10 easy tricks to speed up Windows Vista for better performance

1. Check for viruses and spyware
   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.
   
   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.
   
   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.
   
   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's possible for your PC to become infected. For more information, see Kaspersky Internet Security.
   
   
2. Delete programs you never use
   Many PC manufacturers pack their new computers with programs you didn't 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't want them, keeping the software on your computer might slow it down by using precious memory, disk space, and processing power.
   
   It's a good idea to uninstall all the programs you don't plan to use. This should include both manufacturer-installed software and software you installed yourself but don't want anymore - especially utility programs designed to help manage and tune your computer's 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't see them. Many people have no idea they are even running.
   
   Even if your PC is older, it might contain manufacturer-installed programs that you never noticed or have since forgotten about. It's 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.
   
   
3. Limit how many programs load at startup
   Many programs are designed to load automatically when Windows starts. Software manufacturers often set their programs to open in the background, where you can't see them running, so they'll 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.
   
   Decide for yourself if you want a program to load at startup. For more information, see How to remove unwanted startup programs
   
   
4. Defragment your hard drive
   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.
   
   For more information, see Improve performance by defragmenting your hard disk.
   
   
5. Clean up your hard disk
   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.
   
   
6. Run fewer programs at the same time
   Sometimes changing your computing behavior can have a big impact on your PC's performance. If you're the type of computer user who likes to keep eight programs and a dozen browser windows open at once - all while instant messaging your friends - don't be surprised if your PC bogs down. Keeping a lot of e? mail messages open can also use up memory.
   
   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?mail messages than to keep all of them open.
   
   
7. Turn off visual effects
   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't 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.
   
   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.
   
   
   
8. Disable services you don't need
   This is the most technically advanced of all these tips. If you don't want to mess with anything too advanced or complicated, you can skip this one.
   
   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.
   
   You should not turn off a service unless you understand what it does and are confident you don't 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.
   
   Some of the features that can often be unselected include:
   • Indexing Service
   • Remote Differential Compression
   • Tablet PC optional components
   • Windows DFS Replication Service
   • Windows Fax and Scan
   • Windows Meeting Space
   For more information, see How to disable unnecessary windows services.
9. Check for updates from the manufacturer
   Have you visited the support website of your computer manufacturer to see if the company has released any updates for your specific model? Computer makers often issue software updates for programs they shipped with a PC, especially if the PC is relatively new.
   
   You might be surprised how much information you can find by checking with the manufacturer. If other users are reporting the same problem you are having, the manufacturer might have already issued a fix, or at least provided information about the problem.
   Check RadarSync for automatic drive update
   
   
10. Boost your performance with ReadyBoost
    ReadyBoost is a feature that uses a high speed USB flash drive to cache data. On systems running 512 MB RAM, there will be a marked difference in performance when you use ReadyBoost. However, if you are running 2 GB of RAM, this usage will not really affect performance. The same is the case if you have a system with 1 GB RAM. Using ReadyBoost is not quite the same as adding physical memory.
    
    When a removable memory device is plugged into a port on the system, Vista checks to see if the card is fast enough to work with ReadyBoost. Once this is confirmed, the system asks you if you want to use the card to speed up performance. Part of the USB can be allocated for memory and the rest can be used for storing files. ReadyBoost works on the principle that a computer can access memory from the USB much faster than it can access from the hard drive. ReadyBoost works on the 'intelligent memory management' of Windows Superfetch.
    
    

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