Presentation Oct 09, 2007 - Speed up your computer

 

Why should I stop programs from running?

- To speed up your computer.

- To stop running programs during software installs, during defrag operations or disk burning.

 

To speed up your computer

What slows computers down ?

- Unattached files  - Defrag your computer.

- Not enough RAM – 1 GIG recommened for Windows XP, 2GB for Vista

- Registry bloat – Install  RegCleaner from website

- Too many programs running.  Stop the ones you are not working on.

- Too many programs starting up automatically.  When you install new software they often start, without your knowledge, when you boot up.  They run in the background and serve no useful purpose for you.  We will look at how to identify this and how to correct it.

 

How do I know what programs to stop and what to leave running?

How do I know if I have a problem that can be fixed?

-First you install MemInfo a free program

MemInfo Displays the memory (RAM ) usage in the system tray.

 

Get the download from http://www.carthagosoft.net/meminfo.htm

Install with default values.

-Hover the pointer over the green icon and see how much RAM is being used.  Under 40% Memory Usage is lowt.  You are in good shape and may not need to stop any programs from starting.  You may have 1GIG of RAM in your XP computer.

- If you have over 50% Memory usage you need to remove some start up programs or add RAM to your computer.  First we will see if we can fix it for free.

-How do I know what is starting up automatically?

-How do I know what to stop and what to leave running?

-How do I easily stop some programs from starting, but not delete those programs?

 

Install WhatsRunning a free program

Download from…

http://www.whatsrunning.net/whatsrunning/download.aspx

NOTE: Scroll down and

use Alternate download sites

whatsrunning.net

Do not enter your name and email address.

 

Install with the defaults.

-On the left side of your screen click on the chevrons until you see Startup with a red Disable button.

-On the top you see Processes, Services, etc ,......Startup.

-Click on Startup.

Look down the list to spot programs you do not need to start automatically when you boot up.

 

MS Office does not need to start.  If you see it there click on it to highlight it.

-Now click on the red button XDisable.  NOTE:  This will not delete or uninstall your MS Office.  You can still start it in the usual way. The X in the square will be cleared but you can put it back later by clicking in the square.  Do not click on the button  XDelete.

 

The programs you need to start are AVG, or your other virus checker.  So any program starting with AVG.....leave it running.

Adobe can be disabled.  Any Kodak program, and HP programs, Acer programs any printer program, Roboform,  can be disabled.  Be brave disable some and reboot.  If your computer operates normally you can disable some more.  If you have some program more service not working properly re-run Whatsrunning, look at Startup again and highlight what you disabled and click Enable to put them back.

 

When finished hover your pointer over MemInfo and see what memory, (freed-up RAM) you have gained.  I stopped about 10 programs from running at start-up and went from 55% to 40% memory usage.  My 500MB XP was faster and I did not have to buy more RAM.

 

To stop operating programs during software installs, during defrag operations or disk burning.

How do I easily stop the programs?

-Install SmartClose a free program.

SmartClose closes all applications, services, processes that can be safely stopped and restarts them later.  This takes the guesswork out of what to stop and what is essential for Windows to run.  Stopping programs can be tedious to do manually.  Download SmartClose from

http://www.bm-productions.tk/

 

Start the program.  Click on, “Create a system snapshot and close all programs”

Click Next. Click Next. Click Next. Click Next. Click Start. The program will attempt to close the programs.  Click Finish.  It may not be able to stop them all the programs.  ZoneAlarm has to be stopped and put back after ,manually.

 

-Now you can install a new program, defrag, scan your hard drive for errors, play a resource gobbling game or burn a disk.

 

When finished you can return your running programs.

-Start SmartClose.

-Click, “Restore a previously taken system snapshot.”

-Click Next. Click Next. Click Next.  Click Next. Click Start. Click Finish.

Start manually ZoneAlarm and any other programs that SmartClose did not close.