DISCLAIMER: I take no resposibility if somehow things dont go as planned. This is basically (not entirely everything) how i tweak a system for optimization, YMMV*. How to tweak your computer: 1. Software to Download. a. Spybot Search and Destroy - http://www.filehippo.com/download_spybot_search_destroy/ For this software, during the install, you want to grab the updates immediately. Also, during the install, you do NOT want to install Additional Languages, Icons for blind users, and dont want to activate TeaTimer Additional notes: Exit all web browsers. After install, it will run you thru a tutorial. You basically can just skip this. The good old Next button is your friend. Once this is installed, you go to the immunization page. Run the "+Immunization" Once that is completed, go to search and destroy, and run a check there. Clean any red messes it finds. b. CCleaner - http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/ For this software, during the install, make sure you deselect the yahoo toolbar, check for updates automatically, and the recycle bin crap. Additional notes: Exit all browsers. After install, when you run this piece of software, there is a tiny bit of configuration that you need to do. if you follow this basic template (see my 2 .jpg's here) you should be fine. http://www.eviltone.net/CCleanerConfig and look at these two .jpgs here. Run the cleaner. c. Defraggler - http://www.filehippo.com/download_defraggler/ For this software, just Download and install. you will be running this AFTER all the above crap is done. The reason you need this is because the Disk Defragmenter that comes with Vista (and XP's isnt that great either) is very very poor. Additional Notes: Just run a defrag on your drives -- might take a REAL long time. Do not have anything running at this moment. Do not attempt to do anything until it is done. My recommendation is to run it overnight. d. AutoRuns - http://www.filehippo.com/download_autoruns/ About his software: Its a Microsoft SysInternals Release. Will assist you in disabling/deleting programs starting up on you during windows boot. e. Driver Sweeper 2.05 - http://www.guru3d.com/category/driversweeper/ Dont run this immediately -- only after you uninstall your old video drivers (make sure you have DOWNLOADED your NEW Drivers). You need to reboot into SAFE MODE by hitting F8 before the "loading windows screen" appears. Once in safemode, choose the selection for your particular video drivers. Clean and Reboot. (there might be more -- if your case is bad) 2. Run your Windows Updates. 3. Make Sure you have the latest Video Card Drivers. a. I recommend the Tweakforce NVIDIA Drivers and Tweakforce ATI Drivers. http://www.tweakforce.com/ b. If tweaked drivers arent your thing, just use the official releases. c. Do an ADD/REMOVE (or Programs and Features, if your in Vista+) of the OLD drivers. Reboot to Safe Mode. Run Driver Sweeper. Reboot. Install new Drivers. Reboot. 4. Tweak your Windows Services. a. For XP ----- http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm b. For Vista ------ http://www.blackviper.com/WinVista/servicecfg.htm c. For Win7 ----- http://www.blackviper.com/Windows_7/servicecfg.htm d. For Win2000 (god help you) ----- http://www.blackviper.com/WIN2K/servicecfg.htm What you need to know here is that you should be using the settings under the column called "Tweaked" This is generally safe. The only services that I'd say to keep at the default is the Human Interface Device Access and Tablet PC Input Service. And if after a reboot, something doesnt work properly, set it back to the default settings! 5. Run the AutoRuns Tool. Turn of items that do not need to be run on startup. (Java Updater, Quictime Tray Launcher for example) When in doubt, GOOGLE is your friend, or you could ASK ME FOR HELP. 6. Run Spybot Search and Destroy -- Exit all web browsers. After install, it will run you thru a tutorial. You basically can just skip this. The good old Next button is your friend. Once this is installed, you go to the immunization page. Run the "+Immunization" Once that is completed, go to search and destroy, and run a check there. Clean any red messes it finds. 7. Run CCleaner -- Exit all browsers. After install, when you run this piece of software, there is a tiny bit of configuration that you need to do. if you follow this basic template (see my 2 .jpg's here) you should be fine. http://www.eviltone.net/CCleanerConfig and look at these two .jpgs here. Run the cleaner. There are additional tools in this piece of software, but this is the basic thing you need to do. 8. Defraggler your drive. will probably take FOREVER if you have never done this, have lots of files, or jsut generally heavily defragmented. Overnight will probably be your best option here. MAKE SURE THERE ARE AS FEW PROGRAMS RUNNING AS POSSIBLE! ALSO DO NOT DO ANYTHING DURING THE RUNNING OF DEFRAGGLER. 9. Set your Swap File. Right-Click "My Computer" (or Computer if you have Vista) and select PROPERTIES. Go to the Advanced Settings Tab (vista: advances settings on sidebar of the window). Under the Performance Setbox, click "SETTINGS" and a new window appears. In this new window, go to the ADVANCED TAB. Click "CHANGE" under the VIRTUAL MEMORY Setbox. Another window will pop up. Uncheck Automatically Manage Paging file for all drives. Highlight C: (or whatever your drive with a swapfile currently is) Select CUSTOM size. Initial Size and Maximum Size MUST be the same. usually 1.5x to 2x the physical ram you have in your computer. Click the Set Button. Click OK. Click APPLY. Click APPLY. Reboot. Examples: 2 Gig of RAM Setting should be 4096 for min and max or 6144 for min and max (depending on what it lets you do) 3 Gig of RAM Setting should be 4096 for min and max or 6144 for min and max (depending on what it lets you do) 4 Gig of RAM Setting should be 4096 for min and max, 6144 for min and max, or 8192 for min and max (depending on what it lets you do) 32-Bit Windows has its limitations. I believe WinXP 32-bit will only allow a swapfile size of 4096. YMMV* on this. Vista seems to be a tad more understanding. I'm not 100% sure, as i am running 64-bit Vista on all my machines (sans laptop which is running 32-bit Win7) General things you NEED TO KNOW. This will take some time, so TAKE YOUR TIME. DON'T RUSH THIS PROCESS. You will be rewarded with a faster running system if you do this properly. Anti-Virus Note: If you have Norton or McAffee --- You have Resource Hogs on your hands. Sucks to be you. I recommend ESET'S NOD32 ANTIVIRUS ( http://www.eset.com ). It is NOT a resource hog, and has updates sometimes 2 and 3 times a day. I havent had a problem yet, and the software does its job. Other Antivirus options (free ones, of course): a. Panda Cloud Anti-Virus: http://www.filehippo.com/download_cloud_antivirus/ --- I am not all that familiar with this one. I used it for a close friend's NETBOOK, and its seemingly doing its job. b. AVG Antivirus Free Edition: http://www.filehippo.com/download_avg_antivirus/ --- I have used AVG in the past. Its better than Norton or McAfee resource-wise. It does its job pretty well. c. Avast! Home Edition: http://www.filehippo.com/download_avast_antivirus/ --- I have no personal experience with this, but have heard great things about this AV software. Footnotes: * YMMV = Your Milage May Vary: Meaning that what you get out of it might be different than what I get out of it.