I just made the switch from Mac to PC.  I literally bought my computer last night.  My OS is Windows 7.  When I open up a program there is some lag time.  I was wondering if there is a way to speed my computer up a little.  I know windows 7 comes with a lot of extra programs I don't need.  I didn't know if I could wipe my computer down to just the essentials I need, in exchange for a faster computer from program to program.  I only use this computer for school.  I use Microsoft Office mostly.  I still want to use my computer for internet, PICTURES and listening to music, but that's about the extent of it.  Any ideas?Unfortunately PC's today ship with alot of preloaded junk INSTALLED...mostly by the manuf. themselves...
Since it's brand new i'd spend a week or so going thru anything in Start/Programs and decide if you need it ...or not.
We can't see the machine so it's hard to decide for you...
Once you have WHITTLED that down i would highly SUGGEST a little app called StartupCPL...by Mike Lin that gives you control over what loads at startup...a common cause of wait times...
This will place a Startup Icon in your Control Panel to launch the app...

NOTE: do NOT uncheck any items if you don't know what they do...you can report back here if you need to know whether it's needed or not...

Did i mention it's Free ? ?Thanks! I've begun sorting through programs, weeding out what I don't need.  If I just right click, and select delete, will these programs be gone from my computer entirely?  I've heard that even when you empty your recycle bin, those files are still somewhere on your computer.  I don't know if there is any truth to that.  You can't just delete the programe like that, you need to un-install it go here and download Revo un installer http://www.revouninstaller.com/revo_uninstaller_free_download.html as this does a better job than the windows un-installer.
Use that to un-install the programes you don't want.
As for your question about if the files are "still there" once deleted, yes they are, when you delete somthing the computer flags the sectors of the hard drive that the files occupied as empty, the info is still there until it is overwriten, the same as a mac. Quote from: Dyl Main on March 07, 2012, 06:16:04 AM

Thanks! I've begun sorting through programs, weeding out what I don't need.  If I just right click, and select delete, will these programs be gone from my computer entirely?