Are You Looking to Get More from Your Personal Computer?

Is your computer running slowly and too cluttered? Here are 7 quick tips to personalize your computer and keep it running very smoothly.

1. Save only what you need and start over.

If your computer is running extremely slowly, is hopelessly cluttered, and you want a fresh start, it is time to start over. Before you begin, be sure to save anything of importance. Once that has been completed, you can go ahead and format your hard drive. At this time, you may wish to destroy any partitions you've created and repartition the hard drive. You now have a clean slate.

2. Reinstall your operating system (or upgrade), taking time to adjust settings to your liking. Ensure that networking access and printer(s) are properly set up.

It is now time to reinstall your operating system. If you are using Windows, you may wish to upgrade to Windows Vista at this time. Be sure to consider the pros and cons before you spend the money. Once you reinstall Windows or your operating system of choice, take the time to set up your networking access, your Internet connection, as well as your printer. You will also want to make any other major adjustments at this time with regards to display, fonts, etc.

3. Install anti-virus, ad-ware, and spy-ware utilities.

Once you have an Internet access, you can download great, free utility software from Download.com. There are several choices, but you should chose software that will remove ad-ware and spy-ware in addition to just a traditional anti-virus program. Avast! is a great free anti-virus program; Spybot Search and Destroy targets spy-ware; and Ad-Aware leaves your computer free of ad-ware. All work well and are completely free. By using those three programs every month, you will keep your problem free and more secure - all for free.

4. Install additional utilities and office programs.

In addition to security utilities, you will also want to install your favorite office program, Internet browser, and additional utilities, including drivers. First off, start by installing any missing drivers, including those that help your monitor and sound cards run properly. Then, you may wish to install utilities such as Adobe acrobat reader and others. If you are in search of great, free utilities, Download.com has a wonderful selection. Once those tasks are completed, you will want to install your favorite office software. If you don't want to purchase the latest version of Microsoft Office, Open Office offers a fully functional alternative. In addition, you might want to consider visiting Mozilla.com. Not only will you be able to download FireFox, one of the premier open-source (i.e. free) browsers, you will be able to download Thunderbird as well, which is a free e-mail client similar to Outlook.

5. Set up favorite wallpaper, screensaver, etc. Come up with filing system.

Now that you have all of the technical stuff out of the way, at least for the most part, you are ready to truly personalize your computer. If you haven't done so already, search for wallpapers, screensavers, fonts, and images that will help you truly personalize your computer. A secure, free way to obtain stunning images for your PC is to visit webshots.com. Once you download the free software, you can start downloading images for your collection. The easy-to-use software allows you to set your wallpaper and screensaver right from the software, as well as organize your collection of images and add effects. You will also want to set up a filing system for your personal and work files at this time. Once that is accomplished, it is time to transfer the files you saved. Take the time to organize the files, utilizing your new organizational system.

6. Install favorite programs, including games.

Now that your computer is personalized, fully functional, and most of the necessary software has been added, it is time to add your favorite programs. This may include games, you recipe organizer, or a personal database that you developed. Just be sure not to add everything under the sun.

7. Clean up your e-mail, your calendar, and your computer.

Your computer should now have all of the software re-installed. It is time to clean out your e-mail and set up your favorite e-mail client. Then, it is time to clean out your calendar as well. Last, but not least, it is time to run all of that security and cleaning software that you downloaded earlier. You'd be surprised at what comes up. Once everything is clean, your system should be running like new and ready to go.