Many people use Windows operating system for its simplicity. But windows OS has a drawback. It requires re-installation time to time. Only a few expart user can use Windows OS for a long time without reinstalling it. I am using Windows XP for 3 years without reinstalling. I achieved this target after many reinstallation. Now I know the settings those are fit for such long drive.
Here is the process I used.
Here is the process I used.
What you need before you install windows?
- Proper partition of your hard disk is very important. you must keep your system drive (in which you install Windows) size for your requirements. If your machine is for office use, then keep the size at least 20 GB. If you like to install games etc, keep it larger than 30 GB.
- At least two other drives (Total 3 drives).
Remember that you must keep at least 1 GB free space in your system drive to run windows properly. 3 GB free space is recommended.
After you finish installing Windows, do the followings
Move your ‘My Documents’ folder to another drive from C:
This is for security reason. If your system crushes and you have to reinstall it again, your documents will be safe in another drive. So you can format your system drive anytime without any problem. To move you’re my Documents’ folder to D drive, just follow the steps.
a. Right click on the “My Documents’ icon on desktop or start menu and click properties
b. You will see a button <move>. Click it and select a location.
c. You can set back anytime by clicking Restore button.
Now your documents will be saved in another drive. You can format and reinstall system without affecting your documents. When you reinstall, you have to change the documents folder again. Of course, you can manually save your documents to any folders. So the moving is not mandatory.
2. Create a limited user account
The default account type in windows is Admin Account. But if any virus infects your machine, it has the privilege of admin. So make a new account without admin privilege to access any potentially unsafe data like Internet or external pen drive etc. When you connect to internet, download any file or insert an external memory, always use that limited account. If you want to install/run a program downloaded or from external source, first scan them with antivirus using the limited account. Then switch to Admin account and run them. If your machine got infected while using a limited account, it will cause much less damage than Admin account.
3. Install a good Antivirus
Antivirus is an essential tool for windows OS. If you want free antivirus, then use Avast Home or AVG free. If you are ready to pay, use kaspersky or quick heal. BitDefender and Eset are also good choice. Keep the antivirus updated and always update it before scanning a newly downloaded file.
4. Install a good media player
Many people use heavy software to play video or audio that makes unnecessary use of resource. Use KM Player, VLC Player or total video player for it. All of them are lightweight and free. Moreover, they can play all type of audio and video which is not possible in many paid players like power DVD etc. KMPlayre has a drawback, it cannot capture frame.
5. Install a lightweight pdf reader.
Adobe pdf reader is the heaviest reader. It consumes lots of memories and also takes more time to start. Use foxit pdf reader which is smaller and quick. But remember, it lacks some functionalities of adobe. So if you have no choice other than adobe reader, then use this trick to make it somehow faster. Just use this freeware adobe reader speedup.
You can do it manually also. Find the folder named plugins in the adobe’s folder. Move all files to another folder named optional.
6. Use a good uninstaller
Windows built in control panel uninstaller cannot remove many files of the uninstalled program. It also unable to clean all the registry entries while removing it. So even we remove a program, it will affect the performance. There are many uninstallers to remove all trace of the unnecessary program. I use a free tool, revo uninstaller. It clears all files and folders created by the program and also the registry entries.
7. Install a good defragmenter.
Windows built-in disk defragmenter is worthless. Probably it is the worst defragmenter. There is several third-party software to perform the task much better. Auslogic disk defragmenter is one of the best free defragmenter. It performs consolidation that means all similar files together on the disk. (It moves all .mp3 files together, all .doc files together etc) So the searching of any file is much faster. When you ask for an .mp3 file, the system will directly search the area where all the mp3 files are consolidated. There is no need to move everywhere in the disk. This defrag tool can be applied to any single file or single folder also.
Ultradefrag is the best defragmenter to defrag system files. It has a boot-time defrag option, that defrags the system files which are locked by system.
Auslogic DiskDefrag http://www.auslogics.com/en/software/disk-defrag/download/
Ultradefrag http://ultradefrag.sourceforge.net/
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