There are numerous ways of keeping your PC running smoothly, from keeping it clear of clutter to regularly updating drivers and patching software. However, there is a little more to getting the very best performance out of your machine, and to do so you need to get your hands dirty.

The first steps to take are mentioned above, and mainly involve running the likes of Windows update, disk defrag and updating hardware drivers. These will ensure you have an up to date system and benefit from added features and stability. It is also a good idea to run Anti Virus scans, remove unwanted applications and clear temporary folders Internet files.

The next step is a little more involved, and it is important that you take care in entering appropriate values to avoid severe system instability. The Page File acts as virtual memory, and stores frequently accessed data. The majority of machines are set to handle virtual memory automatically, and whilst this is ok, you can often improve performance a little by doing the following. Go to Start � Settings � Control Panel � System � Advanced � Performance Options. Click on Change, located under the virtual memory section. Set the �Initial Size??? to 1.5x the RAM in your system, and the �Maximum Size??? to 3.0x the RAM in your system and click on.

Another way to boost performance is to turn of Indexing. By default, Windows Indexes your files hence reducing search times, though this can have an adverse effect. To turn off Indexing, go to My Computer, right-click on your hard drive and select Properties. Uncheck �Allow Indexing Service�??? and select Apply.

If you use XP, you may have noticed numerous graphical features such as translucent menus and so forth. These may look visually appealing, but they also affect performance, particularly on lower specification systems. For best performance without losing the visual appeal, go to Start � Settings � Control Panel � System � Advanced Tab � Performance � Settings. In this dialogue, leave only the following checked: Show shadows under menus, Show translucent selection, Use drop shadows and Use visual styles. Those with a high end machine will not see much of a performance boost, but those running near to the minimum specification will certainly appreciate the added smoothness within the Windows desktop environment.

The Recycle Bin is often overlooked when optimising, and you will often be surprised how much is left in there and from how long ago. To reduce the space taken by the Recycle Bin, right-click on Recycle Bin, click on Properties, navigate to the Global tab and move the slider to around 3-5%. This will free up extra disk space and reduce the number of outdated files left on your machine.

Just by following these few steps, you can have a machine running quicker in no time. Although optimisation doesn�t stop there, these few ideas will help you learn about the inner workings of Windows and how to get the best out of your machine no matter how old it is.

There are numerous ways of keeping your PC running smoothly, from keeping it clear of clutter to regularly updating drivers and patching software. However, there is a little more to getting the very best performance out of your machine, and to do so you need to get your hands dirty.

The first steps to take are mentioned above, and mainly involve running the likes of Windows update, disk defrag and updating hardware drivers. These will ensure you have an up to date system and benefit from added features and stability. It is also a good idea to run Anti Virus scans, remove unwanted applications and clear temporary folders Internet files.

The next step is a little more involved, and it is important that you take care in entering appropriate values to avoid severe system instability. The Page File acts as virtual memory, and stores frequently accessed data. The majority of machines are set to handle virtual memory automatically, and whilst this is ok, you can often improve performance a little by doing the following. Go to Start � Settings � Control Panel � System � Advanced � Performance Options. Click on Change, located under the virtual memory section. Set the �Initial Size??? to 1.5x the RAM in your system, and the �Maximum Size??? to 3.0x the RAM in your system and click on.

Another way to boost performance is to turn of Indexing. By default, Windows Indexes your files hence reducing search times, though this can have an adverse effect. To turn off Indexing, go to My Computer, right-click on your hard drive and select Properties. Uncheck �Allow Indexing Service�??? and select Apply.

If you use XP, you may have noticed numerous graphical features such as translucent menus and so forth. These may look visually appealing, but they also affect performance, particularly on lower specification systems. For best performance without losing the visual appeal, go to Start � Settings � Control Panel � System � Advanced Tab � Performance � Settings. In this dialogue, leave only the following checked: Show shadows under menus, Show translucent selection, Use drop shadows and Use visual styles. Those with a high end machine will not see much of a performance boost, but those running near to the minimum specification will certainly appreciate the added smoothness within the Windows desktop environment.

The Recycle Bin is often overlooked when optimising, and you will often be surprised how much is left in there and from how long ago. To reduce the space taken by the Recycle Bin, right-click on Recycle Bin, click on Properties, navigate to the Global tab and move the slider to around 3-5%. This will free up extra disk space and reduce the number of outdated files left on your machine.

Just by following these few steps, you can have a machine running quicker in no time. Although optimisation doesn�t stop there, these few ideas will help you learn about the inner workings of Windows and how to get the best out of your machine no matter how old it is.