The first thing you need to know what graphics card you are using. The most popular graphics card companies are nVidia Geforce™ and ATI Radeon™. Both these companies have an excellent range of products and offer excellent service. Once you know what graphics card you are using, then head over to the companies website where you can download the latest drivers.
Drivers are software that runs your graphics card correctly. Being up to date with drivers will help solve issues that may arise with modern PC games.
Once you have downloaded your drivers for your graphics card make sure you create a restore point using the utility System Restore. This can be done my click Start->Programs->Accessories->System Tools and then System Restore. Then follow the on screen instructions to create the restore point. By doing this it makes sure that if a problem occurs after you installed the new drivers, you can return to the restore point to see if the problem is the drivers you installed.
Once you've finished creating your restore point, you need to install your drivers. This can done by double clicking on the file you downloaded and then you follow the on screen instructions. After you've installed your drivers you will have to restart Windows so the changes can take effect.
If everything goes according to plan you should see an increase in performance in your games and you will not need to go back to your restore point. If you do have problems, use your restore point to go back and fix the problems. If the problem persists, then contact the company that made your graphics card.
Make sure you have the latest version of DirectX. This can be done by going onto the Microsoft website http://www.microsoft.com
Windows Boot Defragment
A very important new feature in Microsoft Windows XP is the ability to do a boot defragment. This basically means that all boot files are placed next to each other on the disk drive to allow for faster booting. By default this option is enabled but some upgrade users have reported that it isn't on their setup.
1. Start Regedit.
Click start->Run, type regedit, enter or win+r , type regedit, enter
2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOptimizeFunction
3. Select Enable from the list on the right.
4. Right on it and select Modify.
5. Change the value to Y to enable and N to disable.
6. Reboot your computer.
1. Start Regedit.
Click start->Run, type regedit, enter or win+r , type regedit, enter
2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Dfrg\BootOptimizeFunction
3. Select Enable from the list on the right.
4. Right on it and select Modify.
5. Change the value to Y to enable and N to disable.
6. Reboot your computer.
Optimize your system for Gaming
Install computer games and running smoothly by following these tips. This how to was written with Windows 98 in mind. The tips will work on other operating systems, however you may find that the locations of the utilities are in different locations.
Disk Defragmenter
ScanDisk
Disk Clean Up
Keep Operating System Software Updated
Check Hard Drive Space
Get Rid of Spyware
Minimize Number of Programs Running
Clean Out Add-on Game Files
Shut Down Properly
Antivirus Program
Disk Defragmenter
The defragmenter will organize your files so the computer can use the files you are accessing faster, since it won't have to search as long. Run this program with as few programs running in the background as possible. I suggest defragging your drive(s) every couple of weeks, before you install a program, or after you uninstall a few programs.
Find it here: Start -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Disk Defragmenter
ScanDisk
This system utility checks for surface, folder and file errors and corrects them. Run this program if you computer was not shut down properly, creating a lot of error messages, or if programs seem to functioning abnormally. I suggest using scandisk about once a week to keep your drive(s) in top shape.
Find it here: Start -> Accessories -> System tools -> Scandisk
Disk Clean Up
You can find a useful function in your drive properties that will clean up your hard drive. It will get rid of Internet files (if you use Internet Explorer), temporary files, and files in the recycle bin. If you another browser, like Netscape, you will need to find the cache or temporary files folder within Windows Explorer to delete the unnecessary files. Delete cookies in your Internet folder. You don't need them, and after awhile you may have a lot of cookies just hanging out on your drive. Uninstall programs you don't use anymore. You're just wasting drive space, when you could be using it for something else. Do this after you delete lots of files; use the Internet for a long time, and/or at least once a week.I do three times in a week.
Find it here: My Computer -> Right Click on C Drive Icon -> Disk Cleanup
Keep Operating System Software Updated
Use the Windows Update in the start menu to keep your system updated. New security patches are always being released. Occasionally check for driver updates for your video card.Take the Drivers from the video Card homepage.
Check Hard Drive Space
Keep clutter off your drive. If you don't need it, get rid of it. Save files you won't be using for a while to a CD or DVD. Not only does it give you more disk space for new files, you won't have to go sift through so many files.
Clean Spyware
Spyware is a cookie that you get by visiting websites. Most spyware will not harm your computer, but the information that save may bother those who like their privacy. Spyware can eat up system resources making your computer run slower.
