Tag Archives: system

7 Tips on Improving Windows Performance

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In a previous post I gave seven tips on improving Windows performance. Since then I received a request asking how to actually perform the tasks I recommended. So here is a step-by step procedure.

Details vary, of course, depending on which version of Windows you are running. Rather than attempt to describe every possible variant, I’ll stay with Windows 7. If you are not already running that version but your computer is capable of handling it, I recommend that you upgrade now – it is the best Windows system I have used (starting with Windows 3.1!)

#1 Defragment Your Hard Disk

Go to Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools. You will find two programs: Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter. I suggest you use Disk Cleanup first, then Disk Defragmenter. Choose a time when you will not be using the computer for a while (say just before bedtime), because the Defragmenter can take several hours to run! The good news is that it will test first to see if defragmenting is necessary.

Plan to run this at least once a month (once a week is better): you can use the Windows Disk Defragmenter to defragment the C drive weekly at night-time (Configure Schedule). If, like me, you also use external hard drives for routine backups, don’t forget to defragment those as well – the scheduler allows you to defragment them all.

It would be nice if you schedule the Disk Cleanup operation, but as far as I can tell, Windows doesn’t allow this. However, there is a good free tool you can use to clean up all the garbage that accumulates on your hard drive. It’s call CCleaner, and you can get the free version here. I recommend that you set a reminder to run it before you run your routine defragment – I use Google calendar to set my reminder.  This program is also useful for some of the other recommendations.

#2 Disable the Search Index Service

Go to Control Panel -> Indexing Options -> Modify -> Show All Locations and remove the check marks. If there are locations in the lower panel, click on them and the check marks appear in the upper panel: clear them.

#3 Remove Start-up Programs

Most new software will attempt to start automatically, so you need to check this one regularly. Go to Control Panel -> System & Security: Find and Fix Problems -> System & Security: Check for Performance Issues -> Next -> Start System Configuration -> Startup. (Remove any programs you know you don’t need at startup.)

Here is another way: download a free application Soluto. This program will examine all your startup programs and advise you on how you can speed up your reboot. For me, it reduced boot time by over a minute (after I had already removed everything I knew about!)

#4 Cut Down on Background Applications

If you look in Task Manager (Ctrl-Alt-Delete) you will find a number of processes you don’t need. Here is a link to an article that may help you decide which to remove: http://vectrosecurity.com/content/view/31/26/. The article is based on Windows XP, so some of the background applications do not appear in Windows 7.

#5 Disable Your Wireless Internet and/or Bluetooth

These appear in the notification taskbar in the bottom right corner of the screen.

#6 Keep Your Computer Cool

With a laptop, ensure there is proper ventilation by placing it on a hard surface. With a desktop, make sure there is plenty of space around the air ducts. With both, remove dust regularly using a compressed air blower.

#7 Uninstall Unnecessary Programs (regularly)

Control Panel -> Programs -> Uninstall a Program. The Disk Cleanup System Tool referred to earlier also gives a link to this.

Follow these seven tips, and you should find your Windows performance improves significantly.

Are You Meeting Your Business Goals This Year?

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Are You Meeting Your Business Goals This Year?

You set business goals at the beginning of the year: now it’s time to look at where you are and where you are going. Half the year has gone, so now is a great time to review your goals for the year and see if you are on track.

Do you need to rethink your goals or your strategy?

If you are more than half way to your year’s goals, congratulations! You are among the very few. Most of us, though are lagging seriously behind: this has been a slow year so far.

In my case, the year started out with a bang: it seems that all the New Year’s resolutions were kicking in and people were ready to change their lives. Then it went quiet. Tax time? – who knows?

Now things have started to pick up again. My belief is that many people are reviewing their first half performance and deciding they need to look into ways to improve their success, There are really only two things you can do if you have
slipped behind: accept it or change it!

Accepting where you are is fine, but do you really want to revise your goals downward? When you set those goals at the beginning of the year, it was because they represented what you really wanted to achieve on the path to your dream. If not, why did you set them?

So really you don’t have a choice, do you? You need to review your performance and see how it can be improved. Let me show you how!

For the purposes of this post, I’ll assume that you are a network marketer, but  similar principles apply to any entrepreneurial activity.

Company

First, take a good, hard look at your company. When you joined them you were excited about it: is that excitement still there?

Are you getting the support and encouragement you need and deserve?

Do you still believe in the product or products?

Most importantly, do you still believe in the company?

If the answer to any of these questions is “no

Age Doesn’t Matter!

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I’m excited to find a new blog by a network marketing business colleague.  Doesn’t sound very interesting, but what excites me is that this colleague is about the same age as my granddaughter!  Like they say, age doesn’t matter – unless you’re a cheese!

Curtis talks about his experiences as a newbie to network marketing, and how he found the system that he needed to get his business started.  Whether you’re brand new, like Curtis or an “old hand”, like Maggie who has been in network marketing for over twenty years, SponsorDaddy is the one system you need to build your business.  Not only does it qualify your leads so that you don’t waste time on “tire kickers”, it also does the routine follow up and trains your team!

If that isn’t enough for you, we also have the finest team of supporters I have ever found, guaranteeing that if you are prepared to work the business there will always be someone to show you how to do anything you need to.  I don’t care what the network marketing gurus say, nobody knows it all.  With a team, each of whom is expert in a part of the business, there is always someone to learn from – and someone to teach!

What more could you ask?

PS: As an example of team work, Rebecca and I spent over an hour this evening helping a new SponsorDaddy member in Australia get started!  We are also starting a weekly team call this week at a time convenient for our Australian members.