Optimize Your Computer

A Warning to Time-Pressured Entrepreneurs – Optimize Your Computer

Up to 17 Hours of Your Time is Wasted on This

As a busy business owner or office manager, nothing is more frustrating than being made to wait; especially when that waiting seems unnecessary. And when it comes to waiting for your computer to start up, most business owners are all too familiar with the frustration of impatiently watching as their computer goes through the slow and agonizing process of getting ready for you to actually use it.

Most Microsoft Windows computers take between 3-4 minutes to completely rev up, not including opening any programs outside of the start-up menu. Multiply that time over a year, and you’ve got yourself 17 hours of staring at the screen, drumming your fingers on the desk and trying to figure out how to be productive while your computer boots up.

Want To Cut Down On Time-Wasting?

optimize-your-computer
Here are some tips on how you can optimize your computer’s start-up process so you can get right to business:

1) Remove auto-loading software. If you’ve got any programs that start up when you power your computer on, you are significantly adding to the time it takes for your computer to be ready

2) Let the computer hibernate. When possible, leave your computer on and simple put it in hibernate mode. This tells the computer to start up again in the state where you left it last. Plus it has the added benefit of using very little electricity – about the same amount a computer uses when plugged in but shut off. for use. Take these programs off the start menu or, if you don’t use them, simply delete them off the machine.

3) Consider switching to a thin client. Thin clients are “dumb” computers that connect to a server which houses all the software, programs, and even processing power. Because nothing is loaded up onto these thin client machines, they can be ready to go in as little as 5 seconds after pressing the power button. Thin clients do require your network to be set up a certain way though, so be sure to check that before you install one.

4) Take off any “trial-ware”. Some computers come with software already loaded on them, like photo software or other utility programs. These programs, most of which don’t even show up in the list of available software you can remove, are called “trial-ware” because they came with the machine. Typically, they run processes in the background while you boot up.

– Test your firewall, anti-virus and spyware protection
– Check your backups
– Review your acceptable use policy
– Check your online security settings
– Look for ways to improve overall network efficiency and health

“ONIT Tecnology Solutions has really been amazing. Over the past year, we have literally added 5 hours per week to our productivity thanks to your recommendations about our computers and network. It’s so great to know that we have a trusted advisor we can count on to help us navigate these things.”

 

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