How to Speed Up Windows VISTA for a Faster Computer

Windows Vista is full of cool visual and audio effects to make your computer more fun. However, these effects also hog a lot of resources and can slow your computer to a snail's pace. Speed your computer up again with a few VISTA tweaks.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. OVERVIEW
   
   Vista wants to tell you how your computer should and can work. Speeding your computer up will mean taking control back from VISTA.
   
   By altering settings in VISTA, you can dictate to your computer what you do and do not want to waste system resources on.

2. ACCESS PERFORMANCE OPTIONS
   
   START MENU --> CONTROL PANEL --> SYSTEM AND MAINTENANCE--> SYSTEM--> ADVANCED SYSTEM SETTINGS-->PERFORMANCE SETTINGS
   
   1. Open START MENU (Bottom Left of Desktop)
   2. Select CONTROL PANEL
   3. In the pop-up menu, Select SYSTEM AND MAINTENANCE
   4. Select SYSTEM
   5. Click ADVANCED SYSTEM SETTINGS (located on left-hand side, under "Tasks")
   6. Click SETTINGS (located under the 'Performance' section)
   
   If you find "Let Windows Choose What's Best for My Computer" is selected, you will need to change this. Windows doesn't really want what's best for your computer.

3. SELECTING PERFORMANCE OPTIONS (EASY METHOD)
   
   1. Select ADJUST FOR BEST PERFORMANCE
   2. Click APPLY
   3. Click OK
   
   This should make a noticeable improvement in your computer's performance. However, you may wish to take it a step further, or skip this step altogether. For a more dramatic improvement, skip to the next step.

4. SELECTING PERFORMANCE OPTIONS (MOST EFFECTIVE METHOD)
   
   1. Select CUSTOM
   2. Scroll through the list of performance options and check only those you want Vista to continue performing. Remember, every option adds to Vista's appearance and takes from Vista's performance.
   3. Click APPLY
   4. Click OK

Tips & Warnings

• All those pretty Vista features slow your computer down.
• If you are displeased with the results, you can always return to Performance Options and switch back to "Let Windows Choose Whats Best for My Computer"

Resources

• How to Add Desktop Icons in VISTA
• How to Change Default Programs in VISTA
• How to Make VISTA look more Like XP
• How to Know Which Programs Crashed and When in VISTA
• More Articles by Kate Downs

[opalpearl3]

on 2/15/2009 Thanks for the tips. 5*

[luv2blog]

on 8/11/2008 Great tip! Thanks!!