Slash your startup times

If your PC feels like it's going in slow motion, and taking an age to get to the desktop, then follow these tips to really claw some speed back on your machine. There are various reasons why your Windows PC will have slowed down over time and there's dozens of apps that claim to help you out. But, really all you need to know is the following tips that can all be done for free using Windows itself.

1: Monitor Startup list

MSConfig is the classic Windows way of reducing startup clutter. Type 'msconfig' into Vista's search bar or just Run > MSconfig in Xp to launch. Head over to the Startup tab and uncheck any items that you don't want to start. Remember programs like iTunes and Quicktime add themselves to Strtup everytime there's an update to them!

2: Turn off indexing

Vista's indexing engine can also affect performance. To turn it off, type indexing into the Start/Search bar and click the Indexing tool,. Click Modify > Show All Locations to remove any drives or folders you don't want.

3: Turn off System Restore

Vista's System Restore can slow down your system. To disable it, right-click My Computer and choose Properites. Click the System Protection link and remove the tick next to any drives that you have protected.

4: Slim down fonts

When Windows starts it loads all of the fonts from its font folder. This is actually around 500 fonts, but you actaully only use a fraction of these on your PC. The majority of these can be safely removed, and if you need them back you can always grab them from your install disc.

5: Disable rarely used devices

Your PC wastes resources looking after numerous hardware devices. If you have no need for your sound card, network controller or card reader then disable it by visitng Device Manager. Don't uninstall the devices by accidcent though!

6: Delete Temp files

Temporary files are classic Windows clutter, so regular cleaning means not only tidier files, but a speedier startup and improved performance. Go to Accessories > System Tools ? Disk Cleanup and make sure you flush out Temporary Files and Internet Files.