Index
Numerics
3D accelerator, 204
32-bit CPU, 213
64-bit CPU, 213
A
access time, 189
add-ons, removing from Internet Explorer, 236
adding
antenna to wireless networks, 258-260
external hard drives, 192-193
memory
to desktop PCs, 172-175
to notebook PCs, 178-179
wireless extenders to wireless network, 260
adware, 53
Aero interface (Windows Vista), disabling, 114
AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port), 206
antenna, adding to wireless networks, 258-260
antispyware software, 58-60
antivirus software, 47-50
automatic scans, scheduling, 50
subscriptions, 48
Windows Live OneCare, 50
applets, 226
applications
CPU-intensive, 269-271
reinstalling, 153
unused, removing, 22
architecture, affect on CPU speed, 213
archiving files, 70
ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment), 190
automatically clearing web cache, 228
automatically loaded programs
deleting, 76-77
from Registry, 78
from Startup folder, 77
with System Configuration utility, 79
with Windows Defender, 81
detecting, 74-75
AVG Anti-Virus, 48
avoiding
cookies, 230
spyware, 57-60
B
background services, removing, 104-106
backing up data
backup device, selecting, 28-30
importance of, 27
System Restore utility, 33, 36-37
backup programs
Windows Vista, 30-32
Windows XP, 33
BCD (Boot Configuration Data) file, 11
BEDO DRAM (Burst EDO DRAM), 174
benchmarking performance, 273, 294
BIOS (basic input/output system), 10, 167
bootable media lookups, disabling, 101
boot sector, 11
bootable media lookups, disabling on startup, 101
bootstrap loader, 11
broadband, upgrading to, 246-248
broadband Internet connections, 244
bundleware, 66
removing
with Disk Cleanup utility, 69-70
with PC Decrapifier, 68
C
cache (web browser)
clearing, 227
size of, changing, 228-229
capacity of hard drive, viewing, 185-186
categories of computer use, 282
digital music and movies PCs, 285
digital photography PCs, 286
gaming PCs, 288-289
home/office computing PCs, 284
system requirements, 283-284
video movie editing PCs, 287-288
categories of files, 65-66
CCleaner, 129
changing size of web browser cache, 228-229
checking hard disk for errors, 91
clean install, performing, 137-139
clearing web browser cache, 227
ClearType, disabling in Internet Explorer, 232
clock speed, affect on CPU speed, 213
comparing broadband and dial-up connections, 244
computer viruses
See viruses, 42
configuring
third-party DNS service, 237, 240
video cards, display properties, 209-210
Windows Vista, ReadyBoost, 170
continuity modules, 176
cookies
avoiding, 230
deleting from web browser, 229
copying files as cause of computer sluggishness, 21
CPU (central processing unit), 168, 212, 276
64-bit, 213
compatibility, 214
processor information
displaying in Windows Vista, 214
displaying in Windows XP, 214
socket types, 216
speed, factors affecting, 212
thermal grease, 217
crapware, 66
creating pagefiles, 108-109
D
data files, 65
data path, affect on CPU speed, 213
data transfer rate, 189
DDR SDRAM (Double Data Rate SDRAM), 174
DDR4 SDRAM (Double Data Rate 4 SDRAM), 174
defragmenting the hard disk
defragmenting the hard drive, 22
Disk Defragmenter, 88
Diskeeper, 92
deleting
cookies from web browser, 229
fonts, 98-99
startup programs, 76-77
from Registry, 78
from Startup folder, 77
with System Configuration utility, 79
with Windows Defender, 81
Dell Inspiron model I530-115B, 286
Dell Studio MT model SMT-116B, 287
desktop PCs, adding memory, 172-175
desktop replacement notebook PCs, 281
spyware, 54-56
unwanted programs, 74-75
viruses, 44
dial-up Internet connections, 244
upgrading to broadband, 246-248
digital music and movies PCs, 285-286
system requirements, 283-284
DIMM (Dual Inline Memory Module), 173
DirectX, 204
disabling
