editing and Adding Keys, Subkeys, and Values
- Cleaning Up the Registry for Faster Performance
- How Registry Cleaners Work
- Choosing a Registry Cleaner
- Using a Registry Cleaner
- Tweaking the Registry
- Speed Up Windows’Menus
- Close Programs Faster on Shutdown
- Disable Low Disk Checking
- Move the Windows Kernel into Memory
- The Bottom Line
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8
When All Else Fails: Reinstalling Windows from Scratch
- When Extreme Measures Are Called For
- What’s Involved in a Clean Install
- Before You Reinstall…
- Obtain the Windows Installation Disc
- Locate Program Installation Discs
- Back Up All Your Files
- Performing a Clean Install of Windows XP
- Performing a Clean Install of Windows Vista
- After the Clean Install: Reinstalling Programs and Data
- Restoring Files and Settings in Windows XP
- Restoring Files and Settings in Windows Vista
- Reinstalling Your Favorite Programs
- The Bottom Line
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Part IV: Upgrading Your PC for Speed
Preparing for a Computer Upgrade
- Before You Upgrade: Getting to Know Your Computer System
- What’s on the Back
- What’s Inside
- Does an Upgrade Make Sense?
- What Can You Upgrade?
- The Bottom Line
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10
Adding More Memory
- Understanding Different Types of Memory
- Random Access Memory–Your PC’s Main Memory
- Read-Only Memory: Permanent Storage for Important
Instructions
- Flash Memory–External Memory Storage
- Virtual Memory–Supplemental Memory on Your Hard Disk
- How Memory Affects PC Speed
- How Your PC Uses Memory
- Using Virtual Memory
- How More Memory Speeds Up Your PC
- How Much Memory Do You Need?
- Adding Instant Memory to Windows Vista with ReadyBoost
- How ReadyBoost Works
- Speeding Up Your PC with ReadyBoost
- Adding More Memory to a Desktop PC
- Choosing the Right Memory Module
- Choosing the Right Type of Memory Chip
- Choosing the Right Memory Size
- Shopping for Memory Upgrades
- Performing the Upgrade
- Adding More Memory to a Notebook PC
- Shopping for Notebook Memory
- Performing the Upgrade
- The Bottom Line
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11
Adding More Disk Space
- How Hard Disk Storage Affects Your PC’s Speed
- Supplementing RAM with Virtual Memory
- Enabling Access to Programs and Data
- Understanding Hard Drive Capacity
- Viewing the Capacity of Your Hard Drive
- Determining the Ideal Hard Disk Capacity
- Shopping for a New Hard Drive
- Internal or External?
- Capacity
- Spin Rate
- Data Transfer Rate
- Access Time
- External Connection Type
- Internal Interface Type
- RAID or Not to RAID?
- Disk Drive Manufacturers
- Adding a New External Hard Drive
- Connecting the New Drive
- Freeing Up Space on Your Existing Drive
- Upgrading an Existing Internal Hard Drive
- Planning the Upgrade
- Getting to Know the Hard Drive
- Replacing the Drive
- Upgrading Hard Disk Storage on a Notebook PC
- The Bottom Line
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12
Upgrading to a Faster Video Card
- How the Wrong Video Card Can Slow Down Your PC
- Shopping for a New Video Card
- Resolution
- Memory
- 3D Acceleration
- DirectX Support
- Connectors
- Slots
- Video Card Manufacturers
- Making the Upgrade
- Configuring Your Display Properties
- The Bottom Line
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13
Upgrading Your System’s CPU
- Understanding the CPU
- What a CPU Does
- Factors That Affect CPU Speed
- Shopping for a New CPU
- Compatibility Is an Issue
- Determining Your Current CPU and Motherboard
- Finding a Compatible CPU
- Performing a CPU Upgrade
- Preparing for the Upgrade
- Performing the Upgrade
- Replacing Your Entire Motherboard
- Preparing for the Upgrade
- Making the Upgrade
- The Bottom Line
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Part V: Internet and Network Speedups
Cleaning Up Your Web Browser
- How to Slow Down a Web Browser
- Cleaning Up Your Cache and Cookies
- Clearing Your Cache
- Clearing Your Cache Automatically
- Changing the Size of Your Cache
- Deleting Cookies
- Avoiding Cookies
- Reconfiguring Key Settings
- Don’t Display Graphics
- Disable ClearType
- Turn Off the Phishing Filter
- Disable RSS Feeds
- Uninstalling Unnecessary Add-Ons
- Remove Third-Party Toolbars
- Remove the SSVHelper Class Add-On
- Remove Other Add-Ons
- Browsing Faster with an Alternate DNS Service
- What Is a DNS Server–and How Does It Affect Connection
Speed?
