Keep your computer clean

[ubermachtig]

Hello everyone,

Updating drivers etc. has always been one of my favorite things to do. It's great to see performance increase/and decrease just because of software files. With this thread, I want to emphasize how important it is to keep your drivers up to date, and note a couple of steps you could undertake to achieve better performance.

1: Complete computer reset

This is absolutely the best step to regain all performance you've might lost due Illegal software, virusses and other problematic issues. We'll build up the steps from this step on. If you don't want to do this pretty big measure, continue with step 3.

*Make sure you've backed up all important data. Financial stuff, homework perhaps. check this a couple of times before resetting your computer.

To do a complete computer reset, you do have to find the Windows CD/DVD's that where delivered in combination with your system. Very modern computers (such as Acer laptops) don't come with CD/DVD's anymore and require you to make an installation disk.

The best thing to do while installing, is formatting your harddisk. Note, this will get rid of ALL files on the specific directory (C:, D

Step 2: installation

During the installation, make sure you select "Home" as location of your PC, if not, you'll not have the full capacities of the system at your disposal.

A more questionable step, make sure updates are set to OFF. we'll get to this later.

Step 3: After the installation

After the installation you'll most likely run into your empty desktop wallpaper. The absolute first thing is updating your computer to the newest service pack.

There is a possiblity your Vista system is already updated to Service pack 1. If yes, you obviously don't have to install this again.

The newest service pack for Vista is Service pack 2
The newest service pack for XP is Service pack 3
Windows 7 does not yet have any service pack

You'd have to install these service packs in sequence. For example, you can't hop from service pack 1 to service pack 3 right away, you'd have to install 2 before you can upgrade to 3.

Step 4: Further Drivers

Assuming you have installed the service pack, you can now continue with installing the drivers. The videocard driver should be the first one on your list, you've most likely seen your screen has switched back to the lowest resolution available after you've reinstalled windows. This driver will enable you to set everything back to normal.

If you have an ATI videocard, go to:
http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/Pages/index.aspx

If you have an Nvdia Videocard, go to:
http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us

Although some Beta drivers may have better performance, I'd recommend downloading WHQL certified drivers. These are extensively tested by microsoft, which means they are working well.

You've most likely noticed your speakers aren't working anymore. To solve this, you'd have to install the newest audio drivers from the manufacturers site. If you have a standard mainboard, it's almost certain you have a On-board sound card, meaning you'd have to go to the realtek site and download the newest drivers there:

http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/...Audio%20Codecs

Step 5: Direct X

The newest DirectX drivers are often underrestimated. Installing these drivers may prevent issues from occuring. It's very easy to make sure you have the latest Runtimes installed on your computer, just download and run the Direct X End User Runtimes program, and it will install the newest runtimes automatically:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

Step 6: The final touch

Re-enable Windows updates, it will install the latest updates for your system and may come with additional performance. Go to Start, Control panel, select "Classic Display" and click on Windows Update, It's reccomended to enable Windows Update to install updates for other programs as well.

Make sure you install all basic problems before continueing with the next step. These programs could be:

-Adobe (Reader, Flash player, Shockwave player for internet display)
-Openoffice or Microsoft Office
-Firefox
-And many more

Step 7: Defragmenting the harddisk

Windows automatically puts information everywhere on the harddisk. To gain performance, Defragging will sort the information and put everything related near eachother. You could, of course, use the Defragmenting system build into windows itself.

go to: My computer, Right click on the prefered directory (often C: or D, select properties, Extra and click on Deframent harddisk.

Personally I prefer using an third party tool, called Defraggler. Defraggler is faster, and shows its progress (Defragging on Windows Vista doesn't show the progress being made). You could download it here:

http://www.piriform.com/defraggler

It might be smart to install OFP: DR first, and defragment the harddisk afterwards. This will make sure OFP: DR's files will be near eachother on the harddisk as well, guarranteeing a bit higher performance.


I'd certainly hope this guide helps people keeping their computer updated. Many people forget or don't even know drivers exist, and therefor don't know how useful they could be on a Performance point of view.

I am not responsible for any damage that may be caused (you must be pretty dumb to perform these steps incorrect, most of them are relatively save, but PLEASE make sure you backed up your important files before performing any of these steps)

Further advices about performances may, of course, be put into this thread. There will most likely be some optimization and tweaking available for OFP: DR. Depending my activity, I will update my thread if useful tweaking methods arise. Feel free to ask questions as well, after you've used google

[sneakynewton]

Wow. I'm on 360, but nice post nontheless...

[Bloodburn]

Thanks for the defraggler....my windows defragger hasnt worked for months and i dont know why, but now I can defrag again!

[d3jake]

I make it a policy to physically clean out all of my heatsinks, etc. every 3 months or so. This way I can ensure all of my fans are running at peak efficiency.

[ubermachtig]

Originally Posted by d3jake

I make it a policy to physically clean out all of my heatsinks, etc. every 3 months or so. This way I can ensure all of my fans are running at peak efficiency.

You have a pretty good point there, I do that on a regular base as well. A couple of months ago I opened up an PC that was never opened for 6 years, it was completely filled with dust (not a miracle it's temperatures reached 80 degrees Celsius)