Aero interface on Windows Vista, 114
background services, 104-106
ClearType in Internet Explorer, 232
file indexing, 107
image display in Internet Explorer, 232
low disk checking, 132
Phishing Filter in Internet Explorer, 233
RSS feeds feature in Internet Explorer, 233
System Restore, 110
system sounds, 100
UAC in Windows Vista, 117
unnecessary features in Windows Vista, 118
discovering unwanted programs, 74-75
Disk Cleanup utility, removing bundleware, 69-70
Disk Defragmenter, 88-89
disk fragmentation, 88
disk-optimization tools, Diskeeper, 92
Diskeeper, 92
display properties, configuring on video cards, 209-210
display settings, optimizing, 101-103
displaying
hard drive capacity, 185-186
processor information in Windows Vista, 214
processor information in Windows XP, 214
disposing of old PCs, 290
reasons for, 268-273
DNS (Domain Name System), 236
cache, increasing size of, 240
third-party DNS service, configuring, 237, 240
downloading files, 245
viruses, transmission of, 44
DRAM (Dynamic RAM), 174
drivers, installing, 98
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line), 244
DVI connectors, 205
DWORDs, 132
E
Microsoft Outlook, speeding up, 83, 85
viruses, preventing, 43-44, 47
Ethernet connections, adding to wireless networks, 262
expansion card slots, 160, 205
extending range of wireless network, 260
external hard drives, 187
backing up data, 29
connection type, 189
installing, 192-193
Extreme G equipment, 255
F
Falcon Northwest, 283
file fragmentation, 22
file indexing, disabling, 107
file infector viruses, 42
file swapping, 64
files
archiving, 70
backing up, 139
categories of, 65-66
Fix-It Utilities Professional, 92
flash memory, 167
fonts, deleting, 98-99
fragmentation. See defragmenting the hard drive
frame rate, 204
freeze ups, causes of, 15-16
G
gadgets, 116
games
as cause of computer sluggishness, 18
upgrading PC for, 270
gaming PCs, 288-289
system requirements, 283-284
GHz (gigahertz), 213
Google Chrome, 226
Google Desktop, 82
graphics accelerator, 204
H
hard drives, 277
access time, 189
backing up, importance of, 27
capacity of, viewing, 185-186
checking for errors, 91
data transfer rate, 189
Diskeeper, 92
external
connection type, 189
installing, 192-193
files
archiving, 70
categories of, 65-66
internal
installing, 193-197
interface type, 190
manufacturers, 191
on notebook PCs, upgrading, 197-199
programs, removing, 64
RAID, 191
recommended free space, 65
shopping for, 187-191
spin rate, 188
upgrading, 162
hazards associated with optimization, 26-27
HDTach, 273
hives, 124
home/office computing, system requirements, 283-284
home/office computing PCs, 284
HTML (HyperText Markup Language), 226
HughesNet, 246
I
IEEE 802.1 standards, 254
IEEE 802.11 standards, 254
Extreme G equipment, 255
wireless adapters, upgrading, 257-258
wireless routers
installing, 257
selecting, 256
image display, disabling in Internet Explorer, 232
importance of backing up data, 27
improving system performance, 21-23
increasing
signal strength of wireless networks, 253-254
size of DNS cache, 240
installing
external hard drives, 192-193
internal hard drive, 193-197
updated drivers, 98
wireless routers, 257
interference, removing from wireless networks, 253-254
internal cache RAM, affect on CPU speed, 213
internal hard drives, 187
installing, 193-197
interface type, 190
Internet connection, 244
as cause of computer sluggishness, 20
speed, measuring, 245
troubleshooting, 245
upgrading, 246-248
Internet Explorer
add-ons, removing, 236
cache
clearing, 227
size of, changing, 228-229
ClearType, disabling, 232
cookies
avoiding, 230
deleting, 229
image display, disabling, 232
Phishing Filter, disabling, 233
RSS feeds, disabling, 233
simultaneous connections, increase number of, 241-242
