Optimizing your PC can't be done by a single piece of software.
Go to Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools and run Disk Cleanup.
Go to http://www.malwarebytes.org/ and download the free edition of Malwarebytes. Install it then restart the computer in safe mode (press F8 while the computer is starting) and run a full scan using that program. It may take a while to run.
Take a look at the bottom right of the screen (the system tray). Are there many icons down there? These represent programs that are currently running. The ones that aren't being used (be careful some of those are system programs which need to run) stop and disable from starting again on startup - right clicking on them usually brings up a menu.
Now it's going to get a bit technical...
At a command promp type msconfig. This is going to open a windows showing all the programs and services that start when the computer starts. You're going to have to turn some of them off. Go tohttp://www.theeldergeek.com/services_gui... and those services that are marked inessential you can turn off. Be very careful doing this and double check before removing them.
Go to Device Manager and update all your drivers.
If you want you can run a defragger (you can use the one in System Tools) and run a registry cleaner - Ccleaner - http://www.piriform.com/ - is OK. Don't expect a huge speed increase from either of these though - some tests show they are little more than "snake oil".
http://www.vista4beginners.com/Benchmark...
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/the_dis...
http://www.whatthetech.com/2007/11/25/do...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Registry_cl...
The next thing to do is get some more RAM. Not free but it's one of the best upgrades for any computer - unless it's nearing the end of its useful life. Go to http://www.crucial.com/index.aspx and use their RAM scanner to see exactly what you've got fitted, what your motherboard can use and how much you can fit. You don't have to buy the memory from Crucial, but that tool is good.
Go to Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools and run Disk Cleanup.
Go to http://www.malwarebytes.org/ and download the free edition of Malwarebytes. Install it then restart the computer in safe mode (press F8 while the computer is starting) and run a full scan using that program. It may take a while to run.
Take a look at the bottom right of the screen (the system tray). Are there many icons down there? These represent programs that are currently running. The ones that aren't being used (be careful some of those are system programs which need to run) stop and disable from starting again on startup - right clicking on them usually brings up a menu.
Now it's going to get a bit technical...
At a command promp type msconfig. This is going to open a windows showing all the programs and services that start when the computer starts. You're going to have to turn some of them off. Go tohttp://www.theeldergeek.com/services_gui... and those services that are marked inessential you can turn off. Be very careful doing this and double check before removing them.
Go to Device Manager and update all your drivers.
If you want you can run a defragger (you can use the one in System Tools) and run a registry cleaner - Ccleaner - http://www.piriform.com/ - is OK. Don't expect a huge speed increase from either of these though - some tests show they are little more than "snake oil".
http://www.vista4beginners.com/Benchmark...
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/the_dis...
http://www.whatthetech.com/2007/11/25/do...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Registry_cl...
The next thing to do is get some more RAM. Not free but it's one of the best upgrades for any computer - unless it's nearing the end of its useful life. Go to http://www.crucial.com/index.aspx and use their RAM scanner to see exactly what you've got fitted, what your motherboard can use and how much you can fit. You don't have to buy the memory from Crucial, but that tool is good.
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