Boosting performance

Boosting performance, a nice and potentially long topic, BUT

Out of the free apps that you can use to boost performance are items that clean all the junk from your PC, Defragmentation, registry cleaning apps to security software as in AntiVirus, Antispyware ( Malware ) and a firewall.. not strictly performance boosters BUT these go to helping malware not become apart of your pc experience and thus slow your PC down.


These would be my options, dependent on operating system used... you not told us this, but I will assume XP?



Junk/Temp Cleaners
I would have to say the best of the bunch is CCleaner which will not only remove all the temp internet and temp installers* ( *left over from installing various software ) but it will also clean your registry and a clean registry to a point does help in the OS finding the correct paths to installed software faster.

Defrag
The best option IMHO is O&O Defrag Pro, but sadly that one is not free so the next best options are, and I have two to choose from
Diskeeper Lite

O&O Defrag 2000 Freeware Edition

Registry Cleaners
As mentioned above CCleaner does a very capable job of cleaning your registry from old and invalid registry keys, but you could also use this old but still good cleaner Regcleaner

Also a good option to boosting performance of your PC is to check the software that starts up with your PC as many un-needed running tasks can and do slow your PC, for his task, you can use Microsoft Defender's Tools menu link mentioned later on or CCleaner ( but do find out either by using Process Explorer to ID running tasks or Google the .exe file and you will generally find out what software an .exe is related to ) to delete the startup, which just means in most cases you have to manually start the software, ie. MSN Messenger, the multitude of update programs for items like your printer, burning software etc, DO however leave all security and operating system update applications alone )


Malware ( aka Virii, Trojans and Spyware )
well you have many options in this catagory and below are a few I personally like.

Spywareblaster
Does not scan and remove spyware but does help prevent it being installed in the first place by adding all the known sites and URLs that propagate this unwelcome guest!

Microsoft Windows Defender Beta
Good resident malware scanner, also has a few other tools, one as mentioned earlier is the ability to tell you whats in your startup and which software it relates to, this allows you to make your mind up to wether you really need it to start at boot or not... to get to this menu run the software and click Tools > Software Explorer > the drop down box gives you some options but generally it starts with startups, just look down the list and decide what software you have installed that doesnt really need to start at boot time but only when you need it, choices are Disable( if your not sure you want to remove fully or not ) and Delete ( to perminently remove ).

Ad-Aware SE Personal another good on demand scanner.

options for AntiVirus are
AVG
AVAST
AntiVIR

Firewalls
ZoneAlarm Free
Outpost
Sygate


most if not all of the above and some other options not listed can be found in the

Majorgeeks ~ Must have free downloads


while not totally comprehensive, I hope the above gives you a start, above all learn how your PC and OS work and know what software is installed, if you dont recognise it, research it!

 

No probs Lapsed, if you have a particular subject you wish to expand on just holler and we should be able to assist, as this is a large subject, let us know some details ie. OS and installed software as in tools like the ones listed above and we can advise on alternatives or compatibles?


I did forget one crucial part from that lenghty post in that do get all updates not just for your OS but installed software and if you get the ones listed above your very own Majorgeeks will have the latest versions posted on the main pages as they become available... which is a good reason for visiting http://majorgeeks.com/ each day


Shamless plug I know

ah shucks... you'll have me embarrased.... but thanks BCGray

 

Guys please start a new thread on NORTON SpeedDisk questions as this is now going off topic to the original posters question as to FREEWARE solutions to boosting his PC. Cheers