Keep your PC up to date
With the increase in viruses and other malicious programs, it is a good practice to keep your system up-to-date in order to avoid being infected by these programs. Windows Update provides a way for keeping your system up-to-date. These updates fix security flaws and software vulnerabilities. Running Windows Update allows your PC to get fixes for the Microsoft software code that virus writers exploit. Some have mentioned that if Microsoft would make secure programs we would not need these updates. However even Unix, Linux and Apple software periodically needs to be updated due to a security flaw. Most software must be periodically patched to be secure.
Make sure you are set up to get automatic updates from Microsoft. You’ll also get notices about new Microsoft software that you can download for free.
Open Windows Update by clicking the Start button , clicking All Programs, and then clicking Windows Update.
1. In the left pane, click Change settings.
2. Choose the option that you want.
3. Under Recommended updates, select the Include recommended updates when downloading, installing, or notifying me about updates check box, and then click OK. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
Resource and Performance Monitor
Using Windows 7 Here’s a look at a great new way to monitor your computer. Windows 7 has a new application called Resource and Performance monitor which allows you to completely monitor your computer, from the most basic information to the most detailed processes. You can take a glance at everything from the small yet powerful application.
To check your PC's performance in Windows 7, click the Start button , type Resource Monitor in the search box.
On the main window you will be greeted by the Overview tab. Here you will get an overview of the resource consumption. CPU, Disk, Network, and Memory are all there.
CPU tab shows you Real-Time processes, CPU usage and Maximum frequency. On the right side window, you will see a graphical view of the CPU consumption. You can also dig deeper and search for Associated Handles and Modules.
Memory tab shows total consumed and free memory, you can also view memory consumed by each process. From here you can get an idea of the culprit programs if you are facing low system performance.
Disk tab describes the processes with Disk Activity and gives the overview of Storage.
Network tab displays processes with network activity, TCP Connections, and Listening Ports.
Action Center
Windows 7 Action Center is a one stop place where you can find system maintenance information, security information and also troubleshoot computer problems if any. Action center flag notification on you task icon tray with all of the needed Security Information, Maintenance Information (System Backup, Windows update etc.,) It also provides ability to check for solution and the options to troubleshoot. Troubleshooting computer problems has not been as easy as in Windows 7. The troubleshooting wizard detects any computer problems and tries to resolve the issues from there. The wizard is very informative and provides detailed step-by-step instructions Helps you to keep your PC running smoothly
Ready Boost
To speed up the PC’s performance you may have to add additional RAM (System Memory). However, adding additional RAM is costly and very tedious process for a non-technical guy. It can be difficult as you need to open up your PC, make sure you purchase the correct type of RAM, as well as making sure you have enough empty memory slots to place the RAM into.
You can bypass all this Microsoft have introduced a new feature in Windows 7 Ready Boost. Ready Boost allows you to simply plug a USB flash memory device into a high speed USB port (USB 2.0) and use it as a cache or virtual memory. Although not as fast as RAM it still delivers a performance increase as it is much faster to cache to the USB device than caching to your hard disk, speeding up your system and enhancing overall performance. The USB flash memory device acts as a fast store for frequently accessed data, the average random 4K read from a flash device is about ten times faster than accessing the same information from the hard drive.
Enabling Ready Boost
The most likely event is that the "AutoPlay" menu will appear, when Windows recognizes the new hard drive. The option you want is the one at the bottom that says "Speed up my system"; click it.
If AutoPlay doesn't come up, you can go to Start/Computer, and then find your flash drive. Right-click on the name of the drive ("Kingston" here), then click "Open AutoPlay..." That will bring up the AutoPlay menu; click the "Speed up my system" item.
CPU utilization
CPU utilization can refer to the level of CPU throughput. Central Processing Unit (CPU) organizes the processes in your computer to help keep it running smoothly. There are many legitimate programs on your computer that are the cause for high CPU usage. CPU utilization tools automatically track CPU data and store the data in a central location.
You can view the process and CPU usage on your computer by using Windows Task Manager. Open up task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc at the same time and tab to Processes
Method 2
To check your PC's performance in Windows 7, click the Start button , type Resource Monitor in the search box, Tab to CPU
Protect your computer from viruses
Antivirus prevents infections on computers by scanning the boot sector, memory, and files for viruses, spyware, and security risks. Antivirus protection uses the virus and the security risk signatures that are found in virus definitions files. This protection also protects your computers by blocking security risks before they install if this action would not leave the computer in an unstable state. Antivirus protection includes Auto-Protect, which detect viruses and security risks when they try to access memory or install themselves. Auto-Protect also scan for security risks such as adware and spyware. When it finds security risks, it quarantines the infected files, or removes and repairs the side effects of the security risks.
Download Microsoft Security Essentials Microsoft Security Essentials is a free* guard your system in the future from viruses, spyware, adware, and other malicious software (also known as malware). Microsoft Security Essentials acts as a spyware removal tool download from Microsoft that is simple to install, easy to use, and is automatically updated to protect your PC with the latest technology.
Free up Disk Space
The Disk Cleanup tool helps you to clean potentially unwanted files and free up space on your hard disk to improve the performance of your computer. Use Disk Cleanup to:
· Remove temporary Internet files.
· Delete downloaded program files, such as Microsoft ActiveX controls and Java applets.
· Empty the Recycle Bin.
· Remove Windows temporary files, such as error reports.
· Delete optional Windows components that you don't use.
· Delete installed programs that you no longer use.
· Remove unused restore points and shadow copies from System Restore.
Delete Unwanted Programs
There are multiple reasons to disable or remove software. It improves the time to startup, unwanted software, pop-ups, a slow computer, a slow internet connection, etc., It happens frequently that software is installed (by accident or deliberately...) which results in unexpected problems (like irritating pop-ups from adware). Especially new computers are frequently shipped with lots of unwanted software.
This is a very easy and straight forward task, it is important to understand that once you have uninstalled a program in this way the program will no longer be available for any files or data that rely on it!
Nice Post..!
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