Windows 7 Performance Tweaks

Everyone seems to be in love with Windows 7, so this article's intent is to share cool tips with people who are interested in getting the most out of the OS -especially those who are running Windows 7 on older, under-powered systems.

Go easy on the effects
Everybody loves glitter, but all those cool effects come at a price -particularly on very old Computers with slower processors and negligible memory. If you’re one of those who care more about zippy performance rather than transparent Windows and animated controls, then consider turning off the visual effects.

To do this :
Click Start, and in the Search Box type “Visual”, minus the quotes.
“Click Adjust the appearance and overall performance of Windows”.
Select “Adjust for best performance”
Click Apply.

Though the windows won’t look as flashy anymore, you’re sure to feel the quicker response time while working. However, if the Windows appearance is too bland for your taste, then you can select the Custom option, instead and pick whichever effects you want to restore. Remember, the more you enable,the greater the performance hit.

Spring Cleaning
Most brand name PC manufacturers insist on stuffing their brand new systems with unneeded, unwanted software that hogs system resources and drops the performance level. Stuff like security suites, games you will never play and other vendor-branded features that are additional nuisance can all be uninstalled. Simply venture to the Control Panel and just click “Uninstall a Program”.

Show me the RAM
There can never be enough RAM, simply because the more memory you supply, the more efficiently (faster) Windows performs. With Windows 7, however, to address any more than 3GB of memory, you will have to run the 64-bit version of the OS.

Worry not, as long as you've bought genuine copy of Windows 7, you will find a 64-bit installation disk in the box. So just pop it in and go through the breezy installation. Apart from recognizing extra RAM, 64-bit Windows tends to make much better utilization of your PC's processor, giving you the very best Windows experience available.

Security Essentials
Given the history of Windows not being a very secure system, it's refreshing to see Windows 7 pre-loaded with useful safety tools like the spyware-blocking Windows Defender and a strong firewall. However, you still need a good quality antivirus program that isn't too heavy on the system resources and performs quietly in the background. Microsoft's Security Essentials is a good example, and provides real-time protection towards viruses and other malware. Not only does it hold it's own against other popular antivirus software, it's performance impact is negligible. Best part? No cost involved!

Rescue Disk
Remember the time when new PC's used to come with a nice system recovery disk right in the box ? It's a trend that has been unfortunately phased out over the years. A system recovery disk is your only resource if your system ever becomes unbootable, so it's essential that you make your own using a blank DVD. Worry not, it's a fairly straightforward process.

First, insert a blank DVD in your DVD burner. Now click Start and type “Repair” in the Search Box. Select “Create a System Repair Disc”. From there, simply follow the instructions on your screen, label the disk and keep it in a safe place.

This disk includes a variety of recovery and diagnostic tools and also allows you to choose a System Restore point to bring your Computer back to its last functioning status. So, if you come across any computer trouble, fret not; just boot your system with the repair disc.

Chrome is King
Last but not the least... The Web browser is certainly the most used application on your computer, so it is very important to use one which doesn't slow down the overall system performance. This means getting rid of Internet Explorer and moving on to Google Chrome. Not only is it fastest in terms of browsing speed but is also light on the resources and has more features than the default windows browser.

So to summarize, the key to running windows smoothly lies in:

Reducing the eye candy
Getting rid of pre-installed junk
Upgrading to 64 bit
Using Microsoft Security Essentials
Creating a rescue disk
Using an alternative browser instead of Internet Explorer

Hopefully, all these tips will help you get even more juice out of your Windows 7.

Posted in: Tips and Tricks, Tweaks, Windows 7