Clean out those temp files
(Windows XP)
Temporary
files clog your system and reduce performance.
In Windows XP, they are stored on a hidden
folder, so most people never see them. Try this:
Close all open programs. Click Start, Run and
type %temp%, then click OK. Press CTRL-A to
select all files. Press your delete key to send
them to the recycle bin. You can empty the
recycle bin later. Or, if you want to delete the
files without sending them to the recycle bin,
just hold your SHIFT key down while pressing the
delete key.
Create a Send To shortcut (all
versions)
When you’re using Windows Explorer, you can right-click
and choose the Send To option. This allows you to quickly send the selected
file(s) to another Drive or Folder. How can you create your own custom item for
this Send To list?
First, Click Start, Find, Files or Folders. Type SendTo (no
spaces) in the named field. Make certain you’re looking in the C: Drive, then
click the Find Now Button. Double-click the SendTo folder in the list. This will
open the SendTo folder in its own window. You’ll use this window later.
Next, using My Computer or Windows Explorer, find a Folder
or Drive Letter that you want to use as a SendTo item. At this point,
right-click anywhere on an empty area of your Task Bar and choose Tile Windows
Vertically. You should now have two windows vertically tiled – the SendTo
folder window and the window where you found your folder or drive letter. Close
any other open windows. Right-click and drag the folder or Drive letter and to
your open SendTo window. Release the right mouse button and choose Create
Shortcut Here. If you desire, you can rename the newly created shortcut by
right-clicking and choosing rename. Type a new name and press Enter.
You will now have a new item on your shortcut menu when you
right-click any item in Windows Explorer or My Computer.
Control Your Virtual Memory
Virtual memory is a file that takes over when your PC runs out
of conventional memory (RAM). If Windows controls this, you may notice a lot of
hard disk activity, even when you are not using your computer. You can set the
size of virtual memory and increase the performance of your PC. Also, you'll
limit the fragmentation of the virtual memory file.
It is easy to set this in Windows.
Windows 98 or ME -
Defrag your hard drive. Then, open Control Panel, select the System icon. Click the
Performance tab, then click the Virtual Memory button. Set a minimum to about
twice your computer's RAM. Disregard the warning about changing the virtual
memory, then restart your PC. Windows will not access the hard drive as often,
since the virtual memory file is a set size.
Windows XP -
Defrag your hard drive. Open Control Panel and select the
System icon. Click on the Hardware tab. Then click the Advanced button. Click
the Performance button under the Settings tab, then click the Advanced tab.
Click the Change button. Assign an initial and maximum size of about 2 times
the installed ram. Click the Set button, click OK and close all windows. Restart
your PC.