SSVHelper Class plug-in, removing, 235
third-party toolbars, removing, 234
IP addresses, 236
ISP (Internet service provider), 244
J-K-L
JavaScript, 226
KB (kilobyte), 166
keys, 125
editing, 127
values, 125
laptop PCs. See notebook PCs
launching
Disk Defragmenter, 89
Registry Editor, 126
ScanDisk, 91
low disk checking, disabling, 132
M
malware
spyware, 51-52
adware, 53
avoiding, 57-60
removing, 60-61
transmission of, 53-54
viruses, 42
detecting, 44
file infector viruses, 42
transmission of, 43-44
worms, 43
manual restore points, setting
in Windows Vista, 35
in Windows XP, 34
manufacturers
of hard drives, 191
of video cards, 206
Maxon CineBench, 273
MB (megabyte), 166
MBR (Master Boot Record), 10
measuring Internet connection speed, 245
memory
adding
to desktop PCs, 172-175
to notebook PCs, 178-179
effect on performance, 168-169
flash memory, 167
internal cache RAM, affect on CPU speed, 213
of video cards, 203
operating system requirements, 169
purchasing, 175
ROM, 166
upgrading, 162
file swapping, 64
optimizing, 108-110
pagefiles, creating, 108-109
Windows kernel, moving into, 132
memory leaks, 111-112
menus (Windows), speeding up, 130
MHz (megahertz), 213
microprocessors. See CPUs
Microsoft Outlook, speeding up, 83-85
midsize notebook PCs, 281
modems, 244
motherboard, 160
onboard video, 203
replacing, 219-222
Mozilla Firefox, 226
multitasking, 271
N
networking, optimizing with Registry, 262-263
Norton SystemWorks, 93
CPUs, 276
desktop replacement models, shopping for, 281
hard disk, upgrading, 197-199
memory, adding, 178-179
midsize, shopping for, 281
shopping for, 279-280
ultraportable, shopping for, 281
numeric coprocessor, affect on CPU speed, 213
nVidia chips, 206
O
OpenSourceMark, 273
operating systems, memory requirements, 169
optimization, hazards associated with, 26-27
optimizing
display settings, 101-103
folder opening, 112
shutdown time, 131-132
virtual memory, 108-110
on Windows XP, 113
wireless networks, 252
Outlook, speeding up, 83-85
P
PageDefrag utility, 110
pagefiles, 108-109
PassMark PerformanceTest, 273
PC Decrapifier, removing bundleware, 68
PC Tools Disk Suite, 94
PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect), 206
PCIe (PCI Express), 206
PCMark Vantage, 273
PerfectDisk, 94
performance
benchmarking, 273
hard disk affect on, 184
improving, 21-23
memory, effect on, 168-169
Phishing Filter, disabling in Internet Explorer, 233
photo-editing programs, upgrading PC for, 270
ports, 158
POST (power-on self test), 10
Pre-N technology, 255
preparing for computer upgrade, 158-163
preventing viruses, 44-50
processes, discovering, 75-76
processor priority, reconfiguring, 103
program files, 65
bundleware, 66-70
program removal tools, web resources, 295
uninstalling, 71-73
purchasing memory, 175
Q-R
RAID (redundant array of inexpensive disks), 191
RAM (random access memory), 10, 73, 276
adding to notebook PCs, 178-179
operating system requirements, 169
purchasing, 175
virtual memory, 184
range of wireless networks, extending, 258-260
RDRAM (Rambus DRAM), 174
rebooting your computer, 22
reconfiguring processor priority, 103
recurring spyware, 136
recycling old computers, 290
Registry, 124
browser connections, increasing number of, 241
cleaning, 123
DNS cache, increasing size of, 240
DWORDs, 132
editing, 125
editing, potential hazards, 27
hives, 124
keys, 125
low disk checking, disabling, 132
network capabilities, optimizing, 262-263
shutdown time, optimizing, 131-132
startup programs, deleting, 78
subkeys, editing, 127
Windows kernel, moving into memory, 132
Registry cleaners, 128-129
Registry Editor, 126-127
Registry Healer, 129
Registry Mechanic, 129
RegSeeker, 129
reinstalling
programs, 153
Windows, 137-139
removing
