CONTENTS

	How it gets cluttered
	Why did I bother?
	What you need for the task
	Stuff you can repeat on a regular basis
	Speeding up the boot-up process
	Weeding out leftover files
	Lean and Fast Windows
	Final Notes

How it gets cluttered

Once windows gets cluttered with too many installed programs and fragments of uninstalled programs from previous installations, you'll notice that Windows takes much longer to boot up. Though these methods won't restore every single bit of memory back, you will get a substantial amount of your resources if you've never done any spring cleaning on your computer.

Why did I bother?

I discovered all these small little tips when my aging Pentium 75 began to get a little too slow for running most of the newer tools that I was using not to mention programming with Java. Needless to say, I games were pretty much out of the question as well.

What you need for the task

First of all you have to know your computer well enough to that extent that you know what programs you already have and need on your computer.You should also know what the Recycle Bin is for and how to delete and restore files and folders. Its always good to note the author or company that published the program because you may need it later on. It is always good to note the installation path of the program when you're installing a new program.

Stuff you can repeat on a regular basis

Delete temporary files with the *.tmp extension.

The '*' stands for a wildcard which means that any file that ends with .tmp will be found. Take these examples with the * wildcard in use. The wildcard can also be used in DOS and is a staple in common UNIX commands as well.

Empty the X:\WINDOWS/TEMP where X is a letter for the Hard Disk.

This folder gets filled up from time to time and it is pretty safe to empty the folder on a regular basis although Windows is supposed to empty it when shut down. Even then, whenever there are abnormal shutdowns and computer crashes these files stay behind in the folder. It is not uncommon to find many empty subfolders in the TEMP folder.

Speeding up the boot-up process

Removing unnecessary startup programs can dramatically reduce your waiting time. I notice as of late especially on my Windows 98 and the newer crop of programs , the Startup folder in the Programs menu is hardly used by the startup programs. Progams like ICQ's NetDetect Agent contain their startup command within the registry. Then again with Windows 98 its possible to remove startup items quite easily with the System Information utility in Programs/Accessories/System Tools  and then to the Tools>System Configuration Utility then to the Startup tab. Uncheck(disable) programs you think you can do without at Startup. For me it was FindFast and Winamp Quickstart. I also use a program called Startup Manager which allows you to delete as disable the Startup registry entries , hence keeping your registry trim and healthy.

Weeding out leftover files

Redundant files

Using Windows Explorer (Shortcut key : START + E) take a look through your hard drive(HD) and see if you see any folders of programs that have long been uninstalled but still have their folder in your HD. They are usually safe to delete since they only contain old configuration and option settings. A good place to start is your root directory (eg. c:\) and the Program Files folder where a majority of Windows programs are installed.

Start menu

Yet again, you'll need to go through the many submenus and or subtrees within the Start menu and weed out any redundant leftover shortcuts. In the newer Win95 and Win98 pressing Delete on the keyboard will delete Start menu items straight away.

Lean and Fast Windows

In times of desperate need of even more resources, it makes common sense to disable wallpapers, themes, screensavers and all audio events to ensure Windows makes efficient use of all available memory. This is most effective method to keep Windows running well.

Final notes

If you did read all the way to the end of this article I hope you find this article useful. This article doesn't end here . I will continue to unearth even more ways to make Windows more efficient. I apologize if the article lacks any real 'meat'. All the same, do send your comments and additions you'd like to see on future versions of this article to me at ngkj@hotmail.com .

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