Understanding when and how to monitor Windows performance is key to maintaining a stable and responsive system. Troubleshooting performance issues can prevent minor annoyances from becoming major setbacks, and effective clean up and repair routines are essential for keeping your PC healthy. This article explores the best times to monitor your system, offers practical troubleshooting steps, and shows how tools like Glary Utilities can streamline the process for users at any level.
Why Monitor Windows Performance?
Windows computers, over time, can develop slowdowns, lags, or unexpected behavior. Performance monitoring helps you spot issues early—before they disrupt your work or cause system crashes. By regularly monitoring and troubleshooting performance, you ensure smoother operation and longer hardware lifespan.
When Should You Start Monitoring?
There are several scenarios when monitoring your Windows computer’s performance is especially important:
– After installing new software or updates
– When you notice slow boot times or application lag
– If you experience blue screens or random restarts
– Following hardware upgrades (like adding RAM or a new drive)
– Before and after major clean up or repair operations
For Beginners: Basic Performance Monitoring and Troubleshooting
Where to Start?
If you’re unfamiliar with Windows troubleshooting, begin with built-in tools and simple routines.
Check Task Manager
Access it by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc. Look at the ‘Processes’ and ‘Performance’ tabs to see what’s using the most memory or CPU. If something stands out, research it or consider ending unnecessary tasks.
Run Windows Disk Cleanup
Search for “Disk Cleanup” in the Start menu and select your main drive. This utility removes temporary files and system cache, which often improves performance.
Simplify with Glary Utilities
Glary Utilities offers an easy ‘1-Click Maintenance’ option. This scans for junk files, registry errors, and unnecessary startup items. Beginners can perform these tasks without the risk of deleting important files.
Step-by-Step Example:
1. Open Glary Utilities.
2. Click the ‘1-Click Maintenance’ tab.
3. Select ‘Scan for Issues.’
4. Review the findings and click ‘Repair Problems’ for a quick, thorough clean.
When Should Beginners Monitor?
Monitor after any Windows updates, software installations, or if you notice ongoing slowdowns. Running a weekly scan with Glary Utilities is a safe and effective routine.
For Advanced Users: In-Depth Performance Troubleshooting
Advanced performance monitoring involves examining detailed system metrics, tracking down resource hogs, and tuning Windows for better efficiency.
Use Performance Monitor
Type “perfmon” in the Start menu to access Performance Monitor. Here, you can create custom data collector sets to track CPU, memory, disk, and network usage over time. Advanced users can configure alerts for specific thresholds (e.g., high CPU usage).
Analyze Startup Impact
Use Task Manager’s ‘Startup’ tab to identify programs that slow boot time. Disable or delay non-essential entries.
Investigate with Resource Monitor
Open Resource Monitor (type “resmon” in the Start menu) to get granular details about current processes and their impact on CPU, disk, and memory.
Advanced Clean Up with Glary Utilities
Glary Utilities offers tools beyond basic cleanup:
– Registry Cleaner: Deep scan for obsolete or harmful registry entries
– Disk Repair: Check and fix file system errors
– Startup Manager: Advanced control over programs and services that run at boot
Example Workflow for Advanced Users:
1. Run Glary Utilities’ ‘Registry Cleaner’ and ‘Disk Repair’ modules.
2. Use ‘Startup Manager’ to optimize startup sequence.
3. Review ‘Tracks Eraser’ to remove usage traces and further boost privacy and speed.
4. Check system health using Windows Performance Monitor for persistent or abnormal metrics.
When Should Advanced Users Monitor?
– After significant system changes or upgrades
– When performance metrics exceed normal levels (CPU consistently over 80%, for example)
– If there are recurring application or system errors
– When prepping a system for demanding tasks, such as gaming or video editing
Real-World Example: Diagnosing Slow Boot Times
Suppose your computer starts taking longer to boot. Here’s how to troubleshoot:
1. Use Task Manager’s ‘Startup’ tab to review enabled apps. Disable unnecessary items.
2. Run Glary Utilities’ ‘Startup Manager’ for additional startup items not shown in Task Manager.
3. Check for disk errors using Glary Utilities’ ‘Disk Repair’ tool.
4. Monitor boot times with ‘Event Viewer’ (Windows Logs > System > Filter by ‘Event ID 100’) to identify delays.
5. Analyze results and repeat as necessary until startup times improve.
Final Thoughts
Monitoring Windows performance is a proactive approach to ensuring long-term system stability. Beginners benefit from routine scans and simple cleanup, while advanced users can leverage built-in Windows tools and features in Glary Utilities for deeper troubleshooting. Make performance monitoring a habit—especially after updates, new installations, or if you notice slowdowns—and your Windows computer will reward you with reliability and speed.