I was recently asked to speed up a slow laptop. Here are the steps that I took:
- Apply Windows Updates: The computer had downloaded lots of updates (including Vista Service Pack 2) that were just waiting to be installed. This was a multi-step process since not all the updates could be updated in one package.
- Run Spinrite: This checks for and automatically fixes hard drive problems
- Remove Browser Toolbars: Google, Yahoo, and other toolbars in Internet Explorer and Firefox just slow down and junk up the browser without any real benefits.
- Remove Google Desktop: This is a redundant desktop search tool that just slows down the computer.
- Open Windows Task Manager, search for processes, and remove unnecessary applications and start-up items. This is done from Add/Remove Programs, from the startup folder and from msconfig.
- Turn off Windows sidebar: This feature available in Windows 7 and Vista by default just loads pictures and a clock which people don’t use.
- Remove some Windows features, as mentioned in 12 Ways to Speed Up and Slim Down Windows Vista.
- Update Firefox: Firefox 4 has significant speed improvements.
- Remove paid Antivirus and install Microsoft Security Essentials which typically uses fewer system resources and is a good and free Antivirus.
- Run Disk Defragmenter
- Update Power Settings: This laptop’s settings were to run the CPU at a max of 50% both when unplugged (to save the battery) and also when plugged in. The max CPU should be set to 100% when plugged in unless the computer is having overheating problems.
- Install Foxit Reader: This is faster and less annoying than Adobe Acrobat which I removed.