Do they tempt you?  "Bring back that fresh "NEW" PC feeling!", "PC Speed Help", "DoubleMySpeed.Com +++ Need to fix your PC? ", "Update Notice For Your Computer", "Get Immediate Computer Help" and more and more and more!  Speeding up your older PC has become BIG business for companies willing to pay for advertising on TV, in magazines and of course on the Internet.  But what do they really offer?

'NOT MUCH' compared to what most PC users already have! 

What these software packages do in essence is to try to automate, and 'too rarely' make easier, the same routine and 'good-sense' maintenance you can do with tools that you probably have!  Here in priority order is a list of what will give most any PC the biggest 'speed-up-BANG' for your investment in 'maintenance time-&-BUCKS!'

1. Invest in more RAM (e.g. memory).  RAM has gotten cheaper and cheaper in recent years.  If you can overcome the effort of finding compatible RAM, get 4 MB for Windows XP or as much under that as your PC can accept. (More than 4 MB can be useful for Windows 7, but not for Windows XP.  Major vendors like HP, Dell, Gateway, etc. have tools on their websites to help you find the correct RAM.)
    

2. Keep you system defragmented.  It's a 'routine' task that may wear on you, but it works! (See our guide titled "Defragmentation-The What, Why & How?".)
    

3. Keep your system updated.  Microsoft routinely (Most every week!) provides updates to it's products and in general your PC will certainly be safer and maybe a bit faster if you apply them.
    

4. Make sure you PC is routinely checked for viruses and spyware.  Either can dramatically affect your PC's performance and now FREE tools (see 'Links to a Faster PC' below) can be set-up to automatically keep you updated and protected.
    

5. Routinely check (maybe monthly or weekly) your PC for system and registry errors.  If you want the best speed possible regularly remove the 'normal' errors that develop on your system from moving files, processing updates, installing new software and more.  Many 2SS.Com clients have the Norton WinDoctor tool to do this.  A FREE alternative for folks without Norton SystemWorks is CC Cleaner.