CompuClever Blog

Speed up your PC by using Microsoft Security Essentials

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improve windows speedsSooner or later we all have to remove virus problems or malware from our computer. It’s part of  the ongoing battle being fought between Microsoft and other technology companies and a shadowy network of hackers all over the world. To protect against computer viruses and other threats, most people choose to install a third-party “anti-virus” software. This software is typically not developed by Microsoft or the Windows team, and provides a layer of protection for your system by examining all downloads, all the time.

This amount of activity can really slow things down, and most people will really notice the effect of an anti-virus program on their system.

There is, however, a way to speed up your computer.

Microsoft Security Essentials, Microsoft’s free anti-virus and malware protection software integrates seamlessly with XP, Vista and Windows 7. Moreso than other anti-virus programs, Microsoft Security Essentials run quietly in the background alerting users only when there is an action for them to take. Most importantly, it  limits CPU and memory usage, resulting in less impact computer performance and speed.

This means opening documents and browser windows, or loading search results can become noticeably faster. So, Microsoft Security Essentials offers Windows users real-time virus, trojan and malware protection without slowing the system noticeably. Continue reading...

Improve PC speed by adjusting Windows Aero

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Computer tips and tricksWindows 7 offers a neat new feature called Aero that basically transforms parts of open windows on your desktop into transparent panes of glass. It’s a bit of inspired “eye-candy” that adds to the visual appeal of Windows, and the transparent, open effect provided by Aero can reduce some of the claustrophobia caused by having too many windows open at the same time.

However, like many of Windows 7 features, this increased functionality can come with a price. Laptops and computers that have stock video adapters that are “good enough” to get the job done, but unsuitable for more resource-intensive activities might see a performance hit when running Aero’s transparent glass effect.

For you the user, a “performance hit” means a slow computer. Programs, especially internet browsers, may not be as responsive as they could,  and it may take longer to open folders contain much-needed files.

All this can be irritating, but there is one way to speed up your computer: disable Aero’s glass transparency.

In Windows 7:

1. Click anywhere on your desktop, right-click, & select Personalize.
2. Select Window Color at the bottom.
3. Uncheck Enable Transparency.

Now Windows should run a little faster. While eye-candy is dandy, a lean-and-clean Windows interface is quicker! Continue reading...

Speed up your computer by removing “temp” files

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If you run a Windows machine, there are likely a lot of “temporary” files on your hard drive. Temporary files are usually backup files created, for example, by Microsoft Word, Excel or other other Office applications, usually to help save your work in situations where the computer crashes suddenly. However, some temp files are left behind even when a program is quit correctly. This may be due to programming errors that cause temporary files to not be correctly disposed of when an application is quit. These files can accumulate on your hard drive without you even noticing.

Internet Explorer and other internet browsers also create these “temp” files. Web browsers, such as Internet Explorer, create “Temporary Internet Files” to store user data, including cookies, images from visited Web pages, and the user’s browsing history.

So, temp files can be very useful, and can make using your computer more enjoyable.

However, these temporary can take up a lot of space on your hard drive. This can be inconvenient – in this era of digital downloads space is always at a premium on most PCs – and these temporary files can also slow down your computer. So, sometimes it’s a good idea to get rid of them. Continue reading...