Tools for "speeding up a pc"

[Simon]

I can't actually see the problem with it setting a restore point each time.  If you set System Restore to a certain percentage of the hard drive, surely more restore points doesn't mean it uses more resources, but in fact, gives you more chances of a successful repair, should things go pear shaped?

[Rik]

OTOH, it bumps older restore points more quickly.

[Noreen]

I can't actually see the problem with it setting a restore point each time.  If you set System Restore to a certain percentage of the hard drive, surely more restore points doesn't mean it uses more resources, but in fact, gives you more chances of a successful repair, should things go pear shaped?

With Vista you can't set the amount of space to be used, it will use up to a max of 15% of the hard drive. I prefer to set the points when I want them.

[Rik]

Yet another piece of nannying by Vista.

[Sebby]

Vista is really annoying with system restore. IIRC, it sets one even if you install a program. It's just another reason for lots of hard drive activity...

[Lance]

To be fair, i've never had a noticeable wait for the restore point to be set on vista when installing either new software or updates.

[Sebby]

Have you noticed the hard drive activity? Come to think of it, I found a way to switch off this feature when I was using Vista, but I can't for the life of me remember how to do it.

[Lance]

Not really. The only hard drive activity I tend to get when I don't ask for it is Windows Defender running a scheduled scan. I know I could turn it off, but figured it probably does some good. When you first get Vista, it will do it's indexing, but it should only do that when the computer is idle.

[madasahatter]

To be fair, i've never had a noticeable wait for the restore point to be set on vista when installing either new software or updates.

Me neither lance 

[Gary]

Same here Mad, also having played with Vista's system restore it seems more reliable than XP's and most pc users have never heard of disc imaging software that's the forte of the more skilled user, I guess some people need it as they never have backups I have a laptop to clean out Monday which is virus ridden and sadly the owner has all her pics of her new born son on it, and no backups on disc I hope I can save them

[mogden]

Memory.

It's cheap and easy (like me) and it's guaranteed to work (unlike me).

[Rik]

It's something you almost can't have too much of, the almost being down to the limits of the 32-bit OS.

[D-Dan]

I don't use "tools" to keep my PC in shape. Here is what I do do:

i) uninstall obsolete programs
ii) Whenever a program installs a desktop icon - I delete the desktop icon
iii) Periodically defrag my HD
iv) Periodically run full scans with AV, and anti-malware
v) Periodically delete ALL temporary files
vi) Whenever I install a program, make sure it isn't automatically starting any kind of unneeded "agent" at boot time. If necessary, write a small batch file to start necessary services prior to running the program, and to disable them when I exit the program.
vii) Organise your Start menu into folders

And now the only time I use a tool:

Run a reputable Registry cleaner from time to time (I use Registry Mechanic, but other reputable cleaners are available). I also take some time to manually clean obsolete software keys from my registry maybe once every 6 months. This is, however, a time consuming and dangerous task.

I can honestly say that my PC is as responsive now as it was after the last re-install over 18 months ago, just following these guidelines.

If you have more than one HD, create a small "scratch" partition on your non-system HD, then point all Temp folders (and your page file) to it.

Steve

[mrapoc]

I have never set the page file and temp files to a 2nd hdd

Does it help in keeping fragmentation low etc.?

Might do that next time - Would you recommend a 5gb partition or something?

I use ccleaner for temp files and registry

[Rik]

It's less about fragmentation, Sam, more about performance. I have mine on D, then I put my Photoshop scratch disk on E, it all helps.

[mrapoc]

So a partition of about 5gb for temp and pagefile - rest of hard drive (2nd partition) for data such as music and films
Whole other hard drive for apps and games etc.

Sound about right?

[Lance]

Should be ok, but I would go for nearer 10gb as some installs using temp files can run to a couple of gig. If you could get a second drive for the page file, that is where the perfomance gets even better.

[Sebby]

Putting the pagefile on a separate partition is pointless. Putting the pagefile on a separate disk, otoh, will help.

[D-Dan]

I have my scratch partition (all temp directories and pagefile) on a 20 gig partition on a 2nd drive. The beauty of this is - you can clean the temp files and defrag your pagefile with one command - "Format ...."

Steve

[Simon]

That sounds a brilliant idea, Steve. 

[D-Dan]

Don't forget to move your internet cache there, too. A handy way of getting rid of drive by nasties

[axisofevil]

Load Linux for a major speed improvement.
You can also chuck out all your ant-virus, defrag, messing-with-the-registry tools.

[Simon]

... and all your existing Windows programs. 

[Niall]

Load Linux for a major speed improvement.
You can also chuck out all your ant-virus, defrag, messing-with-the-registry tools.

Why would that be then? Is there a new Linux version that is immune to virus/malware? A simple search in google can find you proof that it also has it's own problems.

[axisofevil]

Give me a link to specific virus/malware
Wikipedia says

There has not yet been a single widespread Linux malware threat of the type that Microsoft Windows software currently faces; this is commonly attributed to the malware's lack of root access and fast updates to most Linux vulnerabilities.

Which while not definitive makes think that a search would be a laborious job.