"Seven" is perhaps one of the most successful versions of Windows, but it is not immune to the fact that over time it begins to "slow down". In most cases, this is due to the appearance of so-called computer garbage and a huge number of services running in the background. This is where Windows 7 optimization is required to improve performance. The program to be used does not play a special role. Most packages work almost the same way. But first things first.
Optimize Windows 7 for better performance: what is it?
Before starting to consider software products, we will understand the basic terms and concepts. In essence, what is optimizing Windows 7 to improve performance - a program or user settings?
In most cases, it all comes down to disabling unused system components that many users simply don’t need to work with. On the other hand, one of the main elements is the registry, which the OS scans at startup. The larger it is (in the sense, the more records and keys it contains), the longer it takes to download.
Initial Information
Processes such as optimizing the system, increasing productivity or disabling components and services cannot be imagined without manually configuring many parameters of the OS itself. And that's why.
Whatever program is used, optimizing Windows 7 to improve performance is not always done in this way. The point here is that the software products themselves work in such a way that they do not have access to changes in system settings, as well as disabling services or components installed by default. In most cases, the user is dealing, so to speak, with redecorating. But the very optimization of Windows 7 to improve performance, the program used in each case, leave many questions. To begin, consider the most basic settings.
Manual system settings
First, most likely, most users were faced with a call to the “Task Manager” in one way or another. But here you can immediately notice how many services are running in the background. If necessary, they are not what can be, but need to be turned off. Often, it is they that affect the maximum use of RAM and the computing power of the processor.
In the "seven", however, as in other similar systems, at the first stage, a utility for increasing productivity and cleaning the computer is not required. Why - will be explained a little later. In the meantime, focus on manually disabling services and processes.
Disabling background services
First and foremost, you should use the universal msconfig command, which is entered in the Run menu. When you enter the options and settings window, you immediately need to pay attention to the startup tab.
This is where all the processes that are launched by default at system startup are displayed. And most services are preferably deactivated. Specialists in configuring Windows-systems recommend leaving only the antivirus (if any) and the ctfmon language switch display service turned on. Everything else is not needed.
True, the optimization of Windows 7 to improve system performance has its exceptions. Most often this applies to specialized graphics adapter management utilities used for modern high-tech and computer games demanding system resources. Disabling such programs is not recommended.
Disabling unused components
Computer tuning in terms of improving system performance cannot do without disabling some unused Windows components.
Access to them is via the standard “Control Panel” with access to the programs and components section. For example, why keep the print service turned on if the user does not have a printer? And this is not the only utility devouring resources.
You can also disable items like Hyper-V or Super Fetch. This is done either in the same section or through the BIOS.
But it’s worth using all the processor cores. To do this, the same msconfig command is used, where the system boot tab and additional parameters are selected in the main menu. It indicates the number of processors (for example, two). You can leave the memory field untouched, but if necessary, you can specify 1024 MB for each core, no less. After that, the system will begin to "fly". Note that when optimizing Windows 7 to improve performance, the tuning program does not have access to such functions. But there is no question of interference with BIOS parameters.
Useful Win Soft Programs: Optimize Windows 7 to Increase Productivity
As for the universal utilities used to fine-tune the system, let's say right away: it is not recommended to use highly targeted products. For example, Autoruns for Windows is designed only to control startup items that the system itself may not display.
Another thing is when a universal kit is used, containing about ten to twenty modules that allow for comprehensive service. In most cases, they are almost identical, and the challenge of the optimization process is often interpreted as repair or check with one-click corrections (1-Click Maintenance).
Key components of optimizer programs
Now let's see what a universal program is. Windows 7 is optimized for better performance with several core services. Among them there are really very necessary modules.
So, for example, almost every application of this type has a utility for checking the system registry for the presence of residual entries, incorrect or outdated keys. The service saves the user from the need to search for entries manually, which, in general, is absolutely ungrateful. Well, really, you won’t “shovel” the registry and look for the wrong keys, especially if you don’t know where they are located.
Windows optimization programs like Ashampoo WinOptimizer, Advanced System Care, CCleaner, AVG PC TuneUp and many others solve this problem automatically. But that is not all.
Engaging core modules
As a rule, programs and utilities for optimizing and improving the performance of Windows also contain a registry defragmenter. In a sense, this resembles defragmenting a hard disk when frequently used program files or user data are moved to the fastest areas of the hard drive, but only in this case is the conversion of frequently called keys corresponding to programs and files.
Do not underestimate the means of protection. Often, top-level software packages have modules responsible for removing spyware, fixing security vulnerabilities, and clearing privacy (browsing history on the Internet, cookies, application cache, etc.)
