COMPREHENSIVE Windows Tutorial 10 Improving Your Computer’s Performance

XP Objectives Optimize computer performance Monitor system tasks Examine system information Increase memory capacity with ReadyBoost Find troubleshooting steps Troubleshoot printer and network problems Respond to software and operating system errors Manage remote assistance New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows Vista2

XP Improving System Performance After you use your computer for awhile, and especially after installing software and saving and deleting files, you might notice changes in your system performance New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows Vista3

XP Improving System Performance New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows Vista4

XP Viewing and Calculating Your Base Score Click the Start button, click Control Panel, click System and Maintenance, and then click Performance Information and Tools View the Windows Experience Index base score and subscores for your computer. If these scores are not displayed, click Score this computer To find out if your score has changed, click Update my score New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows Vista5

XP Optimizing Visual Effects and Other Options In the Performance Information and Tools window, click Adjust visual effects in the left pane New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows Vista6

XP Using Advanced Performance Tools New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows Vista7

XP Viewing Details About System Events When you are troubleshooting problems with Windows and other programs, it is often helpful to view details about system events – Program events – Security events – System events New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows Vista8

XP Monitoring System Performance Click the Start button, click Control Panel, click the System and Maintenance category, and then click Performance Information and Tools Click Advanced tools in the left pane Click Open Reliability and Performance Monitor In the left pane, click Reliability and Performance, if necessary, to display an overview of system resources Click Performance Monitor to graph system performance Click Reliability Monitor to display a chart of system stability information New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows Vista9

XP Monitoring System Performance New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows Vista10

XP Tracking Processor Time In the Reliability and Performance Monitor window, click Performance Monitor in the left pane Click the Add button on the Performance Monitor toolbar Click % Usage, and then click the Add button Click the OK button New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows Vista11

XP Tracking Processor Time New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows Vista12

XP System Stability Chart New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows Vista13

XP Using Task Manager to Examine System Information Besides using the Reliability and Performance Monitor to track system information, you can also use Task Manager to view information about the programs and processes running on your computer New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows Vista14

XP Examining System Information In the Advanced Tools window, click View advanced system details in System Information New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows Vista15

XP Generating a System Health Report In the Advanced Tools window, click Generate a system health report New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows Vista16

XP Using ReadyBoost to Increase Memory Capacity Windows ReadyBoost can use storage space on some removable media devices, including USB flash drives, to speed up your computer Plug a USB flash drive into an available USB port on your computer New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows Vista17

XP Finding Troubleshooting Information Click the Start button on the taskbar, and then click Help and Support Click Troubleshooting New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows Vista18

XP Troubleshooting Printer Errors Print quality Running out of paper Clearing a print jam Print errors can cause problems with the print queue New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows Vista19

XP Repairing a Network Connection Right-click the network icon in the notification area of the taskbar, and then click Diagnose and repair on the shortcut menu Follow the suggestions that appear in the Windows Network Diagnostics window, if any Click the Close button New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows Vista20

XP Repairing a Network Connection New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows Vista21

XP Finding the IP Address of Your Computer Click the Start button on the taskbar, point to All Programs, click Accessories, and then click Command Prompt Type ipconfig New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows Vista22

XP Finding the IP Address of Your Computer New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows Vista23

XP Checking for Solutions to Software Problems Click the Start button, click Control Panel, click System and Maintenance, then click Problem Reports and Solutions to open the Problem Reports and Solutions window Click Check for new solutions in the left pane Follow any steps Windows provides, then close the Problem Reports and Solutions window New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows Vista24

XP Checking for Solutions to Software Problems New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows Vista25

XP Checking for Solutions to Software Problems New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows Vista26

XP Recovering the Operating System System Restore Last Known Good Configuration Safe mode Startup Repair Reinstall Windows New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows Vista27

XP Requesting and Managing Remote Assistance In the System and Maintenance window, click System Click Remote settings If necessary, click the Allow Remote Assistance connections to this computer box to insert a check mark New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows Vista28

XP Requesting and Managing Remote Assistance New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows Vista29

XP Requesting Remote Assistance Click the Start button on the taskbar, and then click Help and Support In the Ask someone section of the Windows Help and Support window, click Windows Remote Assistance New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows Vista30

XP Requesting Remote Assistance New Perspectives on Microsoft Windows Vista31