1. Free up disk space
It is recommended you use:
The Disk Cleanup tool - helps you free up space on your hard disk to improve the performance of your computer. The tool identifies files that you can safely delete, and then enables you to choose whether you want to delete some or all of the identified files.

Use Disk Cleanup to:
*Remove temporary Internet files.
*Remove downloaded program files (such as Microsoft ActiveX controls and Java applets).
*Empty the Recycle Bin.
*Remove Windows temporary files such as error reports.
*Remove optional Windows components that you don't use.
*Remove installed programs that you no longer use.
*Remove unused restore points and shadow copies from System Restore.

Tip: Typically, temporary Internet files take the most amount of space because the browser caches each page you visit for faster access later.

To use Disk Cleanup

For All Windows Users

1. Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, click System Tools, then click Disk Cleanup. If several drives are available, you might be prompted to specify which drive you want to clean.

2. When Disk Cleanup has calculated how much space you can free, in the Disk Cleanup for dialog box, scroll through the content of the Files to delete list.

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3. Clear the check boxes for files that you don't want to delete, and then click OK.

For more options, such as cleaning up System Restore and Shadow copy files, under Description, click Clean up system files, then click the More Options tab.

4. When prompted to confirm that you want to delete the specified files, click Yes.

After a few minutes, the process completes and the Disk Cleanup dialog box closes, leaving your computer cleaner and performing better.

2. Speed up access to data
Disk fragmentation slows the overall performance of your system. When files are fragmented, the computer must search the hard disk when the file is opened to piece it back together. The response time can be significantly longer.

Disk Defragmenter is a Windows utility that consolidates fragmented files and folders on your computer's hard disk so that each occupies a single space on the disk. With your files stored neatly end-to-end, without fragmentation, reading and writing to the disk speeds up.

When to use Disk Defragmenter:
In addition to running Disk Defragmenter at regular intervals--monthly is optimal--there are other times you should run it too, such as when:7
*You add a large number of files.
*Your free disk space totals 15 percent or less.
*You install new programs or a new version of Windows.

How to use Disk Defragmenter:

All Windows users
1. Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, click System Tools, and then click Disk Defragmenter.
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2. In the Disk Defragmenter dialog box, click the drives that you want to defragment, and then click the Analyze button. After the disk is analyzed, a dialog box appears, letting you know whether you should defragment the analyzed drives.

Tip: You should analyze a volume before defragmenting it to get an estimate of how long the defragmentation process will take.

3. To defragment the selected drive or drives, click the Defragment disk button. In the Current status area, under the Progress column, you can monitor the process as it happens. After the defragmentation is complete, Disk Defragmenter displays the results.

4. To display detailed information about the defragmented disk or partition, click View Report.

5. To close the View Report dialog box, click Close.

6. You can also schedule the Disk Defragmenter to run automatically, and your computer might be set up this way by default. Under Schedule, it reads Scheduled defragmentation is turned on, then displays the time of day and frequency of defragmentation. If you want to turn off automatic defragmentation or change the time or frequency, click the Configure schedule (or Turn on Schedule, if it is not currently configured to run automatically). Then change the settings, then click OK.

7. To close the Disk Defragmenter utility, click the Close button on the title bar of the window.

3. Detect and repair disk errors
In addition to running Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter to optimize the performance of your computer, you can check the integrity of the files stored on your hard disk by running the Error Checking utility.

As you use your hard drive, it can develop bad sectors. Bad sectors slow down hard disk performance and sometimes make data writing (such as file saving) difficult, or even impossible. The Error Checking utility scans the hard drive for bad sectors, and scans for file system errors to see whether certain files or folders are misplaced.

If you use your computer daily, you should run this utility once a week to help prevent data loss.

How to run the error checking utility
1. Close all open files
2. Click Start, and then click My Computer.
3. In the My Computer window, right-click the hard disk you want to search for bad sectors, and then click Properties.
4. In the Properties dialog box, click the Tools tab.
5. Click the Check Now button.
6. In the Check Disk dialog box (called Error-checking in Windows 7), select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box, and then click Start.

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7. If bad sectors are found, choose to fix them.

Tip:Only select the "Automatically fix file system errors" check box if you think that your disk contains bad sectors.

4. Protect your computer against spyware
Spyware collects personal information without letting you know and without asking for permission. From the Web sites you visit to usernames and passwords, spyware can put you and your confidential information at risk. In addition to privacy concerns, spyware can hamper your computer's performance. To combat spyware, you might want to consider using the PC safety scan from Windows Live OneCare. This scan is a free service and will help check for and remove viruses. Go [ Register or Signin to view external links. ] to use it.

5. Learn all about ReadyBoost
If you're using Windows 7 or Windows Vista, you can use ReadyBoost to speed up your system. A new concept in adding memory to a system, it allows you to use non-volatile flash memorylike a USB flash drive or a memory cardto improve performance without having to add additional memory.

Click [ Register or Signin to view external links. ] to learn about Readyboost on windows 7
OR
Click
[ Register or Signin to view external links. ] to learn about Readyboost on windows vista

[quote="piano_wizz"]Here are some extra information and settings to use

NOTE: This and the above information is designed for WINDOWS users!

DISK CLEANUP (SAGE OPTIONS)

When running disc cleanup in its standard gui mode it lacks some extra options that can be accessed by adding a preset registry key for options (including options).

first one needs to set the options by going to Run (windows key + R) and typing "cleanmgr /sageset:0" (without the quotes (includes all future instances)) (the number at the end can be changed but I use 0 by default) and then pressing Enter. After this is done you will be presented with a selection of tick boxes. there are more options in here then normal.

Once you have selected the options from here you can save these settings and they are stored for usage from command line. This is done by using run again and typing "cleanmgr /sagerun:0" (or whatever your registry number was you used to set the sage options.

USING SYSTEM MONITORS

In the past i have used a software called Mooo system monitor, when you customize the options on this software you can see in realtime what your system is doing on the parts you chose to monitor, this can give a big clue to what is causing your system to slow down.

SWAP SPACE

Swap space is normally controlled by windows by default, if you have more then 1 hard drive in your system (Not partition) you should be abel to speed up the system by changing the swap space to a drive that is not the main system drive, ie drive D: this will allow your operating system drive to send information that needs to be swapped to the 2nd drive leaving the os drive free for its primary task (Running your system)

WANING ABOUT PIRIFORM DEFRAGGLER

If using the above software please note that you will want Swap Space "DISABLED!" if this is not done sometimes defraggler attempts to defrag your swap file(s) this is not a good move when it may well be using them itself!

NOTE DO NOT DO THIS UNLESS YOU HAVE THE RESOURCES AS YOUR SYSTEM MAY CRASH MID DEFRAG, NOT GOOD!

if unsure use the built in defrag system in windows.

Dean