Today I am going to be talking about different ways you can make a computer run faster. There is actually a lot you can do yourself that will boost your PC's performance. So lets take a look at different ways we can remedy that slow computer of yours!  

1. Free Up Disk Space

A great way to make a computer run faster is to free up some disk space. Windows comes with a disk cleanup tool that helps you free up space on your hard disk. The utility identifies files that you can safely delete without messing anything up, and then enables you to choose whether you want to delete some or all of the identified files.  

How to use disk cleanup tool.  

• Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Cleanup. If several drives are available, you might be prompted to specify which drive you want to clean.  
• In the Disk Cleanup for dialog box, scroll through the content of the Files to delete list. (If you have multiple hard drives you will have to select which one to scan.)  
• Clear the check boxes for files that you don't want to delete, and then click OK.  
• When prompted to confirm that you want to delete the specified files, click OK. 

2. Use Defrag Tool  

When you add a file or a new program to a new computer, the hard drive is relatively empty so new data is saved to the hard drive in one whole block. When you need to use that information, the computer can quickly access it because it is all in one place. Defragging your system is definitely a way to make a computer run faster.  

How to use defrag tool.  

• From the start menu point to "all programs"
• Point to "Accessories"
• Point to "System Tools"
• Click on "Disk Defragmenter"
• The disk defragmenter will display the hard drives on your computer. Just select and click Defragment. 

3. Get rid of spyware

Definition - Spyware is software with malicious intent - by design; it does something bad to your computer. Usually, it gets installed without your knowledge. It sometimes takes advantage of the fact that most people click "I Agree" to software licenses without reading them.  

The only way to get rid of spyware is to have some kind of scanner, sort of like an anti-virus. In order to make a computer run faster and keep it safer your going to need an anti-spyware program. This is tricky, a lot of the spyware programs out there are malicious and will actually add viruses and spyware to your computer by using the "spyware scanner and blocker". So please remember to be very careful when choosing your anti-spyware program.

4. Find and repair disk errors

Detect and Repair Disk Errors

In addition to running Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter to optimize the performance of your computer, you can check the integrity of the files stored on your hard disk by running the Error Checking utility.

How to run the error checking utility.

• Click Start, and then click My Computer.
• In the My Computer window, right-click the hard disk you want to search for bad sectors, and then click Properties.
• In the Properties dialog box, click the Tools tab.
• Click the Check Now button.
• In the Check Disk dialog box, select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box, and then click Start.
• If bad sectors are found, choose to fix them.

Tip: Only select the Automatically fix file system errors check box if you think that your disk contains bad sectors.

5. Get an external hard drive

Adding an External Hard Drive to your computer will allow you to clear out a lot of the things you don't need to be storing on your normal hard drive.

A great example would be your music or pictures. All those songs and pictures are sitting on your computer making it go slower. You will see a decline in your computers performance as soon as you use over half of your hard drive space.

Moving all your songs or pictures to your external hard drive will free up a lot of space on your main hard drive. You can even move applications such as photoshop or games.

An external hard drive is also handy because it is portable. You can unplug it from your computer and take it to a friends house and plug it in there, sharing photos and pictures very easily.

This is truly a great way to make a computer run faster.

About The Author
My name is Brooks Carver and I am a pretty die hard computer tech. I have been working with computer directly for over 20 years now. I have a beautiful wife and daughter, and when I am not programming or fixing computers I enjoy spending time in the out doors.

If you like these tips then you will love my website. It gives the top 10 ways you can speed up your computer. It is very user friendly, it has pictures going along with every step to show you exactly what I mean. I also give out valuable information about what anit-virus and spyware programs that are safe to buy and really work. There are other fun things there too, such as top fastest things on the internet that you can vote on. If your looking to make a computer run faster this is your #1 resource! Click below now!

http://www.squidoo.com/makecomputerrunfaster/

What is the Best Method to Back up Data?
 by: James Walsh  

This being the age of internet, chat rooms, blogging and innovative hackers, their expectation never gets fulfilled. The news always leaks out or is methodically publicised by a rival or a gleeful hacker. Thereafter, insult is added to their injury as irate customers and the eager press demand explanations about every unsavoury detail of the incident. But data loss is not a problem affecting only the big players only any more. All of us deal with some amount of data and almost all of it is important to us. Albums have been replaced by .jpeg files, our music is inside the hard drive of our pc or laptop, and our emails are stored in offline folders or software like Microsoft Outlook. Students keep their study material in their machines, and a doctoral thesis is usually a file on the hard disk instead of being a thick volume bound in leather covers. It is, therefore, strange that we keep losing data because we have not taken the precaution of backing it up elsewhere. Several start-up home businesses have not seen the light of the day anymore after an initial incident of data loss. All of this underlines the importance of backup, which really cannot be overstressed.  

