System Speed

• Run: msconfig to exclude unnessecary programs from boot.
  You can check http://www.sysinfo.org/startuplist.php for an explanation.
  
  
• You can check Internet Connection Speed at: http://www.speedtest.net/ and at http://myspeed.visualware.com/.
  
  

System Hardware

• Test system hardware functions. You can use PC Wizard.
  
  

System Security

• Use Windows Update.
  
  
• Freeze All System Programs and Settings with Deep Freeze or similar program.
  If you install Deep Freeze wrongly - do not follow manual exactly, reboot to early, you can end up with a frozen harddisc unable to change anything. Test it first.
  
  

• Use Windows Live OneCare safety scanner (http://onecare.live.com/site/en-US/center/howsafe.htm?s_cid=mscom_msrt) to scan especially thawspace/workarea for any viruses.