Optimizing Your PC Series

I will be posting easy to follow procedure on how we can optimize or speed up our computer.  However this post means we are dealing with computers with no hardware issues or severe Windows Operating System issues:

The first step in anything that we do with computers is to create a System Restore Point so that we would have a point to go back to just in case something wrong went wrong along our optimization steps.  The last working settings (current) would always be available for us and gives us a chance to correct what was done inappropriately.

1.  CREATE A SYSTEM RESTORE POINT

Windows XP 
Step 1: Open System Restore
     - Click the Start Button
     - Choose All Programs
     - Click on Accessories
     - Choose System Tools
     - Click System Restore

Step 2: Create Restore Point
     - Click Create a Restore Point radio button
     - Click Next
     - Name the Restore Point (eg MyRestorePoint1)
     - Click Create
     - Close System Restore once restore point is completed by Windows

Windows Vista
Step 1: Create System Restore Point
     - Click Start Button
     - Right click Computer
     - Click Properties
     - On the Left Panel, select System Ptotection
     - Automatic Restore Points local disk system should already be checked
     - Click Create
     - Name your Restore Point (eg MyRestorePoint2)

Windows 7
Step 1: Create your System Restore Point
     - Click Start Button
     - On the search box, type in Create
     - Select/click Create a Restore Point from the list suggested under Programs
     - System Restore Window opens
     - Click Create
     - Name your restore point (eg. MyRestorePoint3)


System Restore Issues:
Most common reason to System Restore failure are due to:
    1.  System Restore is disabled.
    2. Not enough room on the hard drive to create a system restore point.

To check is System Restore is disabled, right click My Computer and click Properties, click the System Restore tab and uncheck the Disable System Restore/Turn off System Restore on all Drives checkbox.

If there's not enough hard disk space to create a restore point, remove any unnecessary programs to free up disk space to create one.

Important Note:
-  System Restore will only backup Windows XP settings. It will not bring back personal items deleted or will it remove personal files that have been added to the computer since the last restore point.  If you have to go back to a Restore Point, new emails, photos, documents (any personal files not related to system settings) will remain.
-  Restoring to a previous point will not remove the virus that have infected the computer and may also cause problems to newly installed programs.

Topic Next Week will be Setting your Virtual Memory