How to Speed Up the Startup on a Dell Dimension Desktop
- 1). Click "Start," select "Control Panel" and open "Programs and Features." Use this menu to uninstall any programs you don't need or want to use anymore. While uninstalling applications may not directly influence how much RAM is being used, some of the programs you don't use might be running in the background. By removing these, you free up some extra memory. Select an application from the list, then click "Uninstall."
- 2). Click "Start," choose "Run" and type in "msconfig." Click "OK," then select the "Startup" tab on the window that appears. This is a list of all the applications that start up automatically when your computer powers up. If you have a lot of programs here, this means more applications taking up your RAM when your computer starts. If you see any program you don't want to start automatically, uncheck the boxes next to the application. When finished, click "OK."
- 3). Run your computer's built-in maintenance utilities: Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter. To find these applications, click "Start," open "All Programs," choose "Accessories" and select the "System Tools" menu. Disk Cleanup cleans your hard drive of unused files and compresses others to save space, and Disk Defragmenter pieces together file fragments to make them easier for your computer to load, which can increase your computer's speed.
- 4). Install any available updates for your operating system. Click "Start," open the "All Programs" list, then locate and open "Windows Updates." The update system automatically checks for any updates for your system, then asks for your permission to download and install them. Many updates fix bugs, patch security holes and increase your system's performance.
- 5). Restart your computer. The first time you restart, your computer may need to register and complete the changes, so it may not be noticeable right away.
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