How many times has it happened that after spending a hefty amount on the best PC with the latest and fastest configuration, you find it crawling along at a snail's pace after a few months. Symptoms include ultra-long start-up and shutdown times, games have become slower and lost their charm, opening multiple windows or applications makes your system gasp for breath, and you inevitably end up wondering in exasperation-what the hell is wrong with the machine? You might end up thinking that you'd have to shell out some money and upgrade the hardware. Even the computer guy, you turned to for help would have suggested you the same. But is that upgrade really necessary? The slowing down of the PC is not directly related to the configuration itself; there are certain other factors on which performance of your system depends. It is the operating system itself alongwith all other software, apps, and data that you copy onto your hard drive which causes the slowdown. We try to help you with some easy and inexpensive solutions.

Basic Requirements

• Use genuine Windows: No matter how easily available the pirated ones are, a genuine operating system is always better because it can be updated with all the latest patches and software. This is even more paramount if you are using only one PC or laptop for all your data. Pirated copies could contain viruses, which will infect your machine and slow it down.
• Basic hardware requirements: Always get your PC configuration done in accordance with the needs of the OS you will be installing. Otherwise the OS will not work smoothly and will only cause frustration as it will incessantly crash or hang.

Ensure all is well with your machine

• Check your RAM: You need to check if your system is capable enough of handling all the apps that you are running on it. RAM is the component which defines how quickly your OS as well as applications will load. The more the RAM the better, but most users tend to save money and stick with the minimum required capacity.

An original OS can be updated with all the latest patches and updates for added security

Windows XP needs about 256 MB RAM to work satisfactorily and 512 MB RAM to work smoothly. Windows Vista needs 1 GB RAM to work satisfactorily and 2 GB or more to work quite well. If you are into gaming, however, you will need at least 1 GB RAM with Windows XP and 3 GB RAM with Windows Vista.

Regularly defragment your hard drive; it improves the overall disk performance by allowing faster access to files

• Do you need a graphics card?
  A graphics card is required by those who are interested in playing games, especially the 3D games on their PC. Without a dedicated graphics processor, they will not get the kind of performance as is required for playing games with smooth frame rates. In the worst case scenario, the games may even refuse to play. If playing games is not your thing, it is better not to get a graphics card at all since it pushes up the price and power consumption. However, if you're running Vista Home Premium or Ultimate, a dedicated graphics card will improve the Aero experience.
• DeleteTemp file: Regular maintenance of your PC will keep the technician away. One of the first things you can do is to regularly delete the temporary files which keep piling up; they eventually slow down the system. To delete them, go to Control Panel - Performance and maintenance - Free up disk space. If you browse the Internet often, it is advisable to do this once every week.
• Defragment your HDD: With regular usage, the files on the hard drive tend to get divided into fragments scattered across the hard drive. This means that when you click to open a file, the scattered bits have to be collated which increases the access time and slows down your PC. The best solution is to defragment the hard drive. To defragment, go to Control panel - Performance and Maintenance-Rearrange items on your hard disk to make programs run faster. This process can take a few hours, depending on the size of the disk(s), amount of data stored, and the percentage of fragmentation.
• Turn off unnecessary startup items: They may make it longer for Windows to start up. These programs then hog the system RAM as well. It is best to turn off all the apps which you do not need each time you log in to Windows. To disable these items, click on to Start - Run. Type 'msconfig' and click on the startup tab. Here, uncheck whatever you don't need, click apply and restart. Done! For example, you do not need Windows Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk, Widgets applications, sidebars etc to start up with the PC.
• Before you install a new app make sure you actually need it: Install programs which you really need. Unnecessarily installing all software will slow down the system and also clutter the hard drive for no good reason. Your primary drive (C drive for most) should have at least 5 to 10 GB of free space for proper functioning.

Keep your PC secure with an updated anti-virus to fight off any virus attacks

Another way to clean the clutter of temp files, broken shortcuts, registry entries and other redundent files is to use free software like CCleaner (www.ccleaner.com). It will help you clean everything we have mentioned above, and also let you manage startup items. if you want more control and options, you can get Tune Up Utilities for Windows from www.tune-up.com (This is a 30-day, fully-functional version).

• Arm your PC against viruses and malware: There is no denying the fact that PCs are vulnerable to virus and malware attacks, and the best way to prevent your PC (data to be precise), is to install a good anti-virus on your machine. Fortunately, you can get really good anti-virus software for free which needs to be updated regularly to be effective.

You can choose between Avast Free Edition (www.avast.com) and the AVG free edition (http://free.avg.com). Both of them will provide you with reliable protection. Sometimes, an overload of viruses may even prevent the install of an anti-virus software. In this case, use a free online virus scan like Trend Micro's Housecall (http://housecall.trendmicro.com). But, if you are worried sick about the safety of your data, then it is prudent that you get a paid security suite. Kaspersky The new Norton 360 version 3.0 offers all security features with the additional features of backup and Windows tune-up for Rs 3.7k. If you're constantly worried about the integrity and security of your data, spending on a complete security and backup package will be worth the investment.