How do I keep my PC running as well as it is?

Racehunter · 17 May 2012

Finally, after a motherboard swap and clean install of Windows 7, my PC is running just as intended. That is to say, it boots quickly, multi tasks well, is stable and shuts down in a flash. The question is, 'how do I keep it like this?'

In other words, what preventative maintenance/housekeeping measures should I take? Can any be set to automatically function? I have read the tutorial on removing 'bloatware' from start-up and will follow those steps, but I could not find a tutorial that covered my topic fully.

Thanks in advance.

Steve

Brink · 17 May 2012

Hello Steve,

The items listed in the tutorial below are safe ones to use to help optimize Windows 7. You can do the ones you like and skip the ones you don't want to do based on your needs and wants. :)

Optimize Windows 7

The main thing is to stay away from those registry cleaner and all-in-one tweaker type programs. They tend to cause more issues than they help with. Most are in the tutorial above, but disk defragmenting as needed, running Disk Cleanup every so often, and not fixing things that are not broken help.

Hope this helps some,
Shawn

Racehunter · 17 May 2012

Actually I meant to ask about 3rd party programs. Someone had told me to use Uniblue Powersuite, but I wasn't sure it was a good idea....

ignatzatsonic · 17 May 2012

Racehunter said:

In other words, what preventative maintenance/housekeeping measures should I take? Can any be set to automatically function?

I'd generally be wary of "automated" measures other than defragmentation and virus/malware scans.

Try to develop some self-control and resist impulses, particularly regarding new programs that promise to do wonders.

I wouldn't obsess over the latest driver updates or new BIOSes.

Over time, you will develop your own list of best practices and it's good to get in the habit of checking stuff---just as you would with a car.

You can do good "clean up" with either the built-in Windows tool or CCleaner.

Keep Windows updated, at least for items listed as critical or important.

Keep your data backed up.

Consider an image backup of your C partition, or at least be confident that you can re-install Windows at the drop of a hat.

Develop an idea of what is "normal" for your PC as regards temperatures, RAM usage, CPU usage, and processes.

pparks1 · 17 May 2012

Racehunter said:

Finally, after a motherboard swap and clean install of Windows 7, my PC is running just as intended. That is to say, it boots quickly, multi tasks well, is stable and shuts down in a flash. The question is, 'how do I keep it like this?'

Don't install anything else on the box. Avoid installing any applications, anything that auto starts up, anything that goes into the registry, etc. All of these things over time will gradually slow down the box.

All kidding aside though, my suggestions above mean "don't use the computer"..and that's not feasible. I don't suggest usage of many third party apps, especially those which claim to miraculously make your PC faster. Instead, I suggest taking an image after building the computer. Installing only what you want. Test other things in a virtual machine.

Run msconfig and keep your startup items clean.

That's it, otherwise, just use your computer.

wanchoo · 18 May 2012

You should take an image of the C (System Volume) Drive when the sysatem is running well. That is almost immediately after a clean install.

After that install the third party programs one by one and if the system continues to run well then update the image. In case any third party programs slows down your computer then restore the immediately previous image so that the naughty program is removed altogether. Then carry on with the installation of other programs in a similar manner.

In the course of a few days you shall have all the good third programs in place with the system well tuned.

I think this is a very good strategy to adopt if you want to keep your computer working at top speed.