Download Spyware Detection & Removal Tools
http://rahulmg.blogspot.com/2008/07/what-is-spyware-and-malware.html
Minimize Number of Programs Running
If you are trying to play a game, surf the Internet, work on your report, read email, and listen to mp3 files, you are using to much of your system resources. If your computer is trying to run too many programs when also trying to play a graphic intensive game, the graphics will be choppy, and figures will move slowly. Whenever possible play with only the game open.
Clean Out Add-on Game Files
If game allows for add-in files, like The Sims, clean out the files you don't absolutely need. If you don't play a particular saved game, save it to a disk or CD and delete it from the hard drive. If you play The Sims, you probably have tons of wallpaper and objects that you rarely use, get rid of them. You'll be amazed by the space you'll recover, by moving saved games, cities, and other custom files to CDs.
Shut Down Properly
Always shut your computer off using the shutdown option in the start menu. If you don't you will cause errors and sometimes lose data and losses computer's life.
Find it here: Start -> Shutdown -> Shutdown
Antivirus Program
Sometimes your anti-virus program will slow down the loading and playing of games. So if you are not on the Internet, go ahead and disable it. But remember to turn it back on if you logged back on to the Internet.
Disk Defragmenter
ScanDisk
Disk Clean Up
Keep Operating System Software Updated
Check Hard Drive Space
Get Rid of Spyware
Minimize Number of Programs Running
Clean Out Add-on Game Files
Shut Down Properly
Antivirus Program
Disk Defragmenter
The defragmenter will organize your files so the computer can use the files you are accessing faster, since it won't have to search as long. Run this program with as few programs running in the background as possible. I suggest defragging your drive(s) every couple of weeks, before you install a program, or after you uninstall a few programs.
Find it here: Start -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Disk Defragmenter
ScanDisk
This system utility checks for surface, folder and file errors and corrects them. Run this program if you computer was not shut down properly, creating a lot of error messages, or if programs seem to functioning abnormally. I suggest using scandisk about once a week to keep your drive(s) in top shape.
Find it here: Start -> Accessories -> System tools -> Scandisk
Disk Clean Up
You can find a useful function in your drive properties that will clean up your hard drive. It will get rid of Internet files (if you use Internet Explorer), temporary files, and files in the recycle bin. If you another browser, like Netscape, you will need to find the cache or temporary files folder within Windows Explorer to delete the unnecessary files. Delete cookies in your Internet folder. You don't need them, and after awhile you may have a lot of cookies just hanging out on your drive. Uninstall programs you don't use anymore. You're just wasting drive space, when you could be using it for something else. Do this after you delete lots of files; use the Internet for a long time, and/or at least once a week.I do three times in a week.
Find it here: My Computer -> Right Click on C Drive Icon -> Disk Cleanup
Keep Operating System Software Updated
Use the Windows Update in the start menu to keep your system updated. New security patches are always being released. Occasionally check for driver updates for your video card.Take the Drivers from the video Card homepage.
Check Hard Drive Space
Keep clutter off your drive. If you don't need it, get rid of it. Save files you won't be using for a while to a CD or DVD. Not only does it give you more disk space for new files, you won't have to go sift through so many files.
Clean Spyware
Spyware is a cookie that you get by visiting websites. Most spyware will not harm your computer, but the information that save may bother those who like their privacy. Spyware can eat up system resources making your computer run slower.
Download Spyware Detection & Removal Tools
http://rahulmg.blogspot.com/2008/07/what-is-spyware-and-malware.html
Minimize Number of Programs Running
If you are trying to play a game, surf the Internet, work on your report, read email, and listen to mp3 files, you are using to much of your system resources. If your computer is trying to run too many programs when also trying to play a graphic intensive game, the graphics will be choppy, and figures will move slowly. Whenever possible play with only the game open.
Clean Out Add-on Game Files
If game allows for add-in files, like The Sims, clean out the files you don't absolutely need. If you don't play a particular saved game, save it to a disk or CD and delete it from the hard drive. If you play The Sims, you probably have tons of wallpaper and objects that you rarely use, get rid of them. You'll be amazed by the space you'll recover, by moving saved games, cities, and other custom files to CDs.
Shut Down Properly
Always shut your computer off using the shutdown option in the start menu. If you don't you will cause errors and sometimes lose data and losses computer's life.
Find it here: Start -> Shutdown -> Shutdown
Antivirus Program
Sometimes your anti-virus program will slow down the loading and playing of games. So if you are not on the Internet, go ahead and disable it. But remember to turn it back on if you logged back on to the Internet.
