People ask every day about ways they can keep their computer running smoothly, and how to make it faster. By following a few simple guidelines, you can clean your computer and keep it running smoothly.

1. Free up Disk Space

The Disk Cleanup tool helps you free up space on your hard disk to improve the performance of your computer. The tool identifies files that you can safely delete, and then enables you to choose whether you want to delete some or all of the identified files.

1. For Window 7 users: Click Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup

Note: When Disk Cleanup has calculated how much space you can free, in the Disk Cleanup for dialog box, scroll through the content of the Files to delete list.

2. For Windows XP users: Click Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup. If several drives are available, you might be prompted to specify which drive you want to clean.

In the Disk Cleanup for dialog box, scroll through the content of the Files to delete list.

Clear the check boxes for files that you don't want to delete, and then click OK. When prompted to confirm that you want to delete the specified files, click Yes.

2. Clean Registry

Registry cleaner is basically a kind of software utility that cleans up your Windows registry, it scans your Windows registry and picks out any unnecessary values, as best as it can, so that you can repair or delete them. Registry cleaner improve your computer and optimize your computer by fixing or removing instructions that are harmful or useless.

3. Detect and Repair Disk Errors

You can check the integrity of the files stored on your hard disk by running the Error Checking utility. As you use your hard drive, it can develop bad sectors. Bad sectors slow down hard disk performance and sometimes make data writing (such as file saving) difficult, or even impossible. The Error Checking utility scans the hard drive for bad sectors, and scans for file system errors to see whether certain files or folders are misplaced.

Tips: If you use your computer daily, you should run this utility once a week to help prevent data loss.

4. Protect your Computer against Spyware

Spyware collects personal information without letting you know and without asking for permission. From the Web sites you visit to usernames and passwords, spyware can put you and your confidential information at risk. In addition to privacy concerns, spyware can hamper your computer's performance. To combat spyware, you might want to consider using the PC safety scan from Windows Live OneCare. This scan is a free service and will help check for and remove viruses.