Maintaining Your PC?

[geekgrl]

I always try and keep my PC happy by doing the usual suggestions. I try and keep the temp files cleared out, I defragment, I scandisk, I run a virus scan once a week, everything that my little A+ certification book says you should do when maintaining your computer. But- I was curious if there was any other little tips, hints, or tricks that would make the PC happier and smoother running. Yesterday, I went into the StartUp menu and got rid of tons of **** in the StartUp that wasn't necessary (like my scanner doing some sort of scan watch)...

[BFlurie]

Keeping your registry cleaned of orphaned entries & also compressing it will keep operation crisp. For registry cleaning progs:
http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/Forum9/HTML/001493.html

For compressing your reg after cleaning:
http://members.cnx.net/reboot/shopvac.htm

[Underclocked]

Not so technical, but one that would benefit many, is to open the machine up and vacuum carefully all components/fans as best you can on a periodic basis.

[M_Six]

Try creating a static page (swap) file. Windows by itself will expand and contract the pagefile.sys as needed, but often it is located in different areas of the drive. If you stop Windows from managing the Virtual Memory and just allot a space equal to 1.5-2 times your RAM, it'll run smoother. If you have more than one partition, try putting the pagefile on the larger one. For instance, I have my Win2k disk setup with a 3GB FAT partition for the OS and some programs, and then a large NTFS partition for data and whatever programs will run from there. I put the pagefile.sys on the NTFS partition to save space on the FAT partition.

[M_Six]

If you do vac the inside of the system, be VERY careful about static. Often a static charge will build up on the vac hose from particles passing through it at high speed. If you get a static discharge to a sensitive part of the mobo, you could have problems, to say the least. Try attaching an anti-static wristband to the hose, just like you would on your wrist. (Really, I'm serious.)

[This message has been edited by M_Six (edited 07-30-2000).]

[welsh wizard]

JAT, if using a Vac, try to use the blow rather than the suck, most Vac's have the option to blow rather than suck, it beats the hell out of trying to find some thing that was a little loose that managed to get sucked up the tube. ;-)
WW