add-ons from Internet Explorer, 236
background services, 104-106
bundleware
with Disk Cleanup utility, 69-70
with PC Decrapifier, 68
cookie from web browser, 229
programs from hard drive, 64
Sidebar from Windows Vista, 116
spyware, 60-61
SSVHelper Class plug-in from Internet Explorer, 235
system case, 159
third-party toolbars from web browsers, 234
replacing
internal hard drive, 193-197
motherboard, 219-222
video cards, 207-209
requirements for operating system memory, 169
resolution of video cards, 203
“restore” CD, 138
restore points, setting
in Windows Vista, 35
in Windows XP, 34
restoring data
System Restore utility, 33, 36-37
to Windows Vista, 152-153
Windows Backup, 32
RIMM (Rambus Inline Memory Module), 173
ROM (read-only memory), 10, 166
routers, wireless
installing, 257
selecting, 256
RSS feeds feature, disabling in Internet Explorer, 233
S
S-video connectors, 205
Safe mode (Windows), 61
SATA (Serial ATA), 190
ScanDisk, 91
scheduling antivirus scans, 50
SCSI (Small Computer System Interface), 190
SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic RAM), 174
seek time, 189
selecting
backup device, 28-30
broadband plan, 247-248
memory chips, 174-175
Registry cleaners, 128-129
third-party DNS service, 237
Windows version, 277
wireless routers, 256
shopping
for CPUs, 214-216
for hard drive, 187-191
for notebook PCs, 279-281
for video cards, 204-206
shutting down, optimizing, 131-132
Sidebar (Windows Vista), removing, 116
signal strength, increasing, 253-254
signal strength of wireless networks
verifying, 252
SIMM (Single Inline Memory Module), 172
SiSoftware Sandra, 273
slow Internet connection speed, troubleshooting, 245
SO DIMM (Small Outline DIMM), 173
sockets, CPU compatibility, 216
Sony VAIO model VGN-NR430, 284
speed
of CPU, factors affecting, 212
of web browsers, factors affecting, 225-226
spin rate, 188
spyware, 51-52
adware, 53
avoiding, 57-58
detecting, 54-56
recurring, 136
removing, 60-61
transmission of, 53-54
SSVHelper Class add-on, removing from Internet Explorer, 235
starting Registry Editor, 126
startup process, 10-11
bootable media lookups, disabling, 101
startup programs
deleting, 76-77
from Registry, 78
from Startup folder, 77
with System Configuration utility, 79
with Windows Defender, 81
discovering, 74-76
subkeys, 125-127
subscriptions for antivirus software, 48
swap files, 108
on Windows XP, optimizing performance of, 113
symptoms of slowing down
familiar tasks take longer, 13-14
freeze ups, 15
non-computer related causes, 16
applications, 17
copying files, 21
games, 18
slow Internet connection speeds, 20
upgrading to Windows Vista, 18-19
slow startup, 10-12
slowdowns with multiple windows open, 15-16
system case, removing, 159
System Configuration utility, deleting startup programs, 79
system files, 65
System Mechanic, 95
system performance, improving, 21, 23
system requirements for Windows Vista, 19-20
System Restore points, 125
System Restore utility, 33, 36-37
disabling, 110
system sounds, disabling, 100
SystemWorks (Norton), 93
T
Task Manger processes, discovering, 75-76
temporary files, 66
testing Internet connection speed, 245
thermal grease, 217
third-party DNS service
selecting, 237
third-party toolbars, removing from web browsers, 234
“three years and out” rule, 161
Toshiba Satellite model L355D-S7825, 286
transmission of spyware, 53-54
transmission of viruses, 43-44
troubleshooting slow Internet connection speeds, 245
Tuneup Utilities, 129
turning off
file indexing, 107
System Restore, 110
system sounds, 100
unnecessary features in Windows Vista, 118
U
UAC (User Account Control), disabling in Windows Vista, 117
ultraportable notebook PCs, 281
Uniblue RegistryBooster, 129
uninstalling programs, 71-73
