Hey Guys,
Recently I serviced
a Windows 7 computer that surprisingly only had 2GB of RAM. In case you didn’t know,
4GB is the preferred comfort level for Windows 7 to run properly but I usually recommend
6GB. This made me think to post some easy do it yourself options to boost
system performance on Windows 7 machines. Before you do any of this - make sure to backup your system and/or create a Restore Point. Windows 7, though a fantastically
awesome OS, has a few features that not everyone needs. Here are a few steps
that could help to boost system performance:
1. Remove Unnecesary Startup Items
Programs which have been installed over time often install various helper programs (such as iTunes Helper) which essentially just help the program to start faster. Other startup programs are meant for updates for their corresponding programs. These programs take up system resources such as RAM which could be freed up for more important tasks.
Going through these start up programs is easy. Click the Start Orb and type MSCONFIG in the Search bar and hit ENTER. As soon as the RUN dialogue comes up, let go. Type in MSCONFIG and click on the START UP tab at the top. Run through these programs with caution - some of them are kind of important so if you are unsure on what one does, Google it. Anything that says iTunes or Adobe are usually safe to remove by simply clicking the tic box to remove the check mark. Skype is another item that loves to chill in the Systray which is totally unnecessary so you can kill that too.
2. Removing Bloatware
"Bloatware" is software installed by your vendor that isnt necessary at all. A great deal of it is free trials of stuff you never asked for. Usually the process is to click on the Start Orb, go to Control Panel, Programs And Features, and then just remove software you no longer plan to use. If you aren't sure what the program is for, Google it.
3. Infections
The most secure and guaranteed way to clean your system of infectious and/or malicious programs is to give us a call at 617-386-7044. Virus removal starts at $75 with a cap of $175 depending on the severity of the infection(s). If you would like a free alternative, then I would recommend Microsoft Security Essentials. I ran this on a few test computers and believe it or not, it did a pretty decent job, especially for a free software. I use to recommend AVG Free, but AVG has been doing more and more poorly as time goes on. If your computer is able to get online, we can even clean up your machine remotely. Visit www.MooreITHelp.com or give us a call at 617-386-7044 for more information.
4. Disable or Fine Tune Windows Search Indexing
Windows 7’s search is good, but it can also affect system performance.
If you really need to run a tool at full tilt, you can disable indexing
altogether. To access the search index, click the Start Orb and type Index
in the Search box. From there, select INDEXING OPTIONS. Once the Indexing Options window pops up, you can modify all aspects of how Windows indexes your files and folders. You can pause the indexing process, omit specific file extensions, or even ignore entire hard drives.
5. Windows Ready Boost
Without getting too detailed, basically a flash drive runs faster than a traditional hard drive (except for SSD). Windows Ready Boost takes advantage of this by replacing the system cache with a flash drive or solid state cards that are traditionally used with cameras such as SD cards and CF cards. On systems with low RAM such as 1GB, Ready Boost can boost system performance an average of about 10%. On machines with more than 1GB of RAM, the results are kind of random but certainly not harmful, so I would give it a shot.
Without getting too detailed, basically a flash drive runs faster than a traditional hard drive (except for SSD). Windows Ready Boost takes advantage of this by replacing the system cache with a flash drive or solid state cards that are traditionally used with cameras such as SD cards and CF cards. On systems with low RAM such as 1GB, Ready Boost can boost system performance an average of about 10%. On machines with more than 1GB of RAM, the results are kind of random but certainly not harmful, so I would give it a shot.
I wont fill up this page with statistical data, but if you are interested in proof, this website does a good job:
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/455/2/
There are a few ways to access Ready Boost. One usually occurs when you first plug in your flash media. An Autoplay dialogue box should pop up and one of the options should be Ready Boost. If you do not see this option, you should be able to right click on the drive within COMPUTER and select Ready Boost. Your flash media should be at least 256MB in size with at least 64KB of free space, have at least a 2.5MB/sec throughput for 4KB random reads, and have at least a 1.75MB/sec throughput for 1MB random writes. This information is usually available on the back of the box the device came in but there are also flash drives that say "Windows Ready Boost Enhanced" right on them. Once the Read Boost window comes up, the program will tell you if the device is compatible. If it is, you should select the "Dedicate This Device to ReadyBoost" option to enable ReadyBoost and specify how much space you want to make available to the disk cache.
Hope this helps,
Let us know if you have any questions by emailing us at Help@MooreITHelp.com
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/455/2/
There are a few ways to access Ready Boost. One usually occurs when you first plug in your flash media. An Autoplay dialogue box should pop up and one of the options should be Ready Boost. If you do not see this option, you should be able to right click on the drive within COMPUTER and select Ready Boost. Your flash media should be at least 256MB in size with at least 64KB of free space, have at least a 2.5MB/sec throughput for 4KB random reads, and have at least a 1.75MB/sec throughput for 1MB random writes. This information is usually available on the back of the box the device came in but there are also flash drives that say "Windows Ready Boost Enhanced" right on them. Once the Read Boost window comes up, the program will tell you if the device is compatible. If it is, you should select the "Dedicate This Device to ReadyBoost" option to enable ReadyBoost and specify how much space you want to make available to the disk cache.
Hope this helps,
Let us know if you have any questions by emailing us at Help@MooreITHelp.com
