5 Easy Ways To Keep Windows Running Smoothly

How many of us remember the experience of a silky smooth, fast-booting, hassle-free Windows following a fresh install? Unfortunately, this occasion is a rare one in the world of Windows, and the dream ride is soon reduced to a crawling nightmare in a matter of days. Here are some ways to capture that magic moment and keep your Windows running without hiccups!

1. How to clean up your registry

1 LRC

The registry is Window’s storage of vital program settings and instructions. As you install new programs, countless registry entries are created by Windows – but some do not get removed after the program is uninstalled. Because Windows have to sift through these unwanted registries, useful programs can be slowed down. Little Registry Cleaner is a specialist in this area – it scans and removes redundant entries on your system.

2. How to manually disable startup items

2 msconfig

Ever notice that Windows is taking forever to boot? There may be too many programs trying to run at startup, many of which you cannot see. To check out what’s cooking during startup, execute ‘msconfig’ from the Run dialog box and go into the Startup tab. Un-checking some programs you do not need is a good and easy way to speed up startup times.

3. How to turn off Windows Indexing

3 indexing

Sometimes, you might notice your hard disk LED lights are on even when the computer is idle – indicating that Windows is up to something. Indexing was designed to allow faster search times for files on computers, but massive system slowdowns tend to occur when Windows tries to index the millions of files on your hard disk in the background. To turn it off, go to My Computer, right click on your main hard drive, click Properties, and uncheck ‘Index this file for faster searching’ under the General tab. Do the same for other drives you might have.

4. How to clean up unwanted files on your computer

4 Cleanup

CleanUp! is a powerful tool to remove your computer’s temporary and redundant files. Removing cluttered files may improve system speed by a long shot, because hard disks do not have to seek through these mess to reach useful files. Doing so prior to defragmentation is also recommended.

5. How to perform a do-it-all cleaning

5 CCleaner

If you’re the type who just wants to get things done without the hassle of downloading individual utilities, CCleaner is the solution. This little gem performs a holistic sweep of your registry and temporary files with a straightforward interface, sparing you of any technical jargon in the process.

This post was written by Chan Huey Hoong, if you wish to write for this blog, just drop me a line.

Do you perform regular maintenance on your computer? Tell us in the comments!

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ccleaner, cleanup, little registry cleaner, windows

19 Comments For This Post

Preetam Says:
April 26th, 2009 at 1:31 pm

U’re the best, seriously. BTW, I use Uniblue Registry Booster v2, and Advanced System Care Pro v3, and also CCleaner.
For defrag, there’s Auslogics Disk Defrag.

- comp@ddict aka Preetam

Syahid A Says:
May 1st, 2009 at 11:51 am

Nice apps. You can also complete an all round cleaning with Glary Utilites.

Google Says:
May 4th, 2009 at 10:10 pm

defrag surely

Rookie23 Says:
May 14th, 2009 at 12:36 pm

wow very good tips! I’ll download some of them! great site :)

venkat Says:
May 16th, 2009 at 8:59 pm

tweak your computer to adjust for best performance also runs windows smoothly

switch Says:
May 22nd, 2009 at 11:12 am

It’s very Good,Thanks! My computer need 2-3 minutes for open,it’s too slowly.

lightbulb Says:
May 23rd, 2009 at 1:09 am

The gears in that picture will not run smoothly…

Gratis Says:
May 26th, 2009 at 3:52 am

Number 6, throw Windows away and get a mac..

Lucy Lawn Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:07 am

I really like this blog everything is explained so nicely I am new to computers thanks a lot

runswithscissors Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 11:23 am

Registry cleaners do more harm than good.

Dev D Patel Says:
June 6th, 2009 at 12:27 am

I have used registry cleaners and they have to have all kinds of viruses a defrag is good

andrew Says:
June 11th, 2009 at 9:03 am

Hopefully your computer will run better than those gears will…

wheelnut53 Says:
June 13th, 2009 at 10:42 am

Syahid A You’re so right I’ve been using GLARY for almost 2 years.The best all round tool there is. That CCleaner gave me hell.

blmartech Says:
June 17th, 2009 at 10:24 pm

I like the guys idea of throwing windows away and replace it with a mac.

thats a good idea take a pc capable of running millions of applications and programs and replace it with a closed proprietary system only capable of running the 5 applications steve jobs has deemed ok for use on the mac you thought you bought and only leased….

ronawson Says:
June 26th, 2009 at 2:52 am

Thank you, very handy – any more tips. I am new to computers I would say I am genuine dummy. So I would like to see your blog

Blake Says:
July 14th, 2009 at 4:55 am

blmartech…

Closed Source: Windows and Mac
Proprietary: Windows and Mac
Leased: Windows and Mac
Millions of applications available: Windows and Mac (Parallels and native for Mac, and what about Mac only programs not available for Windows?)

Windows is even more closed source than Mac. I don’t blame you for thinking you purchased Windows, even though the first paragraph of the Microsoft EULA clearly states that you leased Windows for use on one computer. (And to them, if you change something as simple as the amount of RAM in your computer, or the hard drive, or even upgrade the video card, you have a new computer).

runwithscissors and Dev D Patel: Registry cleaners, a lot of time they generally will do more harm than good, but not always.

