How To Make Your Computer
Run Faster and Freeze Less

1. Add RAM (cheapest solution)

RAM is a memory chip that comes in the form of SIMMs or DIMMs. You usually purchase SIMMS in pairs but DIMMS can be added one at a time. Make sure the SIMMs or DIMM that is purchased matches the motherboard. Windows 95+ loves RAM and you can never add too much.

2. Add larger hard drive

Many programs using Windows 95+ needs free hard drive space to store temporary information. If your hard drive is too crowded and space can not be cleared, try adding another hard drive or replacing your existing hard drive with a larger one.

3. Add faster CPU

Be careful not to purchase a CPU that is not supported by your motherboard and power supply! (Try adding more RAM first.)

4. Add motherboard with higher bus speed and more cache.

Make sure you have a good chip set on the motherboard. For example the AMD K6-2 and VIA chipset get along very nice. The Cyrix CPU and the TXPro chip sets cry at each other and crash regularly.

5. Add virtual CD-ROM (which is actually software) for speeds up to 400X or faster CD-ROM for speeds topping 50X if you run programs from CD.

1. Get a faster modem
• Maximum Speed Modem for dialup servie is 56K (That does not mean you will obtain that speed! Match modem with your service: flex, X2, v90)
2. get a faster service such as:

• T1 (for large bandwidth like school) – We have that at CVC
• Cable (home)
• DSL/ADSL (fastest for homes where available)

1. Delete all files from C:\Windows\temp [several times per use]
2. Delete all files from C:\Windows\recent (or clear documents menu) [several times per use]
3. Remove any files from your startup except for explorer. To do this, there are two options
   • Click START, then RUN, then msconfig. (The path of msconfig is C:\windows\system\msconfig.exe) In the msconfig window, select the startup tab. This shows what programs that are selected to run at startup. Uncheck any checked boxes. Nothing really needs to be running at startup except for explorer. (Some also like Systray to run if there are scheduled tasks to run. Personally, I do not run it at startup.)
   • There is freeware called "RegCleaner". Look for it at any freeware site, such as TUCOWS. Again remove any items that are scheduled to run at startup.
4. If your computer has been running for awhile, Click Ctrl-ALt-Del. Select all open programs except for explorer and END TASK. After this is done, Do #1 and #2 again on this list. This really helps!!
5. After working with multimedia where many large files have been added to your windows clipboard, open a simple program like notepad, type one letter, and copy it. Then close the notepad. [often when working with large capture, graphics, video files]
6. Delete unnecessary icons from your desktop [periodically as needed]
7. Delete unnecessary sounds from your sounds panel of the control panel. Especially delete large sound files that you may have added. [as needed to increase speed.. more important on computers with limited RAM: 16MB].
8. Delete unnecessary files from your Startup folder under C:\Windows\Start Menu\Programs|Startup that some automatic installation put there. [as needed]
9. Move unneeded fonts from C:\Windows\fonts. Too many fonts in memory can slow a computer down to a crawl and even crash the computer. [as needed, often after installations]
10. Make sure you have at least 50 MB of free disk space on your hard drive. If not, empty the recycle bin, clear out C:\Windows\History and C:\Windows\Temporary Internet Files. [As disk space is needed. I clear out recycle bin several times per day during heavy use.]
11. Run Scandisk [every 1-4 weeks]
12. Run DeFrag [every 1-4 weeks after scan disk… even if computer says it is not needed]
13. Clean Registry (at least every 6 months)
14. Close any program that is not being used at the moment. [Close when finished or when not using.]
15. Documents with formatting errors can freeze up your computer. Close out of such documents. See Windows95/98 hints for solutions.(Whenever your computer freezes up due to document with error in formatting.)
16. Never delete an email, a program, or a document when it is open. When you close it with the X, it has no where to go. This can cause serious registry problems and even make a program or computer inoperative!
17. Don't close emails with the - key. Close them with the X. "X" is close, not delete. You still have the message! Never, never, never delete a message while it is open.
18. Shut down your computer if it is still sluggish. Sometimes a program is closed but its memory stays resident in your system. Sometimes the only solution is to remove power from your system and clear out the flipflop memory.

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