Saludos, Roberto Di Lello.<\/p>\n
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Optimize Windows Vista for better performance<\/h3>\n
Applies to all editions of Windows Vista. No matter how fast or shiny computers might be when they are new, they all seem to get slower over time. That state-of-the-art PC you bought last year might not feel like such a screamer after you install a dozen programs, load it with antispyware and antivirus tools, and download untold amounts of junk from the Internet. The slowdown might happen so gradually you hardly notice it, until one day you\u2019re trying to open a program or file and wonder, “What happened to my poor PC?”<\/p>\n Whatever the cause, there are a lot of ways to help speed up Windows and make your PC work better\u2014even without upgrading your hardware. Here are some tips to help you optimize Windows Vista for faster performance.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Many PC manufacturers pack their new computers with programs you didn\u2019t order and might not want. These often include trial editions and limited edition versions of programs that software companies hope you will try, find useful, and then pay to upgrade to full versions or newer versions. If you decide you don\u2019t want them, keeping the software on your computer might slow it down by using precious memory, disk space, and processing power.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a good idea to uninstall all the programs you don\u2019t plan to use. This should include both manufacturer-installed software and software you installed yourself but don\u2019t want anymore\u2014especially utility programs designed to help manage and tune your computer\u2019s hardware and software. Utility programs such as virus scanners, disk cleaners, and backup tools often run automatically at startup, quietly chugging along in the background where you can\u2019t see them. Many people have no idea they are even running.<\/p>\n Even if your PC is older, it might contain manufacturer-installed programs that you never noticed or have since forgotten about. It\u2019s never too late to remove these and get rid of the clutter and wasted system resources. Maybe you thought you might use the software someday, but never did. Uninstall it and see if your PC runs faster.<\/p>\n For instructions, see Uninstall or change a program<\/a>.<\/p>\n Limit how many programs load at startup<\/p>\n Many programs are designed to load automatically when Windows starts. Software manufacturers often set their programs to open in the background, where you can\u2019t see them running, so they\u2019ll open right away when you click their icons. That’s helpful for programs you use a lot, but for programs you rarely or never use, this wastes precious memory and slows down the time it takes Windows to finish loading.<\/p>\n Decide for yourself if you want a program to load at startup.<\/p>\n But how can you tell what programs load automatically at startup? Sometimes this is obvious, because the program will add an icon to the notification area<\/a> on the taskbar<\/a>, where you can see it running. Look there and see if there are any programs running that you don\u2019t want to load automatically. Position your mouse over each icon to see the program name. Be sure to click the Show hidden icons button so you don\u2019t miss any icons<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Show hidden icons button in the notification area<\/p>\n Even after you check the notification area, you might still have missed some programs that load automatically at startup. You can find and disable them using Windows Defender.<\/p>\n The Software Explorer screen in Windows Defender shows which programs automatically start when you launch Windows<\/p>\n If you\u2019re unsure about whether a program should open automatically at startup, you can try disabling it, restarting your computer, and then using the program. If that causes any problems with the program, you can go back and re-enable it to start automatically.<\/p>\n For instructions how to use Windows Defender to check for programs that open automatically, see Stop a program from running automatically when Windows starts<\/a>.<\/p>\n NoteSome people prefer to manage which programs load at startup using the System Configuration tool. For more information, see Start System Configuration<\/a>.<\/a><\/p>\n Fragmentation makes your hard disk do extra work that can slow down your computer. Disk Defragmenter rearranges fragmented data so your hard disk can work more efficiently. Disk Defragmenter runs on a schedule, but you can also defragment your hard disk manually.<\/p>\n For more information, see Improve performance by defragmenting your hard disk<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you want to reduce the number of unnecessary files on your hard disk to free up disk space and help your computer run faster, use Disk Cleanup. It removes temporary files, empties the Recycle Bin, and removes a variety of system files and other items that you no longer need. For step-by-step instructions on how to do this, see Delete files using Disk Cleanup<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sometimes changing your computing behavior can have a big impact on your PC’s performance. If you\u2019re the type of computer user who likes to keep eight programs and a dozen browser windows open at once\u2014all while instant messaging your friends\u2014don\u2019t be surprised if your PC bogs down. Keeping a lot of e\u2011mail messages open can also use up memory.<\/p>\n If you find your PC slowing down, ask yourself if you really need to keep all your programs and windows open at once. Find a better way to remind yourself to reply to e\u2011mail messages than to keep all of them open.<\/p>\n If Windows is running slowly, you can speed it up by disabling some of its visual effects. It comes down to appearance versus performance. Would you rather have Windows run faster or look prettier? If your PC is fast enough, you don\u2019t have to make this tradeoff, but if your computer is just barely powerful enough for Windows Vista, it can be useful to scale back on the visual bells and whistles.<\/p>\n You can choose which visual effects to turn off, one by one, or you can let Windows choose a bunch for you. There are 20 visual effects you can control, such as the transparent glass look, the way menus open or close, and whether shadows are displayed.