How to Make Windows Start Faster

You boot up your computer, make a few phone calls, eat lunch, return to your PC and Windows is still booting up. This is a frustrating fact of life when using Microsoft's operating system. But there are ways to speed up the process.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Check out the Windows startup folder and delete any links to programs you don't want loaded when Windows boots up.

2. Run msconfig from the command line in the Windows Start menu. Click on the startup tab and uncheck anything you don't want to run. Be careful not to uncheck files that are essential to the operation of Windows.

3. Defragment your hard drive(s). This process reorganizes your files so they will run faster and eliminates the wasted time it takes Windows to find files associated with your programs.

4. Clean up and edit the Windows registry. Use a registry editor to analyze and tighten up the registry so it loads faster when Windows boots up. Also, some editors can defrag the registry to make it run more efficiently.

5. Turn off anything that searches for updates automatically at startup or loads messages telling you to register. Don't do this, however, for Windows Update and the update for your virus protection software.

6. Troll the Internet for programs that will automate the process for you. Several are listed below. Some will load automatically at startup after you install them to monitor your system, so you may want to use msconfig to stop the process.

Resources

• Microsoft is the source for tweakXP, which will make a lot of the changes for you.