- Choosing a Third-Party DNS Service
- Configuring Your System for an Alternate DNS Service
- Increasing the Size of Your DNS Cache
- Enabling More Simultaneous Connections
- The Bottom Line
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15
Reconfiguring Your Internet Connection
- How Fast Is Your Internet Connection?
- Dial-Up Versus Broadband Connections
- Measuring Your Connection’s Speed
- What to Do If Your Speeds Are Low
- The Simple Speedup: Upgrading to a Faster Internet
Connection
- Choosing Your Broadband Plan
- Making the Switch
- The Bottom Line
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16
Speeding Up Your Home Network
- Troubleshooting a Slow Wireless Connection
- Check Your Signal Strength
- Move Closer to the Router
- Don’t Hide Your Adapter or Router
- Move Devices That Might Cause Interference
- Upgrading to a Faster Wireless Network
- Understanding Wi-Fi Protocols
- Choosing a New Router
- Installing a New Router
- Upgrading Your Wireless Adapter
- Extending Wireless Network Range
- Adding an External Antenna
- Adding a Wireless Extender
- Switching from a Wireless to a Wired Connection
- Tweaking the Windows XP Registry for a Speedier Network
- The Bottom Line
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Part VI: The Ultimate Speedup: Buying a Faster PC
When Do You Need a New PC?
- How Do You Know When Your Old PC Is Beyond Fixing?
- You’ve Tried Everything Else–and Nothing Seems to Work
- You’re Not a Technical Wizard
- Upgrades Are Too Expensive
- It’s a Notebook PC–You Can’t Upgrade It
- It’s Just Too Old
- What New Applications Might Demand a New PC?
- Video-Editing Programs
- Photo-Editing Programs
- PC Games
- Upgrades to Existing Programs
- Multitasking
- Windows Vista
- A Few Other Reasons to Buy a New PC
- Your Old PC Is on Its Last Legs
- You Want to Switch from a Desktop to a Notebook
- You Want a Smaller/Lighter/More Efficient Notebook
- You Just Want a New One
- Benchmarking PC Performance
- The Bottom Line
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18
How Fast a PC Do You Need?
- Understanding Key Components
- CPU
- Memory
- Hard Disk
- Video Card
- Windows Version
- Choosing a Form Factor: Desktop Versus Notebook
- Notebook PCs: Pros and Cons
- Different Types of Notebook PCs
- What Kind of Computing Do You Do?
- Choosing the Right Features for Your Needs
- The Home/Office Computing PC
- The Digital Music and Movies PC
- The Digital Photography PC
- The Video Movie Editing PC
- The Gaming PC
- Getting Rid of Your Old PC
- The Bottom Line
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PC Performance Resources
- General Performance Suites
- Benchmarking
- Startup Optimization
- File Cleaning
- Specific Program Removal Tools
- Registry Cleaners
- Hard Disk Optimization
- Disk Imaging
- Internet Speedup and Browser Optimization
- Startup Program Databases
- Internet Speed Tests
- Free DNS Services
- Index
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Speed It Up! A Non-Technical Guide for Speeding Up Slow Computers descriptions were created by Speed It Up! A Non-Technical Guide for Speeding Up Slow Computers wholesale priced dropshippers.