Next, we can note the system for fixing inoperative shortcuts, which is somewhat similar to a registry scanner. Separately, it should be said about the optimizers of the Internet connection. True, the appropriateness of using and using such a module is in question, in particular, for cases when the computer terminal receives the IP address automatically. Rather, its presence is justified in the case of using modems or in the presence of a sufficiently large number of computers connected to a local or virtual network, when it is necessary to establish, say, a priority for downloading content from the World Wide Web.
Also, the program for tuning and optimizing the Windows 7 operating system may contain a special tool for disabling background processes (as provided in the AVG PC TuneUp or Advanced System Care packages). In this case, in most cases, this concerns the startup of everything that starts with the “OS”.
No less important are the services of checking and defragmenting disks and logical partitions. They work a little faster than their own means of Windows, which may take hours to complete such actions.
Almost all applications also have system recovery tools that work like a standard Windows module. But the whole problem is that when Windows crashes, it doesn’t access these programs, but uses its own data about recovery points or saved backups. In addition, not every package even allows you to create the same recovery point. You have to do this in the standard system settings.
Mandatory Terms of Service
Now a few more words about what Windows 7 optimization is for improving performance. A program, no matter how good, will never replace the user.
Even if the cyclic optimization time is set, for example, if the computer is turned off, nothing will happen. User intervention required. Moreover, if you exclude such a software package from the list of automatically loaded services, again, there will be no effect.
However, each user must defragment the hard drive, no matter how long it takes. The use of utilities that optimize Windows in one click, it seems, is justified only at the level of working with the registry, no more. All other actions to clear the same privacy can be done directly in the browser. With installed antivirus protection is already under control. So programs of this type can be called rather a means for lazy people who especially do not want to delve into the system settings.
Uninstallers
Separately, it should be said about programs called uninstallers. In a sense, they can also be attributed to Windows optimization tools. They are designed to completely and unconditionally remove installed applications. The fact is that the native Windows tool (Uninstall Shield Wizard), or a similar uninstaller provided in the application you are looking for, does not always delete the data completely.
In the sense of the utilities used, the first place is rightfully occupied by the powerful iObit Uninstaller package (a program for tuning and optimizing the Windows 7 operating system when uninstalling unnecessary software products). It works on the so-called two-level principle. First, a standard removal tool from the system is launched for the uninstalled application, and upon completion of the process, the second stage is activated, which involves searching for residual files and registry keys. This allows you to remove any application, as they say, completely and completely. But with standard tools this is quite problematic.
The only thing worth paying attention to is the choice of deleting files in the second stage. But that is not all. The program provides a special forced uninstall function called Forced Uninstall. It allows you to remove even those applications that are not displayed in the installed list or that do not have their own Uninstall.exe file, which is responsible for deleting all the content associated with a specific application.
Instead of an epilogue
On the other hand, the use of utilities and software packages designed to optimize Windows systems is the easiest and most reliable way to increase productivity. And their use does not require special knowledge (well, except that when setting up additional specific parameters). For many users, this solution is also justified by the fact that such optimizers work in automatic mode.
But here you can use either manual start on demand or automatic schedule, however, in the second case, you will have to make sure that the program itself is launched in the background and the computer remains on. Then the user is dealing with the so-called module for monitoring the status and optimization of the system in real time (Live Optimize). As already clear, most programs of this type always have a corresponding module in their set. Even in program settings, real-time tracking mode is enabled by default.
In general, to summarize, it can be noted that the optimization of Windows 7 or any other OS is not limited to programs alone. Users and themselves are sometimes worth what is called, rolling up their sleeves, to do computer maintenance. And I must say, this will bear fruit. Just look at the components of Windows and unused background services or processes that “eat up” RAM and load the processor to the maximum. But, as already mentioned above, automated utilities cannot produce such settings. Moreover, there are no special rights to intervene in system processes either. So do not neglect the fact that many will have to slightly expand their knowledge in the field of configuring the basic parameters of the "OSes" Windows. In the future, this will come in handy. Believe me, no one will regret it. And, of course, you should be very careful with some settings and changing critical parameters, otherwise, it’s not even an hour, you can achieve the exact opposite effect — instead of optimizing, get a complete crash when no recovery helps, only a complete reinstall. And this takes a lot of time and leads to loss of user data, especially if formatting the hard disk or partition is provided at the reinstallation stage. It goes without saying that all the software will have to be reinstalled. But this is definitely a problem.
It remains to add that, from the perspective of Windows optimization, software utilities or physical methods for accelerating access to data on hard disks by increasing the spindle speed were not considered. It seems that in this case this is not necessary, since actions of this kind can be taken by users of computer systems at your own peril and risk. Moreover, some operations may require some knowledge. On the other hand, this point was not touched also because it is still about the settings of the system itself, and not about improving the functioning of the hardware.