Wheelnut53: CCleaner is a great file cleaner, much better than the build in Disk Cleaner of Windows. It even includes a mini registry cleaner. It deletes invalid registry entries if you use the second tab on the left. I use it religiously. But if you say you had problems with it, I won’t call you a liar. I just know I’ve had none.

Syahid A and Wheelnut53: I’ve never used Glary, but I’ll give it a try myself also. I’ve heard good things about it.

Switch: Does it take a program 2-3 minutes to open, or Windows 2-3 minutes to start up? The former is long, the latter is good

Phaoloo Says:
July 17th, 2009 at 5:58 pm

Simple but actually effective ways to keep your windows stay tune.

tera Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 4:54 am

I have another great way to keep Windoz running smoothly.

Make a clean install, in dual boot with Linux, and never boot the Windows OS, ever. This is the only way to keep it running smoothly.

Antao Says:
March 10th, 2010 at 12:28 am

I use PageDefrag (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897426.aspx) so that all the system files are always defragmented.

I also use MyDefrag (http://www.mydefrag.com/) as a screen saver.

I periodically run CCleaner with most options checked.

I used to have this setup on XP and it kept the system very fast all the time. I now have Windows 7 with the same apps and running fine.

Preetam Says:
April 26th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
U’re the best, seriously. BTW, I use Uniblue Registry Booster v2, and Advanced System Care Pro v3, and also CCleaner.
For defrag, there’s Auslogics Disk Defrag.

- comp@ddict aka Preetam
Syahid A Says:
May 1st, 2009 at 11:51 am
Nice apps. You can also complete an all round cleaning with Glary Utilites.
Google Says:
May 4th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
defrag surely
Rookie23 Says:
May 14th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
wow very good tips! I’ll download some of them! great site :)
venkat Says:
May 16th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
tweak your computer to adjust for best performance also runs windows smoothly
switch Says:
May 22nd, 2009 at 11:12 am
It’s very Good,Thanks! My computer need 2-3 minutes for open,it’s too slowly.
lightbulb Says:
May 23rd, 2009 at 1:09 am
The gears in that picture will not run smoothly…
Gratis Says:
May 26th, 2009 at 3:52 am
Number 6, throw Windows away and get a mac..
Lucy Lawn Says:
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:07 am
I really like this blog everything is explained so nicely I am new to computers thanks a lot
runswithscissors Says:
June 5th, 2009 at 11:23 am
Registry cleaners do more harm than good.
Dev D Patel Says:
June 6th, 2009 at 12:27 am
I have used registry cleaners and they have to have all kinds of viruses a defrag is good
andrew Says:
June 11th, 2009 at 9:03 am
Hopefully your computer will run better than those gears will…
wheelnut53 Says:
June 13th, 2009 at 10:42 am
Syahid A You’re so right I’ve been using GLARY for almost 2 years.The best all round tool there is. That CCleaner gave me hell.
blmartech Says:
June 17th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
I like the guys idea of throwing windows away and replace it with a mac.

thats a good idea take a pc capable of running millions of applications and programs and replace it with a closed proprietary system only capable of running the 5 applications steve jobs has deemed ok for use on the mac you thought you bought and only leased….
ronawson Says:
June 26th, 2009 at 2:52 am
Thank you, very handy – any more tips. I am new to computers I would say I am genuine dummy. So I would like to see your blog
Blake Says:
July 14th, 2009 at 4:55 am
blmartech…

Closed Source: Windows and Mac
Proprietary: Windows and Mac
Leased: Windows and Mac
Millions of applications available: Windows and Mac (Parallels and native for Mac, and what about Mac only programs not available for Windows?)

Windows is even more closed source than Mac. I don’t blame you for thinking you purchased Windows, even though the first paragraph of the Microsoft EULA clearly states that you leased Windows for use on one computer. (And to them, if you change something as simple as the amount of RAM in your computer, or the hard drive, or even upgrade the video card, you have a new computer).

runwithscissors and Dev D Patel: Registry cleaners, a lot of time they generally will do more harm than good, but not always.

Wheelnut53: CCleaner is a great file cleaner, much better than the build in Disk Cleaner of Windows. It even includes a mini registry cleaner. It deletes invalid registry entries if you use the second tab on the left. I use it religiously. But if you say you had problems with it, I won’t call you a liar. I just know I’ve had none.

Syahid A and Wheelnut53: I’ve never used Glary, but I’ll give it a try myself also. I’ve heard good things about it.

Switch: Does it take a program 2-3 minutes to open, or Windows 2-3 minutes to start up? The former is long, the latter is good
Phaoloo Says:
July 17th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Simple but actually effective ways to keep your windows stay tune.
tera Says:
September 1st, 2009 at 4:54 am
I have another great way to keep Windoz running smoothly.

Make a clean install, in dual boot with Linux, and never boot the Windows OS, ever. This is the only way to keep it running smoothly.
Antao Says:
March 10th, 2010 at 12:28 am
I use PageDefrag (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb897426.aspx) so that all the system files are always defragmented.

I also use MyDefrag (http://www.mydefrag.com/) as a screen saver.

I periodically run CCleaner with most options checked.

I used to have this setup on XP and it kept the system very fast all the time. I now have Windows 7 with the same apps and running fine.

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