The best way to keep a Windows-based PC running smoothly is to keep unnecessary or unwanted applications off of it. Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done.
Sooner or later — through installing trial software, freebies, or even many commercial packages — most of us end up with lots of applications we never use.
The result, too often, is a PC that boots slowly, performs sluggishly, and perhaps even crashes periodically for no apparent reason.
The good news is that with the right plan and a little know-how, you can keep your PC running smoothly, with just the applications you need and nothing more. Here’s how.
Create Restore Points
Rule number one for keeping your PC speedy and clean is always to be sure that you can revert to a previous state before you install a new program.
The best way to ensure that you can do this is to make liberal use of Windows’ System Restore utility, found in XP’s Start menu under Programs, Accessories, System Tools, or in Vista’s Start menu simply by typing “restore.”
Through the creation of a “restore point,” System Restore essentially takes a snapshot of the contents of your hard drive and the Windows registry.
If you should begin installing a program only to find that it crashes half way through the installation, you can use System Restore to revert your PC to the state it was in before the botched installation.
Creating a restore point typically does not take much time — a minute or two in most situations. Restoring your computer to a previous state using System Restore takes a little longer, but the time spent is far preferable to having to live forever with a system that has either been cluttered or crippled by a bad application.
Uninstall Programs
You should make regular trips to Windows’ Add/Remove Programs applet, available through the Control…