windows tutorial 10 improving your computer’s performance

COMPREHENSIVE

Windows Tutorial 10

Improving Your Computer’s

Performance

XPXPXPObjectives• 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 Vista 2

XPXPXPImproving 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


XPXPXPImproving System Performance


XPXPXPViewing 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


XPXPXPOptimizing Visual Effects and Other Options• In the Performance Information and Tools

window, click Adjust visual effects in the left pane


XPXPXPUsing Advanced Performance Tools


XPXPXPViewing 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


XPXPXPMonitoring 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


XPXPXPMonitoring System Performance


XPXPXPTracking 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


XPXPXPTracking Processor Time


XPXPXPSystem Stability Chart


XPXPXPUsing 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


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

advanced system details in System Information


XPXPXPGenerating a System Health Report• In the Advanced Tools window, click Generate a

system health report


XPXPXPUsing 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


XPXPXPFinding Troubleshooting Information• Click the Start button on the taskbar, and then

click Help and Support• Click Troubleshooting


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

queue


XPXPXPRepairing 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


XPXPXPRepairing a Network Connection


XPXPXPFinding 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


XPXPXPFinding the IP Address of Your Computer


XPXPXPChecking 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


XPXPXPChecking for Solutions to Software Problems


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


XPXPXPRequesting 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


XPXPXPRequesting and Managing Remote Assistance


XPXPXPRequesting 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


XPXPXPRequesting Remote Assistance


windows tutorial 10 improving your computer’s performance

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