Improve Start Up Time

This week we have news on several major updates to Windows and other programs, and a tip on how to decrease the time it takes for your computer to start up.

Get off to a fast start
A frequent lament from clients and readers of this column is, "My computer takes FOREVER to start."

If you are tired of a routine that involves turning on your computer, going to the kitchen to make a pot of coffee (and maybe a sandwich) and returning to the computer only to find it still in "Hourglass Mode," here are two things you can do that should make a difference.

First, figure out what is loading every time Windows starts up, and stop unneeded applications from doing that! We've talked about this before, here: http://rlis.com/columns/column44.htm, and here: http://rlis.com/columns/column46.htm.

But you can shorten the time it takes for the icons on your desktop to display at startup by turning off a "feature" of Windows XP not needed by most home users. By default, Windows searches for network folders and printers at startup. If you don't connect to a network, this is a waste of time. Even if you do connect to a network, you probably don't need to search right when you start up!

To stop this behaviour:

Click on "Start"
Click on "My Computer"
Click on "Tools"
Click on "Folder options"
Click on "View"
Under "Files and Folders" clear the check box for "Automatically search for network folders and printers"
"OK" your way out

Microsoft Updates
"Patch Tuesday" saw security fixes for a number of problems in Internet Explorer 7 and Office. Please make sure you are updating your Windows XP, either by visiting Microsoft Update (http://update.microsoft.com/) or by turning on Automatic Updates. You will be offered the Office updates there, unless you are using Office 2000. Office 2000 users need to visit Microsoft Office Update, here: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/downloads/maincatalog.aspx.

AVG Free Updates
Users of AVG Free anti-virus have just until the end of this month to install the upgrade (free) to version 7.5. You do have to uninstall version 7.1 before installing the upgrade, but the really good news is that they have made it easy to do and have published a clear set of instructions, here: http://free.grisoft.com/doc/3/lng/us/tpl/v5.

If you also use ZoneAlarm, you might need to follow these instructions from the ZoneAlarm forum:

ZA firewall users -
Please note that with the program update 7.5.432 the AVG program AVGINET.EXE version has been updated to 7.5.0.432. Consequently in 'ZA Program Control' the green check marks will have to be re-added back in so that the total is back to the normal 4.

That's a bit cryptic, I know. What he's saying is:

Open the ZoneAlarm control panel (double-click on the tray icon)
Select "Program Control" from the menu down the left side
Scroll down until you find the program called "AVG Update downloader," which is "avginet.exe."
Click on the question mark icons to turn them back into green check marks
OK your way out

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.