graphic design slowing you down?

If you are like me, and I think you are, you like doing some form of graphic design. Some of you are photo editors. Some of you are logo or web designers. Some of you are just pretending to like graphic design to impress someone. Either way you would probably like your computer to be a little faster while you work or pretend to work. I’ve got a few tips for you.

I will assume that you either have Xp, Vista or 7. I don’t know 7 enough to walk you through every step. It is pretty close to Vista, so just follow the Vista rules. It will most likely work. Comment below if you get stuck with 7. I can figure it out. If you have something older than that, you either don’t know what graphic design is nor how to get on Facebook or you are a computer PRO and don’t need my help. Props to those of you who are still using 3.1. Here goes something!

Tip 1.  Run Ccleaner.

Go to HERE. Download it and run it. Say Ok or Yes or whatever will please them. Restart your computer, and get ready for the next step. This basically deletes the unneeded files like cookies, deleted files or other temporary files.

Tip 2. Change your auto-start list.

Go to start. On XP click Run. On Vista start typing in the search box. Type “msconfig” and press Enter. Click on the Start Up tab. Go through that list. If you don’t know what something is, DON’T touch it! Anything that you recognize and don’t need auto-starting you can uncheck. Click Apply. Then click Ok. Restart your computer.

Tip 3. Make sure your anti-virus is not AVG or something even more consuming.

AVG and some other anti-virus programs are just punks! They eat sooo much memory. They sit in that little corner acting like they will help you. Then slow bam later you realize your computer is really really sloooowwww. At the least, you can turn it off while you are PhotoShopping it up. If you need a free fast one try Avira.

Tip 4. The stuff that will make the biggest change.

Right click on your desktop.

XP: click on Properties. Go to Appearance tab. Click on Effects. Vista: click on Personalize. Click on Window Color and Appearance. Click on Effects.

Once in Effects uncheck all of them except for the one about smoothing fonts. Click Apply and then Ok. If you don’t like what just happened, then repeat the step and check the ones you HAVE to have…weirdo.

Tip 5. Expecto Patronum!

This is going to blow you away, but you have to promise me that you are willing to do whatever it takes to have a faster computer.  Those dedicated few can now repeat after me.

“I declare that I am a REAL designer. I am not a pansy. Shiny does not mean nicer! I won’t let flashiness get in the way of my design work. From this day forth I vow to do whatever it takes to make 30 images with a hundred layers each while listening to music and updating my Facebook WITHOUT slowing down!  I will not be slowed!”

Do you feel empowered?

–> Now XP users open up the Appearance tab again. Vista users open Personalize. Now, all of you that are ready click on Theme. Scroll all the way down to Windows Classic. Select it. Press Apply. Press Ok.

Take the challenge, and try to live with that low quality taskbar and those overly aged looking windows. Your computer is now freakin’ fast. Enjoy it. If you are pleased beyond all reason, thank me monetarily.

If none of these work go buy a new PC for $400, and get someone to downgrade it to XP. If that doesn’t work go buy a Mac, but you didn’t hear that from me.