Simple Computer Tune-up: Speed Up Your PC- P14 pptx

Open the Control Panel, as seen in Figure 6-1.. Click Security Center, as Figure 6-2 shows, if the Control Panel is in category view; otherwise ignore this step and move to the next step

OTHER WAYS TO OPTIMIZE YOUR PC

This chapter shows how to perform many tasks

that will help optimize your PC Performing these additional tasks, along with using PC Pitstop Optimize, regularly or at least once a month will ensure your PC runs faster and more efficiently

Keep Windows Up to Date

Keeping Windows up-to-date ensures your PC is pro-tected from the latest known security holes and fixes bugs or errors of the operating system, which will help increase PC performance

You can easily check for and perform needed updates for Windows by visiting the following website:

http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com

You can also configure Windows XP to automatically download updates when they become available:

1. Open the Control Panel, as seen in Figure 6-1

If the Start menu is in classic look, the Control Panel is under Settings on the menu

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Figure 6-1: Opening the Control Panel

2. Click Security Center, as Figure 6-2 shows, if the Control Panel is in category view; otherwise ignore this step and move to the next step

Figure 6-2: Opening the Security Center category

3. Click Automatic Updates, as shown in Figure 6-3

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Figure 6-3: Opening Automatic Updates

4. It’s recommended to use the Automatic option, as Figure 6-4 points out

Figure 6-4: Automatic Update option

Adjust Visual Settings

You can increase the performance of your computer by sacrificing some visual effects in Windows XP These effects include items such as shadowing, smoothing, and fading of fonts, menus, and your cursor

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Here is how to change these visual effect settings:

1. Right-click My Computer and click Properties, as seen in Figure 6-5

Figure 6-5: Accessing My Computer properties

2. Click the Advanced tab, as Figure 6-6 shows

Figure 6-6: Advanced tab

3. Click Settings, under the Performance area, as shown in Figure 6-7

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Figure 6-7: Accessing Performance settings

4. On the Visual Effects tab, select the Adjust for Best Performance option, as seen in Figure 6-8

Figure 6-8: Selecting the Best Performance option

5. When you’re done, click OK

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