Some Methods of Obtaining Backups

The method, or rather, the medium chosen for backing up data will depend on the volume of data to be stored, as well as the nature of the data. Some common methods are being enlisted below:  

1. CD and Floppy: The floppy has largely gone out of use by now, due to its many limitations, small capacity and security problems. The CD is a good choice for obtaining backups, and is one of the favourite choices in both domestic and corporate spheres. It is cheap, readily available, portable and compatible with several file formats. Storing a CD and sharing information from it are also quite simple.  

2. DVD: The DVD is a good choice for storing audio visual information. It may not be as cheap as the CD, but offers better quality, often lasts longer, and has way more space. DVD RWs can be used in such a way that literally every bit is used to store information. A DVD also has the same facilities when it comes to sharing and easy transporting. However, the DVD RW, many market observers feel, may turn out to be an intermediate technology and be replaced by something superior but very similar in function, or may evolve in such a way that the problems would get solved. It must be noted here that the constant research in this regard, and inventions like the Blue Ray disk etc. point out that we can hope for a better technology soon.  

3. USB Devices: These are the new favourites all over the world. The greatest proof of the popularity of this technology lies in two facts. Firstly, the storage space of pen drives / flash drives/ memory sticks is constantly increasing. Secondly, their prices are plummeting downwards rapidly. Almost all kinds of files can be stored on these; they are very easy to carry, do not require a separate software or booting up of the machine to start functioning, and it is very convenient to share the data stored on them. For storing smaller music libraries, an iPod may be an option too.

4. External Hard Drives: For larger data storage requirements, external hard drives are excellent solutions. Arrays or stacks of hard drives are available for corporate purposes and are provided by all good hard drive manufacturers. Seagate, Maxtor, ASB, LaCie all make external hard drives of varying capacities and prices.

5. Online and Offline Storage Spaces: These are ‘spaces’ provided by professional firms, and are extremely secure for sensitive data storage.

6. Tapes and Printouts: Traditional storage should not be left out of the list. There is some information that one simply needs to see on the good old piece of paper. Tape has been in use for a long time now, and will probably continue for some time.

About The Author
James Walsh is a freelance writer and copy editor. If you are concerned about data loss and would like more information on Data Recovery see http://www.fields-data-recovery.co.uk

Are You Getting The Most Out Of Your Internet Connection?
 by: L. J. Allen  

Are you getting everything out of your internet connection that you could be? If all you're doing is checking your e-mail and occasionally using Ebay to find gag gifts for your friends, than the answer is definitely no! The face of communication changes every day, and the internet is providing you with literally hundreds of opportunities to make connections with people just like you. In terms of interaction with our peers, social networking on the internet is the next big thing and these sites will provide you with more opportunities to make friends and business contacts than you know what to do with!

If you're looking for a broader social network, social networking sites can be just the solution you need. When you're busy and stressed, it can take an immense amount of effort to refresh yourself after a long day at work and then head to a class or a bar to meet people. Maybe you've found yourself in a new situation, or are entering a new place in your life. Social networking can help you find the people that will help you grow and change into a version of yourself that you will love. It's all about the company we keep, and social networking on the internet can help.  

Social networking via the internet can be a powerful tool especially if you are in a new area. People move and change locations today more than they ever have, and you'll find that with every move, it can become harder and harder to go out and make friends. If you've moved around at all, you already know how tiring it can be to learn about a new area. You'll probably spend a few nights at social gatherings and bars that do nothing for you. Social networking can take a lot of the guesswork out of finding not only good places to go, but fun people to hang out with!  

If someone sounds interesting, you can click on their profile and get a bite-sized chunk of information that will help you figure out if you are compatible in any way. Build up your own profile in a way that will draw people that you are interested in, whether you're interested in trying meet some new mothers who have similar interests as you, or you're just trying to find out where all the artists in the area hang out.  

Social networking on the internet can not only make your life easier, it'll make it more fun, too! Sign up at a social networking site today and take a look at all the people waiting to meet you!  

About The Author
Linda Allen is the co-founder of GirlfriendsCafe - A Social Network for Women throughout the United States and Canada.

http://www.girlfriendscafe.com