windows tutorial 10 improving your computer’s performance

® ®Microsoft Windows 7

Windows Tutorial 10

Improving Your Computer’s Performance

XPXPXPXPObjectives• Optimize computer performance• Monitor system tasks• Examine system information• Increase memory capacity with ReadyBoost• Troubleshoot typical computer problems• Respond to software and operating system

errors• Use the Problem Steps Recorder• Manage remote assistance

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XPXPXPXPTracking System Performance

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XPXPXPXPImproving System Performance• After you use your computer for a while, and

especially after installing software or saving and deleting files, you might notice changes in your system performance

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XPXPXPXPImproving System Performance

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XPXPXPXPViewing and Calculating Your Base Score

• Click the Start button, click Control Panel, click System and Security, and then click Check the Windows Experience Index in the System category

• In the Performance Information and Tools window, view the Windows Experience Index base score and subscores for your computer. If these scores are not displayed click Rate this computer

• To find out if your score has changed, click Re-run the assessment

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XPXPXPXPUsing a Troubleshooter• Click the Action Center icon in the notification

area of the taskbar• Click Open Action Center, and then click

Troubleshooting• In the list of troubleshooters, select a

troubleshooter, or click a category and then select a troubleshooter

• Follow the instructions in the troubleshooter dialog boxes

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XPXPXPXPOptimizing Visual Effects and Other Options

• Click Control Panel in the Address bar, click System and Security, and then click Check the Windows Experience Index in the System category to open the Performance Information and Tools window again

• In the left pane, click Adjust visual effects

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XPXPXPXPUsing Advanced Performance Tools

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XPXPXPXPViewing 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

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XPXPXPXPMonitoring System Performance• Click the Start button, click Control Panel, click the

System and Security category, and then click Check the Windows Experience Index in the System category

• Click Advanced tools in the left pane• Click Open Performance Monitor• In the left pane, expand the Monitoring Tools folder, if

necessary• Click Performance Monitor to graph system

performance

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XPXPXPXPMonitoring System Performance

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XPXPXPXPTracking Processor Time• In the Advanced Tools window, click Open

Performance Monitor• In the left pane of the Performance Monitor window,

expand the Monitoring Tools folder, if necessary, and then click Performance Monitor

• Click the Add button on the Performance Monitor toolbar

• Click % Usage, and then click the Add button• Click the OK button

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XPXPXPXPTracking Processor Time

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XPXPXPXPUsing Task Manager to Examine System Information

• Besides using the Performance Monitor to track system information, you can also use Task Manager to view information about the programs and processes running on your computer

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XPXPXPXPExamining System Information• In the Advanced Tools window, click View

advanced system details in System Information

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XPXPXPXPGenerating a System Health Report

• In the Advanced Tools window, click Generate a system health report

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XPXPXPXPUsing 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

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XPXPXPXPSolving System Problems

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XPXPXPXPFinding Troubleshooting Information

• Click the Action Center icon in the notification area of the taskbar, and then click Open Action Center

• Click Troubleshooting

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XPXPXPXPTroubleshooting Printer Errors• Print quality• Running out of paper• Clearing a print jam• Print errors can cause problems with the print

queue

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XPXPXPXPTroubleshooting Printer Errors

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XPXPXPXPChecking for Solutions to Software Problems• Open the Action Center window. (Click the

Action Center icon in the notification area of the taskbar, and then click Open Action Center.)

• Expand the Maintenance section, if necessary, and then click Check for solutions

• Follow any steps Windows provides

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XPXPXPXPRecovering the Operating System• System Restore• Last Known Good Configuration• Safe mode• Startup Repair• Reinstall Windows

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XPXPXPXPUsing the Problem Steps Recorder• If you are having trouble performing a task in

Windows, you can use the Problem Steps Recorder to record the steps you take on a computer

• In the Action Center window, click in the Search Control Panel box, type problem steps, and then click Record steps to reproduce a problem in the search results

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XPXPXPXPUsing the Problem Steps Recorder

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XPXPXPXPRequesting and Managing Remote Assistance

• In the Address bar of the Control Panel window, click the arrow button after Control Panel, and then click System and Security

• In the System and Security window, click System

• Click Remote settings in the left pane• If necessary, click the Allow Remote

Assistance connections to this computer to insert a check mark

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XPXPXPXPRequesting and Managing Remote Assistance

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XPXPXPXPRequesting Remote Assistance• Click the Start button on the taskbar, and then

click Help and Support• Click the Ask button on the toolbar• In the Ask a person for help section of the

window, click Windows Remote Assistance

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XPXPXPXPRequesting Remote Assistance

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