My Fresh off the Block PC

Unless your system is really old -pre windows 2000/xp- fresh install is rarely necessary.

Your computer doesn't slow down, it does get asked to do more.

Removing unneeded programs, turning off auto start for programs that do not need to be running all the time and keeping your hard drive defragmented will keep a system running like new forever unless there are physical problems with the hard drive.

That's a very general answer to a very general question. You may want to start a new thread with some specifics such as operating system and system specs. What software you have running to protect your system is another important detail. Many people put way too much stuff on the system to protect and it just ends up slowing it down.

 

The biggest thing is what all is running on start up.

 

Programs tend to leave traces of themselves in the registry when uninstalled. That can slow the machine down. I've never used a registry cleaner so I dunno how well they work.

I'd recommend at least 2gb of ram, it's cheap so you may as well upgrade.

If you can't find a copy of windows I can send you one when I get to the house next weekend.

 

You could always check out www.blackviper.com to help speed up a system.

Mark

 

I have a Toshiba Qosmio laptop 17 inch red in color. Its a gaming laptop also. I can throw any game at it. I can even play nascar2003 flightsim fx and have kicking framerates. I HIGHLY recomend it, Knock on wood it hasnt let me down yet.
I paid 1300$ for it a bestbuy 2 years ago.
I also use the tw cables air card which is unlimited in bandwidth i hope. And a verizon as a backup to use for my farming games on facebook.
Hope this helps

 

Like mentioned, google is your friend.

Usually the path or manufacturer will give you a good idea of what it is. It's recommended you leave the microsoft services alone, which is why IROCUBabe said to check off 'hide all microsoft services', but there is nothing you will change in services or startup that will prevent your system from booting back up to Windows so you can always go back recheck items that you shouldn't have unchecked. One thing to keep in mind though is that some of those entries will be for your security software-if you use that stuff- and you probably don't want to go online without those ones running.