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Win95 Tune-Up Tips
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Windows 95 Tune Up TipsLast Updated 7-15-97 Real Mode is a Real PainThe speed at which information travels between your PC and its various peripherals greatly affects overall system performance. If a device has an out-of-date driver, it may be running in real mode--another name for 16-bit (Windows 3.x) mode. The result? A sluggish system.In Windows' Control Panel, double-click System and click the Performance tab. If you see a line that reads 'Your system is configured for optimum performance', you're all set. But if you get the message 'Some drives are using MS-DOS compatibility', you'll want to update any real-mode drivers to Windows 95's 32-bit protected mode. You can obtain the updated drivers through your system vendor or at Microsoft's Software Library site. Serve Up the SpeedIf you're using the OEM Service Release 2 version of Windows 95, you can improve your system's performance by increasing its read-ahead caching. This mechanism allows Windows to anticipate the information you'll need and then loads that information into memory for faster access. To optimize read-ahead caching, right-click My Computer and select Properties. On the Performance tab, click the File System button. For the highest degree of read-ahead caching, set 'typical role of this machine' to Network Server and leave the read-ahead optimization set to Full. Click OK, then restart Windows.(Note: If you're using the original release of Windows 95, you can still change this setting. However, you'll need to make some modifications to the Registry first.) Swap Meets MemoryIs your system thrashing constantly? You may need to free up some hard disk space for the Windows 95 swap file, an extension of RAM that resides on your hard drive.Windows 95 constantly swaps information into and out of this dynamic file. With only a small amount of disk space free, the swap file can't grow, so Windows 95 is able to swap only small quantities of information at a time. The result? A thrashing, churning system that doesn't performance to its potential. Your PC should have at least twice the free hard disk space as it has RAM--for example, 64MB of free disk space on a system with 32MB of RAM. Shape Up Your Fonts FolderIf you're like most people, you have far more fonts installed than you'll ever use. After all, will you ever really find a use for that imitation-Kanji font you downloaded way back in '95? By reducing your PC's font glut, you free up valuable disk space that you can use to speed up your system. (For more information, see "Swap Meets Memory" above.)To see how many fonts you have installed, open Windows' Control Panel and double-click Fonts. If you think that excessive fonts may be contributing to your performance problems, uninstall the ones you don't use. To do this without actually deleting the font files from your system, simply move them from C:\windows\fonts to another folder. Don't Compress, UpgradeCompressing files and applications on your hard drive may seem like a blessing when you're running low on disk space--that is, until you suffer the performance consequences. Windows 95's files and applications, for instance, take longer to load from a compressed volume file.If speed is your number one goal, avoid compression. Instead, look into a reasonably priced hardware upgrade such as a second hard drive. PC World Best Buys include Western Digital's Caviar 22100 and Seagate's Medalist Pro 2520. The 2.1GB Western Digital model and the 2.4GB Seagate run less than $300 each, perform well, and are usually easy to install. Best Bet for an Overall System BoostStuck with a doddering P-75, or even an ancient 486? If you believe that the root of your system's performance woes is in its processor, don't automatically go out and buy a CPU upgrade or order a newer, faster PC. Instead, consider a motherboard upgrade. You'll get better speed than with just a new CPU, and you'll save money compared with the cost of a whole new system. But if a new motherboard doesn't fit your finances, we recommend purchasing more memory. A RAM upgrade offers a performance boost that you'll notice immediately--at a price that won't break your budget.CD-ROM Acceleration TipWish your CD-ROM drive were speedier? Before you upgrade to a faster drive, think software. In our testing, CD-ROM accelerator programs boosted overall drive performance by 50 percent or more. However, you'll typically have to sacrifice between 20MB and 40MB to a cache of CD-ROM data the program creates on your hard disk. You can download CD-Quick from PC World Online's Software Library.If you have the unfortunate mix of a slow CD-ROM drive and lack of hard disk space, consider an inexpensive 8X or 12X upgrade instead. Don't Delete, UninstallGot an urge to delete a program from your hard disk by dragging the file to the Recycle Bin? If you want to make a clean break from the program, resist the temptation. The most efficient way to get rid of an installed program is with Windows 95's Add/Remove Programs tool, which updates the Registry while it removes files, and also deletes all kinds of stray .dll and other files that may have found their way to the windows\system folder.To uninstall properly, open the Control Panel (it's in the Start/Settings menu) and double-click Add/Remove Programs. Select a program, click the Add/Remove button, and follow the instructions to completely remove all the program's files from your system. Unfortunately, not all programs provide the utility needed for removal through Windows. For stubborn installations, you