Cheat Sheet to Speed-Up a Slow PC

Transcription

1 Cheat Sheet to Speed-Up a Slow PC (Windows 7 Operating System) Steps: To speed up a slow PC, we request that you do the following: 1. Close Unneeded Programs. (This step is recommended whenever you re using your computer.) The more programs you have open, the slower your computer will be. As a general rule, close all programs that you are not actively using. 2. Reboot or Shut Down Your Computer. (This step is recommended nightly.) On a nightly basis, shut down your computer. Rebooting your PC will free up computer memory and let it run faster. 3. Update & Run your Virus Scan Program. (This step is recommended at least once a week.) BPSD utilizes Norton Virus Scan (i.e. Symantec Endpoint Protection). Your PC should automatically download updates to this program and also automatically scan your computer for computer viruses and malware. However, there s no harm in doing this manually as well especially if your computer is slow. Follow the below steps to manually (a) update your virus scan program and (b) to scan your computer. Step 3A: Click on the Start Button Step 3B: Click on the All Programs button Page 1

2 Step 3C: Select the Symantec Endpoint Protection program Step 3D: Select Symantec Endpoint Protection on the sub menu. Page 2

3 Step 3E: If this circle is green, skip to Step 3H. If the circle is red or yellow, continue on to Step 3F. Step 3F: Click on the Live Update button. Note: A pop up window will automatically appear to update Norton. Step 3G: A pop up screen will appear to update the Virus scan software. Once done, the pop up screen will automatically close. Page 3

4 Step 3H: Select the Scan for threats button. Step 3I: Select the Full Scan option. Scanning will take a while..could be more than an hour so you may want to do it before you leave for the day and let the computer scan overnight. You could do it during the day, but your computer system will run slower since it will be running the virus scan. Step 3J: A pop up menu will appear. In the morning, the results of the scan will be displayed. Page 4

5 Step 3K: Once the scan is complete, your pop up window will display the following. Notification that it s completed, the number of files that was scanned, the number of risks found and the action taken. Step 3L: Click on the Close button and you are done with scanning your computer. Page 5

6 4. Run Disk Cleanup. (This step is recommended at least once a month.) This will clean-up unnecessary files that are stored on your computer that don t automatically get deleted when you shut down your computer. (Don t worry. This function will not eliminate any of your Word, Excel, Powerpoint or other software programs.) Step 4A: Click on the Start button. Step 4B: Select All Programs. Step 4C: Scroll through all of the programs listed and select the Accessories program. Page 6

7 Step 4D: From the list of various accessory, select System Tools. You may need to scroll through the various programs that are listed here. Step 4E: From the System Tools Sub menu, select Disk Cleanup. Page 7

8 Step 4F: Disk Cleanup will automatically start. Wait for this pop up menu to appear and click OK. Step 4G: When you click OK, this 2 nd pop up screen will appear. Click on the Delete files button. Computer will run for a minute or two to delete these unnecessary files and then you are done. Page 8

9 5. Run Disk Defragment. (This step is recommended once per month.) This will consolidate fragmented computer files so that your PC runs faster. This process takes several hours so run this program before you leave for the day and let it run overnight. Step 5A: Repeat Steps 4A through 4C. Step 5B: Select Disk Defragmenter. Step 5C: Select the file called OS (C) Step 5D: Select the Defragment disk button. This will take several hours for the computer to defrag. Page 9

10 Step 5E: The next morning when the job is done, click on the Close button to close the job. You are done with defragging. 6. Computer Still Slow? Please have your site administrator or school secretary submit a Work Order to the Technology Department so that they can diagnosis the problem. Page 10