6 OTHER WAYS TO OPTIMIZE YOUR PC T his chapter shows how to perform many tasks that will help optimize your PC. Performing these additional tasks, along with using PC Pitstop Optimize, regularly or at least once a month will ensure your PC runs faster and more efficiently. Keep Windows Up to Date Keeping Windows up-to-date ensures your PC is pro- tected from the latest known security holes and fixes bugs or errors of the operating system, which will help increase PC performance. You can easily check for and perform needed updates for Windows by visiting the following website: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com You can also configure Windows XP to automatically download updates when they become available: 1. Open the Control Panel, as seen in Figure 6-1. If the Start menu is in classic look, the Control Panel is under Settings on the menu. 11_068557 ch06.qxp 12/13/06 6:13 PM Page 47 Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. Figure 6-1: Opening the Control Panel 2. Click Security Center, as Figure 6-2 shows, if the Control Panel is in category view; otherwise ignore this step and move to the next step. Figure 6-2: Opening the Security Center category 3. Click Automatic Updates, as shown in Figure 6-3. 48 Part II • Optimizing Your PC 11_068557 ch06.qxp 12/13/06 6:13 PM Page 48 Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. Figure 6-3: Opening Automatic Updates 4. It’s recommended to use the Automatic option, as Figure 6-4 points out. Figure 6-4: Automatic Update option Adjust Visual Settings You can increase the performance of your computer by sacrificing some visual effects in Windows XP.These effects include items such as shadowing, smoothing, and fading of fonts, menus, and your cursor. Chapter 6: Other Ways to Optimize Your PC 49 11_068557 ch06.qxp 12/13/06 6:13 PM Page 49 Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. Here is how to change these visual effect settings: 1. Right-click My Computer and click Properties, as seen in Figure 6-5. Figure 6-5: Accessing My Computer properties 2. Click the Advanced tab, as Figure 6-6 shows. Figure 6-6: Advanced tab 3. Click Settings, under the Performance area, as shown in Figure 6-7. 50 Part II • Optimizing Your PC 11_068557 ch06.qxp 12/13/06 6:13 PM Page 50 Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. Figure 6-7: Accessing Performance settings 4. On the Visual Effects tab, select the Adjust for Best Performance option, as seen in Figure 6-8. Figure 6-8: Selecting the Best Performance option 5. When you’re done, click OK. Chapter 6: Other Ways to Optimize Your PC 51 11_068557 ch06.qxp 12/13/06 6:13 PM Page 51 Please purchase PDF Split-Merge on www.verypdf.com to remove this watermark. . regularly or at least once a month will ensure your PC runs faster and more efficiently. Keep Windows Up to Date Keeping Windows up- to-date ensures your PC is pro- tected from the latest known security. Automatic Updates 4. It’s recommended to use the Automatic option, as Figure 6-4 points out. Figure 6-4: Automatic Update option Adjust Visual Settings You can increase the performance of your computer. for and perform needed updates for Windows by visiting the following website: http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com You can also configure Windows XP to automatically download updates when they become