may need a third-party utility such as Quarterdeck's CleanSweep or MicroHelp's Uninstaller 4. Trash TalkJust like application files, a Recycle Bin that's jam-packed with files takes up valuable hard disk space, just as if they were in any other folder. To free up disk space, reduce the Recycle Bin's size to a very small percentage of your hard drive--or don't use it at all.Right-click the Recycle Bin icon and choose Properties. To prevent Windows from using the Recycle Bin at all, select Do not move files to the Recycle Bin. (Warning: If you do this, you will no longer be able to "undelete" files.) A less drastic approach is to move the Maximum size of Recycle Bin lever to a far small number, such as 1 percent, to set the size at which the Recycle Bin will empty items on its own. Click OK. You Say You Want a ResolutionA high screen resolution provides you with extra desktop real estate, but you may be paying a price in system performance. The higher the resolution, the more pixels--dots of information--your computer has to redraw when the screen's contents change.Unless you have a state-of-the-art video card with plenty of memory (at least 2MB), consider reducing your desktop display resolution. In Windows 95's Control Panel, click Display. In the Display Properties dialog box, go to the Settings tab. Move the lever under Desktop as far left as possible and click OK. You'll see a substantial performance gain. The catch? You'll lose some viewable screen area and image quality. Stick With Basic ColorsAs with desktop resolution, your choice of color palette may impact your PC's performance. The more colors your system has to repaint, the longer it takes for the next image to appear on screen.Unless (again) you have a state-of-the-art video card with loads of memory, consider using a reduced color palette, such as 256-color. (Save the 'High Color' and 'True Color' settings for special occasions when you're willing to sacrifice performance.) Open Windows' Control Panel and double-click Display. On the Settings tab of the Display Properties dialog box, click on the pop-up menu under Color Palette. Then select the fewest number of colors you can comfortably live with. Easy on the EyesIf you're cruising along with a 256-color palette, you'll get even better system performance by avoiding intricate wallpaper, such as a color photograph. The problem arises when you ask Windows to display another image on screen. It does so by taking colors away from the wallpaper image, resulting in a mottled appearance. Your PC's performance slows as Windows goes through this color-juggling act. The solution? Use simple wallpaper designs, or stick to a solid-color desktop.Making Your Picture PerfectClearly, factors related to video can have a significant effect on overall system performance. If you find the recommendations we've made for reducing these problems unacceptable, a hardware upgrade may be your best alternative.For full graphics capability and improved system performance, look into a high-end graphics board. (See PC World's Top 10 Graphics Boards charts.) An upgrade will set you back $100 to $300, but if you want to work with optimal color depth at high resolutions, the performance improvement is worth the investment. Do the DefragAs Windows reads and writes files, they can become fragmented, meaning that their data is stored in pieces all over the hard disk. When the data is contiguous, Windows can read file information faster because it doesn't have to go looking all around the hard drive and then assemble all the pieces of a file.You can't prevent your hard drive from becoming fragmented, but you can "defragment" it by using Windows 95's Disk Defragmenter tool. (Select Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Disk Defragmenter.) For optimal performance, you should run this utility on a regular basis, such as once a month. Check for ErrorsFor the best system performance, your hard disk must be in top shape. To ensure its integrity, you should run Windows 95's ScanDisk tool regularly (about once a month, depending on how much you use your system). This utility checks your hard disk for errors and corrects them.To run ScanDisk, select Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/ScanDisk. Select the drive you want to check. Then choose the Standard option if you're interested in routine maintenance. If your hard drive is hanging up or running slowly, you may want to choose the Thorough option. Then click Start. The Latest and GreatestTo ensure that Windows 95 has the tools it needs to work up to its full potential, you need to stay on top of all the updates, service packs, bug fixes, and free downloads offered at Microsoft's Software Library site. For example, if you're still using Microsoft Exchange, go to the Exchange Update area of the site for a free Windows Messaging upgrade. Among other improvements, this upgrade speeds up Exchange. You'll also find updated files that aren't yet included in the service packs, as well as power tools for tweaking the operating system.Prepare for EmergenciesEven a Windows 95 system that's been tuned up to its highest performance potential can have bad days. If disaster strikes, you'll want to be prepared.As part of your maintenance plan, make periodic backups of the Windows 95 Registry. And, of course, make sure you always have a Windows 95 startup disk and emergency recovery floppy close at hand. (To create an emergency recovery disk, navigate your way to the Other\Misc\Eru folder on the Windows 95 installation CD-ROM, then double-click eru.exe and follow the instructions.) |
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