How to Optimize Windows Vista

Windows Vista is known for taking up a lot of memory, but here are a few ways to make it run faster. Click the Start orb and type RegEdit into the search box, then press Enter. If you're prompted to enter the administrator password or...
Method 1 of 3:

Change Some Registry Settings

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    Click the Start orb and type RegEdit into the search box, then press Enter. If you're prompted to enter the administrator password or confirmation, do so.
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    Expand the following tabs: HKEY_CURRENT_USER -> Control Panel.
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    Click Desktop (just click Desktop; do not expand it).
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    Look in the right-hand pane for "MenuShowDelay" and double click it. Set it to a number from one to twenty. This will lessen the amount of time you have to wait between clicking on a menu and seeing it open.
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    Expand the following tabs: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE -> System -> Current Control Set and click Control (again, just click Control, do not expand it).
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    Look in the right-hand pane for "WaitToKillServiceTimeout" and double click it. Set it to a number from 2000 to 10000. This sets the amount of time Windows waits for applications to close before shutting down.
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    Close Registry Editor.
Method 2 of 3:

Defragment Your Hard Drive

After months or years of saving and deleting files, files can become broken up across your hard drive. Allowing Windows to piece them back together can improve your system's speed.

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    Click the Start orb -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Disk Defragmenter.
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    Once Disk Defragmenter opens, click Defragment Now.
Method 3 of 3:

Clean Out the Trash

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    Click the Start orb -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Disk Cleanup. Choose your preferred options and then run it to clean up your hard drive.
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    Download a program called CCleaner by visiting the CCleaner Homepage and clicking the "Free Download" button. Install it and scan your system for unnecessary files and invalid registry entries.
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