<\/p>\n The Performance Options dialog box lets you turn on or off up to 20 visual effects<\/p>\n To adjust all visual effects for best performance:<\/p>\n 1. Open Performance Information and Tools by clicking the Start<\/strong> button 2. Click Adjust visual effects<\/strong>. 3. Click the Visual Effects <\/strong>tab, click Adjust for best performance<\/strong>, and then click OK<\/strong>. (For a less drastic option, select Let Windows choose what\u2019s best for my computer<\/strong>.)<\/p>\n Restart regularly<\/p>\n This tip is simple. Restart your PC at least once a week, especially if you use it a lot. Restarting a PC is a good way to clear out its memory and ensure that any errant processes and services that started running get shut down.<\/p>\n Restarting closes all the software running on your PC. Not only the programs you see running on the taskbar, but also dozens of services that might have been started by various programs and never stopped. Restarting can fix mysterious performance problems where the exact cause is hard to pinpoint.<\/p>\n If you keep so many programs, e\u2011mail messages, and websites open that you think restarting is a hassle, that\u2019s probably a sign you should restart your PC. The more things you have open and the longer you keep them running, the greater the chances your PC will bog down and eventually run low on memory.<\/p>\n Add more memory<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t a guide to buying hardware that will speed up your computer. But no discussion of how make Windows run faster would be complete without mentioning that you should consider adding more memory to your PC.<\/p>\n If a computer running Windows Vista feels too slow, it\u2019s usually because the PC doesn\u2019t have enough memory. The most sure\u2013fire way to speed it up is to add more.<\/p>\n Windows Vista can run on a PC with 512 megabytes (MB) of random access memory (RAM)<\/a>, but it runs better with 1 gigabyte (GB). For optimal performance, boost that to 2 GB or more.<\/p>\n If you’re going to the trouble of opening up your PC case to add more memory, you might as well boost the total to at least 2 GB. Especially if you’re the sort of person who keeps a dozen e\u2011mail messages, ten browser windows, and six other programs open at once\u2014all while instant messaging.<\/p>\n Another option is to boost the amount of memory by using Windows ReadyBoost. This feature allows you to use the storage space on some removable media devices, such as USB flash drives, to speed up your computer. It\u2019s easier to plug a flash drive into a USB port than to open your PC case and plug memory modules into its motherboard. For more information, see Using memory in your storage device to speed up your computer<\/a>.<\/p>\n If your PC is running slowly, one dreaded possibility is that it might be infected with a virus or spyware. This is not as common as the other problems, but it is something to consider. Before you worry too much, check your PC using antispyware and antivirus programs.<\/p>\n A common symptom of a virus is a much slower-than-normal computer performance. Other signs include unexpected messages that pop up on your PC, programs that start automatically, or the sound of your hard disk constantly working.<\/p>\n Spyware is a type of program that is installed, usually without your knowledge, to watch your activity on the Internet. You can check for spyware with Windows Defender or other anti-spyware programs. For more information, see How to tell if your computer is infected with spyware<\/a>.<\/p>\n The best way to deal with viruses is to prevent them in the first place. Always run antivirus software and keep it up to date. Even if you take such precautions, however, it\u2019s possible for your PC to become infected. For more information, see How can I tell if my computer has a virus?<\/a><\/p>\n If you try these tips and your computer is still too slow, you might need a new PC or some hardware upgrades, such as a new hard disk, faster video card, or more memory. There\u2019s no need to guess the speed of your computer, however. Windows provides a way to check and rate your PC\u2019s speed with a tool called the Windows Experience Index.<\/p>\n The Windows Experience Index rates your computer on five key components and gives you a number for each, as well as an overall base score. This base score is only as good as your worst-performing component sub-score.<\/p>\n Base scores currently range from 1 to 5.9. (There is no score yet of 6.0 or higher, although Microsoft plans to raise the ratings in the future as hardware improves.) If your PC is rated lower than 2 or 3, it might be time to consider a new PC, depending on what tasks you want to do with your computer.<\/p>\n For more information, see What is the Windows Experience Index?<\/a><\/p>\n Disable services you don\u2019t need<\/p>\n This is the most technically advanced of all these tips. If you don\u2019t want to mess with anything too advanced or complicated, you can skip this one.<\/p>\n Windows has more than 100 services running quietly in the background with names such as Network Access Protection Agent and Shell Hardware Detection. These typically launch when your computer is started and they run until your computer is shut down. Some secure Microsoft services cannot be disabled, but most others can be. Many software companies also install their own services, some of which you can disable to conserve memory and processor power.<\/p>\n You should not turn off a service unless you understand what it does and are confident you don\u2019t need it. Explaining what the many services in Windows do is beyond the scope of this article, but there is plenty of information about this on various websites.<\/p>\n For an overview from Microsoft, download the Microsoft Word document on the Services in Windows Vista website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t settle for slow<\/p>\n
\nWhich edition of Windows Vista am I using?<\/a><\/p>\nDelete programs you never use<\/h4>\n
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Defragment your hard drive<\/h4>\n
Clean up your hard disk<\/h4>\n
Run fewer programs at the same time<\/h4>\n
Turn off visual effects<\/h4>\n
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, clicking Control Panel<\/strong>, clicking System and Maintenance<\/strong>, and then clicking Performance Information and Tools<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.<\/p>\n
Check for viruses and spyware<\/h4>\n
Check your computer\u2019s speed<\/h4>\n