Over the last decade, computers, with Internet access, have revolutionized the way people communicate with friends or do business with clients. However, there are a growing number of computers without optimized PC performance. Furthermore, users are neglecting their computer because they use them of fun and games instead of maintaining PC performance. Therefore, computers revolt by refusing the user's commands to open a new program or access a file from the hard drive. As a result, many users become frustrated and abandon their computer. Fortunately, there are numerous solutions for improving PC performance.

To improve PC performance, the user must delete cookies. Deleting cookies on a regular basis enhances PC performance and prevents other websites from retrieving the user's personal information. Cookies are small files that are stored in the Temporary Internet Files folder on the computer. Furthermore, cookies have the ability to load a website faster than normal speed. For example, users who go online by using a dial up connection keep their cookies because they don't want to wait a very long time for their homepage to load. However, keeping cookies for more than a week deteriorates PC performance. Furthermore, many websites gather information from cookies and use them in a very harmful way. Not only will users receive spam from their inbox, their password protective accounts will be stolen. As a result, PC performance will only be minimal and the user will have to create a new account.

In addition to deleting cookies on a regular basis, users need to install anti-virus software to keep their PC performance from disappearing. Viruses are malicious and unforgiving programs that will delete files or wipe out the entire hard drive. As a result, PC performance will no longer exist. The following categories are used to identify windows operated computer viruses: adware, spyware, trojan, worm, and malware. Many viruses are downloaded to the PC automatically without the user's permission, installed from an unverified program, or opened from an attachment by the user's curiosity. Installing a variety of anti-virus applications is recommended, but some programs don't do the job. For example, Norton Internet Security 2006 doesn't remove any viruses and prevents a user from connecting to the Internet. The user needs to read all reviews and do research to find the best anti-virus software. By installing various anti-virus software programs, the user is able to protect their PC performance.

Although anti-virus software detects dangerous programs, computer users are responsible for keeping their PC performance optimized. Therefore, they need to setup a schedule by using Scheduled Tasks from the System Tools folder. By scheduling a task, computer users are able to protect their PC performance from deteriorating. Defragmentation is the most important task for all windows operated computers, and the purpose of this program is to restructure the hard drive. Furthermore, users need to defrag their computers every week to prevent bad sectors from appearing on the hard drive. Bad sectors prevent the hard drive from achieving the highest level of PC performance, and bad sectors prevent files and programs from loading properly. In addition to defragmentation, computer users need to perform a Disk Cleanup after disconnecting from the Internet. Disk Cleanup erases unwanted files from the Temporary Internet Files folder.

Keeping PC performance optimized is a big responsibility for all computer users. However, computer users need to close any unnecessary programs that are hidden, but running at the same time. Many unnecessary programs open when the user turns on the computer and login on Windows XP. Therefore, users will experience a delay in PC performance. Fortunately, this problem can be easily solved. To close an unnecessary program, users must access Windows Task Manager and select only the essential programs. It's important for users to know the name of the file to prevent the program from closing abruptly. While closing unnecessary programs is a temporary fix, limiting the amount of graphics shown on the computer screen is a permanent fix for enhancing PC performance. Windows XP is a graphic intensive program that loads high resolution content on the Start Menu. Therefore, the user must limit the amount of graphics shown by using the Control Panel and selecting on a classic Windows ME design. By using a classic Windows ME design, the computer will be able to load programs faster without intense graphics.

Overall, maintaining PC performance is a very grueling responsibility because the computer is exposed to over two-hundred programs every day. Furthermore, PC performance is important to prevent hardware and software problems. Therefore, when using a computer for personal use or business use, users are responsible for their own actions. By monitoring their own actions every day, then PC performance won't be jeopardized. After all, there is a difference between a computer with a faster PC performance and a computer with a slower PC performance.