5 ways to speed up your PC.

Have you ever thought to yourself, "Boy my computer is running a lot slower than it used to!" Lots of people do and they must, based on all the television commercials offering to speed-up your computer. These commercials offer "free" scans, but what they don't tell you is that you have to buy the software to fix what the scan finds.
Speeding up your computer isn't that difficult and you already have all the tools on your Windows computer. Sure there is better and faster software to accomplish this task, but Microsoft supplies stuff already embedded in Windows to accomplish this task.
Here are the 5 things Microsoft says you need to do to speed-up your computer.

1. Free up disk space: Use Disk Cleanup
2. Speed up access to data: Use Disk Defragmenter
3. Detect and repair disk errors: Use Check Disk
4. Protect your computer against spyware: PC safety scan from Windows Live OneCare.
5. Learn all about ReadyBoost: Only for Windows 7 & Vista.

For more a more detailed explanation on each step mentioned above, see the following link:
http://www.microsoft.com/atwork/maintenance/speed.aspx

Just to show that I am not on Bill Gates payroll, although I'd love to be, here are the 6 things I do to clean up & speed up a computer:

1. Tune up and clean your registry: I use a free program called "CCleaner."
2. Clean up Temp, Prefetch, & Temp. Internet Files: "CCleaner."
3. Manage Start-up Programs: "CCleaner."
4. Move large files to a separate back-up: This involves either burning these files to a CD/DVD or moving them to an external Hard Drive. Once you do this, delete them.
5. Out with the Old: Delete all your old files when you are done with them.
6. Get rid of viruses, malware, spyware: I recommend "SpyBot Search & Destroy," "AVG," & "Malwarebytes." All of these are free online.

For even more advice on this subject, here is another link to checkout:
http://www.askdavetaylor.com/how_can_i_speed_up_my_windows_xp_pc.html

I hope this helps and as always, keep your comments & questions coming.