Ron Schenone

Microsoft Recommends 5 Ways To Speed Up Your PC – But Do They Really Work?

Posted by on Mar 29, 2010 | 18 Comments

I just finished reading an article from Microsoft on five ways to speed up your PC. The tools involved in doing the maintenance process are those that are either built into Windows or that must be added to perform the five recommended functions. I am currently writing this on my wife’s PC, since I am running one of the recommend procedures — an error checking utility — on my computer. I have not run this process before and it is taking well over an hour and counting to check the integrity of my files. Needless to say this is soooooooooo… slowwwwwwwww…

The Microsoft article article recommends running the following processes:

Disk Cleanup

Disk Defragmenter

Error Checking Utility

A Spyware Program

Ready Boost

I have always run third party utilities to do many of the functions described above. I like CCleaner or Glary Utilities to get the gunk out of my registry and temp files, Auslogic or Smart Defrag for disk defragmentation, and other free programs. I also use or recommend AVG or avast! and do use Ready Boost, but I am not sure exactly how well it works or doesn’t work.

I am interested in your opinions of what you use to keep Windows running on your system and why. Do you feel that the tools that come with Windows are enough, or do you use third party software and why?

Comments as always are welcome.

Source – Microsoft

  • Don Naphen

    Hi Ron; well I’m probably a bit paranoid with utilities, but have probably 5 or 6 that I use on a regular basis, BUT not all on in the background at the same time! Yes, I think CC Cleaner is great, along with Shred3. My CheckPoint router by ZoneAlarm has its excellent hardware firewall and has “looked after me” for awhile now. Then, it’s the Malwarebytes Anti-malware, Spybot, Super Anti-spyware Pro and of course KeyScrambler. Some are freeware, and some Pro (paid) versions. De-frag-a-file was a nice freebie also, and I run it at least once a week OR whenever I do a major install or uninstall. Bringing up the rear is Registry Booster, which I can’t say enough about.

    Although the above listed utilities may appear to be overkill to some, I’ve learned over the years that no single app can do it all, especially anti-virus programs. Each has its own unique strengths & weaknesses, and for a few minutes a day, why take a chance? AND just as important, none of these attempt to take over my pc like some well known “suites” (hint: Norton!) that shove nag screens down your throat if the settings are not to their liking.

    Hope this finds you well Ron. Best to all, and GO RED SOX !!

    • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

      Hi Don,
      Thanks for sharing your expertise with us. I hope you and yours are well also.

  • Don Naphen

    I might add on another topic: Since upgrading to Windows 7 Home Premium, it’s been a pleasure seeing my pc boot up and shut down as quickly as it does when compared to VISTA. Yeah, I try and maintain a clean system, and I had VISTA running about as clean as possible. Still, it’s like night/day with Win7. Oh, I’d still recommend to one and all to set Windows Updates to MANUAL, and read each and every so-called update BEFORE hitting the d/load button. They still try and slip in an “update” that’s really a Big Brother search of your system.

  • Buffet

    Never heard of ‘Ready Boost’?? I use, in no particular order. NOD32 Antivirus, PerfectDisk defragmenter,Superantispyware, SpywareBlaster, WinPatrol, CM Diskcleaner, Online Armor’s firewall, and Free Internet Eraser, along with Acronis True Image for backups – ALL top shelf utilities – No cheesy microsoft crappola or freebie AV’s. All the aforementioned programs run either silently in the background or when I choose to use them (Free Internet Eraser, when I sign off, for instance). Why risk one’s machine to generic, unreliable rubbish?

    • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

      Thanks Buffet for sharing your expertise with us.

      Ready Boost,
      Is a way to add more RAM without physically installing sticks and uses USB or memory cards.

  • Buffet

    Isn’t 4 gigs pretty much the limit?

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  • Ravikiran Pothana

    My Personal Opinion is that Microsoft Tools Work Slow and Never Showed up a Good Result These tools Disk De fragment,Disk Error Check Never Work.

    I prefer to use Third party tools to make the PC Fast,I Use C-cleaner This Works Better and I Experience the speed after using it.I mean the Speed of PC.

  • http://brandonlive.com Brandon

    CCleaner and similar tools are known to cause more problems than they solve.

    I consider recommendations of it to be dubious at best… Make sure you create a System Restore point before running it, and if you encounter strange problems down the line, that app should be high on your list of suspects.

  • Don Naphen

    Hi to Brandon. Could you be more specific on this? This is the first negative remark I’ve ever seen with respect to CCleaner! I’ve had absolutely no problems with it, and it’s been in use for a few years now. “And similar tools” referred to what specifics? Of course, when one is installing a program of this sort, it’s crucial to carefully choose each choice offered.

    Other than that, I’d be interested to know what your personal experience has been with CCleaner, as it might help others. I do know that when a free utility is offered on a like Ron’s (and others), one usually has a multitude of d/load sites to choose from, and with all the nasty stuff going on these days, it’s quite possible that you inadvertently landed on a rogue site that looked legit. Just a thought.

  • Don Naphen

    Ooops! Meant to say: “when a free utility is offered on a site like Ron’s ………..”.

  • Don Naphen

    Hi Ron; I had left a comment (and a follow-up to correct a typo) to “Brandon”, but I guess it got lost in the byte bin? Anyway, I wanted to ask Brandon to be a bit more specific on his negative findings with respect to CCleaner and “similar tools”. I have never had a problem with it, but had asked him for his experience(s), as it may help others.

    I have had problems with some utilities over the years even though they were recommended by respected sources such as PC Magazine and Bill Mullins Blog. I had also suggested the possibility that whenever multiple d/load sites are offered, it’s possible that one might be a rogue site that slid through the cracks! Anyway, I’m looking forward to Brandon’s comments.

    Best as always …. Don

    • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

      Hi Don,
      Sorry for the delay in getting your comments posted. I was in Texas for the past 5 days visiting family.

  • Don Naphen

    The nerve of you, leaving your followers to visit family! LOL. Hope you and yours had a great time.

    Don

    • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

      Hi Don,
      Well I have plenty more nerve. I’m heading to CT. on Friday to visit the other daughter and her family! LOL
      But this time I’ll have my computer with me.

  • Manheaven

    Hello to all. That five steps really does makes your computer stable. But not speeding up all the issues. What does really speeds up a computer is to have more ram for more response and high specs etc. especially on windows 64bit. And a utility that I’m using for years now is Tuneup Utilities that works it all.

    • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

      Thanks Manheaven for sharing your thoughts It is appreciated.