How to Speed Up and Clear Errors On My PC

There are multiple reasons for the locking up or slow running of a personal computer (PC). Whether you are using the computer for recreational purposes or for work, this can be a very frustrating experience. The problem may lie in computer's registry, a spyware or virus infection as well as low hard drive space. These issues can be fixed with some tweaking and troubleshooting. The result of these fixes will be a smoother, faster computer and a much happier user.

Instructions

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   Disk Cleanup

   
   
   
   
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     In Windows, click "Start" and select "All Programs."

     
     

     
     
   
   
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     Choose "Accessories" within the menu.

     
     

     
     
   
   
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     Select the "System Tools" option and select "Disk Cleanup." The Disk Cleanup option deletes unnecessary files, temporary files, unused folders and programs that take up hard drive space and slows down system performance.

     
     

     
     
   
   
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     Scroll through the files to delete list that appears when the dialog box opens and leave the content you want to delete checked while the content you do not want to delete unchecked. Click "OK" afterwards.

     
     

     
     
   
   
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     Click "Yes" to confirm the deletion. The disk cleanup will take several minutes to complete, depending on the amount of excess files you have. This process will free up space on your hard drive.

     
     

     
     
   
   

   Disk Defragmenter

   
   
   
   
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     Go to "Start" and select the "All Programs" tab.

     
     

     
     
   
   
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     Choose "Accessories" and select "System Tools." Click on "Disk Defragmenter." Files that are fragmented make the computer work harder as it searches to piece the files together when they are opened. This slows the computer's response time. Defragmenting consolidates all fragmented files so they occupy only one single space per file on the hard drive. This makes the computer work less, thus speeding up the computer.

     
     

     
     
   
   
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     Select the drives to defragment in the defragmenter dialog box and select "analyze."

     
     

     
     
   
   
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     Click on the "Defragment" button to start the defragment process. Do this after the dialog box that informs you of the analyzed options appears.

     
     

     
     
   
   
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     Click on "View Report" after the process is completed. This report displays the result of the defragmentation process in terms of what files have been consolidated, hard drive space and other important details.

     
     

     
     
   
   
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     Finish the process by clicking on the "Close" button in the title bar. This process has consolidated all of your files and folders so they occupy single spaces on the disk, thus speeding up the hard drive.

     
     

     
     
   
   

   Check Disk Errors

   
   
   
   
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     Close all files and applications running.

     
     

     
     
   
   
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     Click the "Start" button.

     
     

     
     
   
   
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     Double click "My Computer."

     
     

     
     
   
   
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     Right click on the hard drive.

     
     

     
     
   
   
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     Select "Properties" from the list then click on the "Tools" tab. Click the "Check Now" button in the error-checking category. Select and check the "Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors" box and click "Start." This cleans up and deletes registry errors caused by installing and uninstalling software, unused keys, invalid registry entries and incorrect entries as well as files that clog the registry system. When the registry is cleaned it improves computer response time by getting rid of the file and error clashes that occur due to all of the errors in the registry.

     
     

     
     
   
   

   Spyware

   
   
   
   
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     Download "Spybot-Search and Destroy" from the Spybot website, extract the file and install it.

     
     

     
     
   
   
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     Open Spybot-Search and Destroy and click the "Check for Problems" button.

     
     

     
     
   
   
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     Follow the instructions by clicking the "fix selected problems" button if spyware is found. This deletes all spyware from the infected computer. Without spyware in your computer, you will see a much improved performance.

     
     

     
     
   
   

   Anti-Virus

   
   
   
   
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     Download Avast! Anti-virus software on their webpage.

     
     

     
     
   
   
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     Click on the executable file and install the program.

     
     

     
     
   
   
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     Right click on the Avast! Icon in the taskbar and select "start Avast! Anti-virus."

     
     

     
     
   
   
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     If viruses are found in the computer, Avast! will display them and you will have the option to quarantine them, rendering them harmless or deleting them altogether. Deleting the viruses will clean the infection in your computer. Your computer will run much faster when it is not infected by viruses.

     
     

     
     
   
   

   Registry Cleaner

   
   
   
   
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     Download CCleaner from their website and install the program.

     
     

     
     
   
   
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     Open CCleaner, click the registry button and click the "Scan for Issues" button.

     
     

     
     
   
   
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     When the registry scan is finished, click on the "Fix Selected Issues" to repair any registry errors.