Improving System Performance

What's wrong with your PC? It lags, it freezes, and it crashes- corrupting your work, wasting your time, and leaving you in a state of despondency. It could be performing poorly for a variety of reasons; everything from disorganized files to spyware can consume system resources and dramatically degrade system performance. However, as tempting as it may seem, defenestrating your computer is not the most reasonable solution. Consider the alternative measures offered in this essay, demonstrating that playing with your computer can be enjoyable-- even if it doesn't catch the frisbee.

Before running any system tools or troubleshooting, you need to backup your system (no, not with your tires). This precautionary step is necessary in the event that tweaking your computer cripples critical coordinating control functions. Backup your files by utilizing pre-installed PC utilities such as Windows Backup (Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Backup), or by copying important data to CD or diskette. Once you've successfully safeguarded your files, you can begin performing system maintenance.