I was noticing that my PC has really slowed down since I got an HP printer. Someone told me that the software that you load on your computer to run the printer really overloads the system and slows things down. Another person agreed with this and said he never loads software from the disc. He gets the drivers from the internet and loads only what is needed to run the printer.

I don't know what these people are talking about and I find it all very boring, but is there some easy way to identify the useless software on my computer and delete it? I don't want to delete anything that I need to run important stuff, and I really don't know how to tell the difference.

I've run the defrag software that comes with Microsoft. That really does not seem to do anything. Maybe I need to wipe the thing clean and start over?

 

Have you done disk clean up, available from the accessories program, click the option to delete temporary files etc..then do the defragment.

 

go to settings > add/remove software and then select and remove the HP software.

then, restart the PC with the printer cable unplugged. When you plug it in, windows will detect it and ask if it's OK to connect to the web to find the drivers if it doesnt already have them. Do it and you are all set.

 

I see a meet in the making here...to be held at Bill's organized by Erick...bring your PC's along and we will have a PC house cleaning meet.

We can delete, defragment, clean up the drives....

 

There is an easier way... Just move all your photos and files you want to keep to a thumb drive or external HDD. then put the recovery disk into the computer, reformat the drive and start fresh. Now you will be able to put all the pic/files back in and have a like new machine again.

Then, don't download all kinds of junk and install all kinds of software you dont need so your machine never gets clogged up. I don't download all kinds of widgets and BS software on my machines and I have never had an issue of the thing slowing down.

 

ahh do you mean the free steven gould free clean up program?


just download this it's free and run it

http://www.pcdecrapifier.com/

 

SOme thoughts here. Do you run a spyware detector/cleaner on your system? If not, find one. I'm guessing you don't empy your temp internet files. That can load a lot of junk over time. It's less of a problem now, but in the old days, they could fill a hard drive!

Go to Control Panel then Internet options (Network and Internet then Internet options in Vista) Under Browsing history, click Settings, then View Files. Now click Edit (or Organize in Vista) and Select All. Click File (Organize again in Vista) and Delete. Click Yes when the cookie question comes up. You will need to login to any sites taht you have set up to remember your screen name and password.

Also, check your recycle bin on hte desktop. When you Delete a file, it generally gets sent there. It's still on the computer, taking up space, even though you can't see or use it. make you you empty the recycle bin regularly.

 

steven gould clean up

free and awesome

http://www.stevengould.org/index.php?Itemi...ntent&task=view

and download link

http://stevengould.org/downloads/cleanup/CleanUp452.exe

 

Thanks guys, great advice.

I'm not sure why Microsoft thinks the average owner who isn't really interested in knowing how his computer works would be able to figure all this out, but I'm glad you guys are around to help me out.