unnecessary files, deleting, 22
unused fonts, deleting, 98-99
unwanted programs
discovering, 74-75
startup programs, deleting, 76-81
uninstalling, 71-73
updating drivers, 98
upgrading
computer
“three years and out” rule, 161
hard disk on notebook PCs, 197, 199
internal hard drive, 193-197
Internet connection, 246-248
memory, 175
motherboard, 220-222
wireless adapters, 257-258
uploading files, 245
utilities
Diskeeper, 92
Fix-It Utilities Professional, 92
Norton SystemWorks, 93
PC Tools Disk Suite, 94
PerfectDisk, 94
performance benchmarking, 273
System Mechanic, 95
WinUtilities, 95
V
values, 125
verifying signal strength of wireless networks, 252
versions of Windows Vista, 277-278
VGA connectors, 205
video cards, 277
connectors, 204
DirectX support, 204
display properties, configuring, 209-210
expansion slots, 205
frame rate, 204
graphics accelerator, 204
manufacturers, 206
memory, 203
nVidia, 206
resolution, 203
shopping for, 204-206
video encoding, 270
video movie editing PCs, 287-288
video-editing programs, upgrading PC for, 270
viewing hard drive capacity, 185-186
file swapping, 64
pagefiles, creating, 108-109
viruses, 42
detecting, 44
file infector viruses, 42
preventing, 44-47
transmission of, 43-44
worms, 43
Vista Home Premium, 279
Voodoo PC, 283
VRAM (video RAM), 203
W-X-Y-Z
web browsers
cache
clearing, 227
size of, chaning, 228-229
cookies, deleting, 229-230
Internet Explorer
add-ons, removing, 236
ClearType, disabling, 232
image display, disabling, 232
Phishing Filter, disabling, 233
RSS feeds feature, disabling, 233
simultaneous connections, increasing number of, 241-242
SSVHelper Class plug-in, removing, 235
speed, factors affecting, 225-226
third-party toolbars, removing, 234
web pages, 226
web resources
benchmarking, 294
disk imaging, 296
file cleaning, 295
free DNS services, 298
general performance suites, 294
hard disk optimization, 296
Internet speed tests, 297
Internet speedup and browser optimization, 297
program removal tools, 295
Registry cleaners, 296
startup optimization, 295
startup program databases, 297
websites
Internet connection speed tests, 245
nVidia, 206
Wi-Fi Alliance, 254
Wi-Fi, 254
Wi-Fi Alliance website, 254
WildBlue, 246
WinCleaner, 129
Windows Anytime Upgrade feature, 278
Windows Backup, 30
restoring data, 32-33
Windows Boot Manager, 11
Windows Defender, deleting startup programs, 81
Windows kernel, moving into memory, 132
Windows Live OneCare, 50
Windows Registry. See Registry
Windows Vista
Aero interface, disabling, 114
as backup program, 30
as cause of computer sluggishness, 18-19
clean install, performing, 146, 149-150
CPU information, displaying, 214
Disk Defragmenter, launching, 90
files, backing up, 141-142
files, restoring, 152-153
hardware requirements, 138
restore points, setting, 35
Sidebar, removing, 116
system requirements, 19-20
UAC, disabling, 117
unnecessary features, disabling, 118
versions, 277-278
Vista Home Premium, 279
Windows Anytime Upgrade feature, 278
Windows XP
backing up data, 33
clean install, performing, 143-146
CPU information, displaying, 214
Disk Defragmenter, launching, 89
files
backing up, 140
restoring, 151
memory leaks, 111-112
menus, speeding up, 130
restore points, setting, 34
restoring data, 36-37
Safe mode, 61
virtual memory, optimizing, 113
WinUtilities, 95
wireless extenders, adding to wireless network, 260
wireless networks
Extreme G equipment, 255
IEEE 802.11 standards, 254
optimizing, 252
Pre-N technology, 255
range, extending, 258-260
routers
installing, 257
selecting, 256
signal strength
increasing, 253-254
verifying, 252
switching to wired, 261-262
wireless adapters, upgrading, 257-258
wireless extenders, adding, 260
wireless routers, Gigabit Ethernet capability, 261
worms, 43