Internet Security Tool Kit

How to Optimize Your Computers Performance 

Its common knowledge that most virus checkers and other security software slow down your computer.  That's because they use a ton of system resources such as memory in performing their jobs. Here are a couple of ways to optimize the performance of your computer.   

Windows Update Service

Make sure this is set for automatic download/you decide when to install.  Windows XP and Vista users can open the Security Center in control panel and set this up.

Clean Out the Spyware

Its estimated that 88% of PC computers are infected with Spyware which is using valuable system resources such as memory and drive space and that cuts performance and can easily lead to loss of privacy and security.    Use AntiSpyware to scan, remove, and then block spyware from returning to your hard drive.

Registry Scanner & Utilities

Windows Registry is the heart of the operating system.  Every program and device you install ties into the registery.  Unfortunately, many programs don't do a good job of un-installing their code when you remove them.  Its important to keep this key resource running smoothly.   I'm a fan of Registry Mechanic for this and I still use an old copy of Norton Utilities which works great on older versions of windows. 

Registry and Driver Roll Back.

Both Windows XP and Vista have a driver rollback feature that allows you to go back in time and effectively uninstall a driver or other feature that disagrees with your computer.

Device Drivers

Video Cards, USB, Printers all use device drivers to connect them to the Windows operating system.  These are updated more often than you might imagine and its important to keep them up to date.  While its true that Windows Update service will handle some of this for you, its worth checking directly with the equipment vendor a couple of times a year.

Printer Drivers

For whatever reason printer drivers are some of the worst resource hogs - and this is especially true of those that install utilities in the lower left task bar.  These are continuously checking the ink levels in the printer and also seem to phone home to the vendor web site to check for updates - every time you log on to the internet.  HP is particularity notorious for this.  If you have any kind of slow performance issue or internet access issue - try disabling the printer utility (not the driver).

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