Zero to 60 in 4.9 seconds? V6? V8? Hemi-powered? From cars to computers, we all craze for blaze. The need for speed has never been greater. Time spent waiting is time lost. In today’s fast-paced world, patience is no longer a virtue.
Your computer may take 90 seconds to start up. It may take you less time to fix a sandwich, get to class or fall asleep. Some things get better with time. Computers, however, are unlike your favorite wine. They age for the worse.

Spyware, pop-up ads, viruses, and normal wear and tear weaken performance. As a result, start-up takes longer, programs load slower and Internet speeds seem lower.

There are ways to speed up your sluggish computer. Here are seven steps to optimize your Windows PC’s performance.

1. Defrag.

Defragmenting organizes data into uninterrupted and contiguous segments. When your computer’s operating system requests data, contiguous data takes lower access time. Contiguous files are also easier to recover in the event of hard disk failure. According to techbuilder.org, regularly defragmenting hard disk drives keeps PCs operating at peak performance.

To access the Defrag utility, click the start button in the desktop and select “All Programs.” Choose “Accessories” then “System Tools” and click on “Disk Defragmenter.”

2. Remove Spyware.

Spyware are snippets of code that linger on your computer. Through Spyware, advertisers overwhelm PCs with pop-up ads. Microsoft blames such software for one third of all application crashes on Windows XP computers.

“People come up to me and complain, my computer is so slow,” said junior Peter Raines, an IT&S help desk technician. “That’s Spyware.”

Free programs such as Ad Aware (http://www.adware.com) or SpyBot Search & Destroy (http://www.spybot.com) can safely remove such programs. Be sure to check for updates after installing such programs.

3. Buy more RAM.

Adding RAM (random access memory) is the most inexpensive way to juice up your PC. RAM facilitates faster processing and better multi-tasking. With added RAM, games play more smoothly, Web pages load faster and programs load more quickly.

With 256 MB RAM from $19.95 (http://www.crucial.com), better performance may only be a few work-study hours away.

4. Free up disc space.

Where RAM provides faster access to immediate access data, larger accesses use the empty space on your hard drive for data processing and temporary storage. Freeing up hard disk space will enhance your computer’s processing abilities.

By clicking on “Start” and selecting “Control Panel” and then “Add/Remove Programs” you can uninstall unwanted programs. The Disc-cleanup utility located in “System Tools” under “Accessories” deletes temporary files and frees up even more disc space.

5. Download critical updates and anti-virus software.

Windows offers frequent updates to its operating system services. These updates patch system and security flaws in your operating system. By installing such free updates, you ensure that your computer has the newest software enabling faster data access.

Installing manufacturer updates for the device drivers installed on your computer may also serve similar purposes. Also be sure to update your anti-virus software; otherwise, newer viruses may take over your computer.

6. Turn off any and all unnecessary animations and graphics.

Yes, animations look pretty, but they add unneeded processing time. If speed matters more to you than animations, you will gain valuable processing time by eliminating options such as animated minimizing and maximizing of window and fading of menus and views.

To choose which windows animations to keep, click “Start” then “Control Panel” and choose “System.” Then double click “Settings” in the “Advanced” tab. If you really have a need for speed then choose the “Adjust for best performance” option and let Windows adjust appearance to facilitate fastest handling

7. Disable unnecessary services and start-up programs.

Did you know that dozens of programs are passively eating up your computer’s memory banks and processor abilities? These programs and services, only some of which are Microsoft-sanctioned, add unnecessary drag to processing times. By ridding your computer of unneeded ones, you will enjoy more speeds when you surf the Web or faster program load times. Reducing these will also give you faster boot times.

“That’s stuff that is always running,” said sophomore IT&S worker Nick Boylan of these passive programs. “The fewer things that are running the faster your computer will be.”

You can view and these remove these stealthy utilities by typing “msconfig” in the “Run” box in “Control Panel.”

However, since some of these programs are essential to normal functioning, exercise caution in their removal. For a complete list of services that you may render useless, you may visit http://superfastcomputer.com/startup.html.

The best way to keep your computer at optimal speed, according to assistant director of user services for IT&S Geoff Leister, is to stay off the Internet.

“That’s where all the trouble comes from,” he said.

However, for those of us that deem the Internet a necessity rather than a luxury, he suggests performing these seven steps religiously every week. If you do nothing else, then at least download anti-Spyware programs and cleanse your PC of unnecessary junk.

Remember, all the utilities and tools described above are either already included in your operating system, or are available for download free of charge.