Virus Information W32/AutoIt.AA Trojan
W32/AutoIt.AA Trojan is the Top virus or trojan in the web now.
W32/AutoIt.AA is a Trojan. The Trojan will infect Windows systems.
Upon execution, the trojan drops the following files in the Windows System folder:
SSVICHOSST.exe
autorun.ini
setting.ini
nhatquanglan18.exe
SCVHSOT.exe
test1.exe
It also drops SSVICHOSST.exe in Windows folder.
The trojan schedules a task to execute SSVICHOSST.exe once in a week.
The trojan creates registry at the following location to load itself during each startup;
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-606747145-602162358-682003330-1000\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
It also modifies registry at the following location to load itself along with explorer.exe.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell
This trojan first appeared on Mar 14, 2008.
Other names of W32/AutoIt.AA Trojan:
This trojan is also known as Trojan-Downloader.Win32.AutoIt.aa, Win32.Sohanad.R, W32/Sohanat.CM.worm .
Check for the solution
Related:
W32/AutoIt.AA is a Trojan. The Trojan will infect Windows systems.
Upon execution, the trojan drops the following files in the Windows System folder:
SSVICHOSST.exe
autorun.ini
setting.ini
nhatquanglan18.exe
SCVHSOT.exe
test1.exe
It also drops SSVICHOSST.exe in Windows folder.
The trojan schedules a task to execute SSVICHOSST.exe once in a week.
The trojan creates registry at the following location to load itself during each startup;
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-606747145-602162358-682003330-1000\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
It also modifies registry at the following location to load itself along with explorer.exe.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell
This trojan first appeared on Mar 14, 2008.
Other names of W32/AutoIt.AA Trojan:
This trojan is also known as Trojan-Downloader.Win32.AutoIt.aa, Win32.Sohanad.R, W32/Sohanat.CM.worm .
Check for the solution
Related:
Remove Optional and Probably Unnecessary Windows Vista Components
This Tip will help you to remove Windows Vista Extra/Components, for that Open up Control Panel and go to the Programs and Features section. Find the link for "Turn Windows features on or off" (or you could just search for it)
uncheck the things you don't want, and hit the OK button. Depending on the version of Vista you are running you might not see everything in the list.
Guidelines, Not Set In Stone
ActiveX Installer Service - -No- - Do you really want anything to do with ActiveX?
Games - -Why Not - -Your productivity can only increase with Spider Solitaire on your computer.
Indexing Service - -No - -This is the old indexing service that is no longer needed in Vista.
Internet Information Service - -No - -Used for hosting websites on your computer.
Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 - -No - -Used for the new .NET 3.0 components, but only really needed for programmers.
Microsoft Message Queue (MSMQ) Server - -No - -Used by programmers as a way to reliably queue messages.
Print Services - -No - -You only need this if you use internet printers and like to kill trees. Our rainforests are depending on you disabling this service.
Remote Differential Compression - -Maybe - -This is likely required for utilities that use the network to download files. If it is enabled, don't mess with it.
Removable Storage Management - -No - -The only reason you'd need this is if you are restoring from old NTBACKUP files.
RIP Listener - -No - -You won't need this, it's a routing protocol.
Services for NFS - -No - -This can be used to map a drive to a linux NFS server. Unlikely you'd need it since Samba works so well.
SNMP Feature - -No - -This is used for management systems in workplace networks. You don't need it.
Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications - -No - -This is used for compatibility with certain applications based on UNIX… you don't need it.
Tablet PC Optional Components - -Maybe - -If you have a Tablet PC, you should enable this. If you don't, you may still want to because this includes the Snipping Tool.
Telnet Client - -AVOID - -You should never use telnet. Ever.
Telnet Server - -AVOID - -You should never use telnet. Ever.
TFTP Client - -AVOID - -TFTP was used by many of the early internet worms… there's a reason it's disabled by default.
Windows DFS Replication Service - -No - -This is only really used in work environments. Don't bother with this if you are a home user.
Windows Fan and Scan - -No - -Why anybody still faxes anything is beyond me.
Windows Meeting Space - -No - -If you don't use Windows Meeting Space or the "People Near Me" feature, don't bother with this.
Windows PowerShell - -No - -PowerShell is a more advanced command line geared towards programmers and system administrators.
Windows Process Activation Service - -Probably - -This is likely required to support some .NET applications, so I wouldn't change whatever it's currently set to.
Windows Ultimate Extras - -Maybe - -If you like the extras, then enable them. (Ultimate Only)
Hopes this will help anybody!!