Speeding up Vista is something I read a lot about – its more of a niggly habbit really but I’m the kind of guy who defrags files more than once a day, so when it comes to disabling services; cleaning up the drive and improving performance I’m a bit of a nut.

Enter the Entropy Supercharge Guide. This is a collection of all the worthwhile tips and applications organized and sorted to use applications and methods designed to be easy and safe. I’ve butchered my Vista before with a bad tool or some custom work, and the below is all what I consider to be “safe”. There are more extreme optimizations, but as far as I’m concerned this is applicable to almost all users.

Step 1: Required Applications

We’re about to pimp your shit, seriously. Now we need the tools to do it – all of these tools modify things like services, the registry and/or delete unneccessary files but they are the best of the bunch and are tried and tested – don’t download some crazy shit and then be suprised when your PC burns out like a pack of no-name microwave popcorn.

Download and install the following applications:

• CCleaner [download]
• Defraggler [download]
• Advanced System Care 3 [download]
• FileHippo Update Checker [download]
• Vista Services Optimizer [download]

Be careful not to allow them to install any toolbars or set your default web page – but they are all option based, there is no real spyware risk.

Step 2: Optimize and Upgrade

We’re running through the last three first, because you’ll want to defrag and clean after doing any major maintenance on your machine. There are full guides available for all of these topics but they are easy to use – follow the simple instructions below and move on to step 3.

Run Vista Services Optimizer

I advise using the more advanced “Manual TuneUp” as its still simple and asks you questions you can answer easily.

Let it disable any services you don’t use, optionally you can use the “Automatic TuneUp”.

Now start Advanced SystemCare 3.

Go to the top icon, “Maintain Windows” and run a scan – let it fix your problems.

Now go to Diagnose System and untick Security Defense and Disk Defragment. Run a scan and clean up everything you don’t need.

Next go to utilities and use the Disk Cleaner to dump any trash.

Now FirefoxTCP Optimizer and let it auto optimize for you.

Next run the Shortcut Fixer and delete any out of date shortcuts.

Now run the FileHippo Update Checker.

You’ll be suprised how much faster some programs will work if you are running current versions, and just in general you’ll have a happier and cleaner PC. Upgrade your programs. Also, I’m sure I don’t need to say but make sure you’ve updated your Vista.

Step 3: Clean and Defrag

Now run through the whole of CCleaner, optimise your registry, your files, the works.

Use this guide: http://www.raven.za.net/tips/speed-up-your-pc-and-free-up-space-with-ccleaner

Once you’ve removed all the junk, run Defraggler, and go to the files tab to defragment all the files it displays after an Analyze.

Now reboot, and you should have a better, cleaner PC.

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