Re: Windows performance issues


Start/Search:

*.tmp
*

Other files you could delete are files with these extensions:

..dmp - Dump file. When Windows (or an application) experiences a crash, a memory dump is performed. If you don't use these files (for trouble shooting), delete them, you can save quite a bit of space!

..bak - Backup file; when a new (data) file is created, some programs will rename the old version with a .bak extension. Be careful when removing these files.

..cnt - Help-related file; ever notice those tables of contents when you launch certain Help files? If you don't need a table to help you navigate through a Help file, delete these. They will not come back.

..fts - Help-related file; when you perform a search with a Help file, this is created to make all future searches be performed quicker. E.G., not worth having around unless you use Help files on a daily basis. They are re-created if you do a search in a Help file, so these should be regularly scanned for and deleted.

..gid - Help-related file; when you run a Help file, it creates a GID to make future accesses to that particular help file a tad quicker. They're a complete waste of space. You'll have to delete these on a regular basis, as they are recreated with every Help file execution.

..old - Old file; see .bak.

..~mp - Temporary file; see .tmp.

..$$$ - Old file; see .bak (usually, not always)

..000 - Old file; see .bak

To be on the safe side, delete your files to the Recycle Bin, and leave them there for a week or two. If you don't run into any problems, you can empty the Recycle Bin.

If Windows or any program complains about a missing file, just select your Recycle Bin, find the file and right-click on it. From the context menu choose Restore. This will restore the file to its original location.

Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;827315

Added info for later:

Troubleshooting, Removing and/or Cleaning Add or Remove Programs
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_a.htm#addremove

Clear Disabled Items from Msconfig Startup (Line 148)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

A small utility I created that clears certain History Lists

Clear Recent File Lists - Includes Search and Run Menu (Line 41)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Removes your Internet history in Internet Explorer. Clears the address list drop-down, cached files, history and cookies. In Windows it clears the TEMP folder and Recycle Bin, the run history, recent documents, and find files history. It also deletes locked files ("index.dat" and files that are in use by applications).

Clean out Usage Tracks in Windows
http://www.12ghosts.com/ghosts/wash.htm

Clear Search History under Search (Line 24)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Clear Recent File Lists - Clears Search History
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/ClearRecent.Exe


--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm


"vincent" <vincent@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:92749688-A4E9-4F26-9CD4-F568EDD6C030@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I'm experiencing the following issues. I'm a fairly expeirenced user and have
searched online and found many "resolutions" with none or little results. I'd
appreciate if someone here can offer some real help than the usual "remove
unwanted program + startup entries + virus scan + defrag". I run adware
cleaner and virus cleaner regularly and I'm 99% sure that's not the reason.

1) Bloated windows directory. I remember a fresh install is about 1G. Now it
has become 4G in about 1 years use. Yes, I've deleted c:\windows\temp, IE
cache, and other temp files. It's quite anonying not knowing what takes up
all that space.

2) Power up extremely slow. After logging in and seeing windows desktop, it
still takes over 1~2 minute for things to "settle down". Windows explorer is
reponsive, but if I want to start a program, say IE, it'll take over 1 minute
to start. Even ctrl+alt+del takes 1 minute to bring up task manager. I've
used many startup program cleaner such as msconfig and know I only have very
minimum start up programs. What is taking up so long? My PC is very fast and
when windows was freshly install I certainly don't have this issue.

3) Random slowness. Windows would suddenly slows down to a halt and windows
explorer will froze, usually when using outlook, msn messenger, IE, etc, but
not everytime. Yet when this happens, task manger shows 99% CPU idle. This is
really anonying. How can everything be so sluggish and it shows 0% usage? I
have over 4G of memory and it shows lots of free memory when this happens.



.

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