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A large number of computer users don’t realize that they are probably running a number of unnecessary programs in the background that tie up system resources and slow down the system. As many computer users complain their Windows is slow or their Windows hang up often, here are some tips for these problems.

FIVE prime criminals for a slow PC.

1.Junk files & Redundant registry

Junk files on the hard disks grow gradually with the installation, deletion and uninstallation of all kinds of applications, which will lower the working efficiency of the computer by occupying large space and hindering the speed of Windows. Registry is a hierarchic tree like structure of database system which not only supports Windows system, hard disk and applications but also saves settings. It keeps the record of user’s hardware configuration and software information. When you delete an application, you might forget to delete its related information, which can result in redundancy accumulation in registry and lower the speed of registry and system. Therefore, it is necessary to clean registry regularly.

2.Disk fragments

Disk fragments grow when system is used for some time. Too many fragments not only bring down the system performance or cause file loss, but also shorten the life of the hard disk. According to Microsoft official document, the more fragments are in the volume, the lower the system input/output performance will be. We can put it this way: Too many disk fragments cause the magnetic head to continually search and read data of the same file from different places, which can bring down the system efficiency and speed. As time goes on, the hard disk life will also be shortened. As stated above, it is necessary for us to analyze and sort out the disk fragments regularly (e.g. once a month).

3.Unnecessary programs & Windows services

These programs usually load when Windows initially boot up, and they can be prevented from doing so by deleting all the items in the Startup folder inside the Windows Start Menu. Programs will often setup the ‘load on startup’ feature automatically unless the option is deselected at some point during the installation process. If the computer had more than a few programs running in the background, this should significantly speed Windows start times and overall efficiency. Windows PCs also have had a long tradition of not managing well long and uninterrupted use across different applications, too many applications when installed and removed from a PC and a slew of processes and services running at all times inside your PC RAM memory but which maybe actually completely unneeded by your computer. Your computer is indeed filled with hidden functions and services whose existence you may barely know.

4. RAM

Memory management of Windows is not always effective. You may find Windows runs rather fast upon startup but obviously slower after a while (especially when you exit the large-scale 3D game after you play it for some time). Because the physical memory always has an upper limit, Windows adopts the mechanism of virtual memory page mapping to manage memory (i.e. page system assigns part of the hard disk to be additional memory). When small memory block called page is no longer used, the additional memory can be put on the disk to make more physical memory. When Windows9x starts, the system takes almost 20M physical memory. Once another application is in operation, Windows will keep exchanging memory page between physical memory and virtual memory. NT can reach this amount to 64KB, but Intel CPU only can force to use 4KB page. As time goes on, more and more page fragments will be produced, which gradually results in slower system speed.

5. Spyware & Virus

Spyware and virus could also be one of the reasons of a slow PC . Once surfing the web, you will eventually encounter virus and spyware that would attack your PC. Staying out of the internet is not an option instead, you have to make sure that your computer is installed with a virus or spyware scanner in order to prevent any virus attack.

How to speed up your PC:

It is usually a headache for non-professional PC users to optimize, clean up and maintain their Windows systems, even with various system tools. However, there is a new system utility online which seems to be very popular recently. This utility is called “Wopti Utilities”. It seems to have large popularity on different download sites. After I ran every module of it, it released 3 GBs of disk space and cleaned up 800+ invalid registry keys. It is also specially designed to get a look inside the computer’s components that makes it like a combination of Tuneup and Everest! This suite is easy to use with a professional-looking interface, and maintains system at high levels.

Wopti is free for download at: http://www.wopti.net

Here are some tips for using Wopti Utilities.

Step 1: Click “Opti Wizard” of Wopti Utilities Main Menu to enter Automatic Optimization Window.

Step 2: You are required to select the items like Internet Access Method for automatically generating optimization schemes. Like Network Optimization Mode, Wopti Utilities also provides users with 7 Internet Access Methods: xDSL, PPPoE, Cable Modem, LAN or Broad Band etc. Please read Network Optimization for details of those 7 access methods. Virtual-Drive users should select “Current system is using virtual drive”.

And there are two options to select: “Auto Analyze Redundant Information of Registry”, and “Auto Analyze Junk File in all drivers”.

If “Auto Analyze Redundant Information of Registry” is selected, Opti Wizard is to automatically scan and analyze the redundant information in Registry according to the options recommended by Wopti Utilities.

If “Auto Analyze Junk File in all drivers” is selected, Opti Wizard is to automatically scan and analyze junk files in various HD areas.

Step 3: Display optimization schemes on Opti Wizard Window.

Step 4: Start automatic optimization.

Step5: Automatically delete the scanned items. Remark: If you do not need to automatically clean some items, you may click “Detailed information” to remove the selected “tick” in front of that item.

You are suggested shut down all currently running programs and restart your computer when the Auto Optimization is done for the optimization to take effect instantly, and you can also select Auto Restore to restore the system to default status.

After I used Wopti Utilities on my 2-months-used Windows XP:

DISK SPACE: Released 3G of disk space

REGISTRY: Cleaned 800+ invalid registries keys

TRACE: Cleaned 500+ history traces

COOKIE: Deleted 600+ IE cookies

JUNK FILE: Deleted 1000+ junk files

I hope I have been clear enough for you to understand what to do. Enjoy a faster and healthier computer!