Actually, this isn’t about making a machine faster, but about removing the things that are slowing the machine down.
Before we get started, make sure you have a current backup of all of your data files.
First step is to make sure you have adequate RAM memory. For XP, 1 GB is the mimimum and for Win 7 and Vista 2 GB of RAM is recommended – but double those figures would be better as a starting point. You will need a 64-bit operating system and 64-bit compatible motherboard to go beyond 4 GB. For most people running Win 7 64 bit, 8 GB is the practical memory they should be at, higher for people doing graphics, photo, video or audio production.
For a laptop, make sure you have it plugged into the wall and the power saving settings are set to maximum performance, not maximum battery life. Many machines have different Energy saving / Performance profiles for AC and Battery. Check your Control Panel. Even for desktop machines, some processors have adjustable speed vs. power settings.
Sweep your machine clean of viruses and spyware. See https://computer-answers.ca/category/computer-questions/windows-questions/viruses-malware/
Make sure the machine’s fans and air vents are clean and free of dust or obstructions. Overheating can cause slowdowns and component failure.
Run Microsoft Disk Clean Up (All Programs > Accessories > System Tools)
Then, reduce the number of processes that it runs at startup – scanners, toolbars, automatic updating things, IM clients, indexing, whatever. Everything that runs in the background makes your machine a bit slower. Here’s how to check what is running www.computer-answers.ca/2011/computer-questions/windows-questions/q-what-is-running-on-my-pc/
Delete the shovelware – all the useless software that manufacturers put on the hard drive of a new machine. A small program, PCDecrapifier http://www.pcdecrapifier.com/ can help in removing the excess programs that manufacturers load your hard drive up with.
To change Startup programs, use the System Configuration utility.
Control Panel > Classic View > Administrative Tools > System Configuration utility
In Vista, Control Panel > Programs > click Change startup programs.
Or, get the Autoruns program (free) to turn off startup items http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx
Remember that Windows requires a bunch of different startup resources, so don’t delete them unless you know what they are. Research them here http://www.windowsstartup.com/wso/search.php
Turn off the eye-candy, like the interface shadows and zooms. Set your Control panel for maximum performance.
Make sure your operating system, video and motherboard drivers and other system software are up to date – check the manufacturer’s web sites for the latest drivers.
Clean out caches with CCleaner http://www.ccleaner.com
or Glary Utilities: http://www.glaryutilities.com/
Delete old programs that you never use with Add/Remove Programs.
Use the Task Manager window (Control Alt Del) to see what processes are running on your machine and what’s taking up processor power.
If your hard drive is nearly full, either delete a bunch of stuff and defragment, or consider installing a new larger, faster hard drive. Hard drives slow down dramatically as they fill up, and performance is hit badly by an almost full drive. Here’s how to check what is consuming the space on your drive https://computer-answers.ca/2012/computer-questions/windows-questions/q-my-hard-drive-is-running-out-of-space-why/
and here are links with information and hints.
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,5155,00.asp
http://www.microsoft.com/atwork/getstarted/speed.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/maintain/improveperf.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/expert/northrup_restoreperf.mspx
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/help/83ec0ffe-ee04-4d53-8b87-25d1f05c954e1033.mspx
If none of this works, put in your Windows disk and do a Repair installation of windows. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341/
Check the SMART status of your hard drive to see if it may be a failing drive
http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/s/smart.htm
http://www.ariolic.com/activesmart/hard-disk-smart-status.html
If you are having long delays of many seconds or minutes on everything you do, this could be a sign of a failing hard drive, get your data backed up immediately and install a new hard drive.
Cloning a Windows 7 installation to a new hard drive
Replacing a drive in a Windows Laptop
As a last resort, consider backing up your data and reinstalling Windows. This will mean reinstalling all of your programs from their original disks, and reapplying updates, so it is a body of work, but it can result in speed gains on systems that have been running and accumulating junk for a long time
To reformat a machine requires that you have the original Windows disk or the Restore disk that came with your machine, or that you have a machine with the restore files in a hidden partition. Contact your machine’s manufacturer if you do not have restore disks.
More information here.
Format and install Windows XP http://lifehacker.com/software/windows/geek-to-live-how-to-format-your-hard-drive-and-install-windows-xp-from-scratch-157578.php
Format and install Windows 7 from DVD: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html
Internet performance:
If your internet access is slow while on WiFi wireless, check the signal levels, and try plugging directly in by Ethernet cable. Poor signal levels, interference from other machinery, and an overloaded WiFi router can all make for poor performance. Make sure that both your machine and the router are capable of Wireless N performance, and that you don’t have any Wireless B or G devices on the network. Unless your router is a true dual-band model, adding just one B or G device will bring the WiFi router performance down to B or G levels for everybody.