Hi guys! There’s nothing more annoying to me than waiting for a slow computer. Waiting for a slow, creaking, computer to churn through a ...
Hi guys! There’s nothing more annoying to me than waiting for a slow computer. Waiting for a slow, creaking, computer to churn through a simple task is one of life’s biggest annoyances. Moreso, when your daily bread depends on the efficiency of your computer, there’s nothing as annoying when it “hangs”. A tired, old PC really can make your blood boil. But sometimes even new PCs can clog up and run slowly. Explicitinfo.blogspot.com.ng came up with 10 great quick fixes anyone can perform, these variety of tricks and optimizations you can perform to help increase the speed of your computer
1. Stop unnecessary start ups
Whenever you switch on your PC some programs will automatically start to run in the background. Things like Skype and Spotify are guilty of this. All the applications running will use your computer’s memory so ditch the ones you don’t need running.
To do this click Start and type “Run”. In the box that appears type “msconfig” and a box will appear, at the top click the “Startup” tab listing all the applications that run when your computer starts up. Either manually untick the ones that are unnecessary or click “disable all”, but be sure to keep vital things like antivirus going.
2. Delete temporary files
Whenever you use internet Explorer all your browsing history remains in the depths of your PC. The same thing happens when you install something. It’s like never throwing away the packaging when you buy a new TV and by doing so it’ll free-up space on your system. To get rid of all this clutter open “My Computer”, select your main drive, click the “Windows” folder then open the folder inside that called “Temp”.
3. Run virus and malware scans.
Viruses and other malware are one of the primary causes of slow performance. Adware can bog down your computer and tie up your network connection, and viruses can make your CPU and hard disk use skyrocket. Removing any malicious programs should be your top priority, and you should always have a lightweight antivirus program installed, such as BitDefender or Avast.
Removing viruses can be a difficult process, and oftentimes it may be easier to simply backup and reinstall your operating system instead of trying to track it down and eliminate it.
4. Get more hard drive storage
No matter if you keep your computer tidy, if your hard drive becomes too full, it will affect the speed of your PC. If you use your system for processor-heavy tasks, such as recording video and media the likelihood will be that your drive will get chokka before you know it. Nowadays you can get mega storage drives over 1TB which is good for thousands of HD movies.
5. Uninstall unused programs
When you buy a new PC the chances are there are a load of programs pre-installed onto it. Old PCs can simply accumulate these over time. Most of these you’ll never use and some of them can often run in the background without you knowing, slowing your computer down in the process.
To remove these click “Start” then go to “Control Panel” then click “Programs and Features” and scroll through the list, uninstalling the ones you never use.
If you’re unsure what should stay or go, use PC Decrapifier – a free piece of software that recommends what is worthwhile or not.
6. Get more RAM
Have you noticed when you try to work on several applications at once, such as email, internet, and word your computer has a minor stroke when flicking between them? This is because you don’t have enough RAM. This is memory used by your PC to run the programs and can be easily upgraded (and quite cheaply) if you know where to look.
7. Run a disk defragment
Don’t be scared by the description, it’s essentially a way to optimize your hard drive’s efficiency. To do this go to “My Computer”, right-click on the hard drive and select “Properties”. Under the “Tools” tab there should be an option to “Defragment Now”.
8. Run a disk clean-up
Spring clean your whole system using this built-in tool which looks for unnecessary large files.
To perform this click “Start” then go to All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup
9. Vacuum out the dust
If you open up your PC and you won’t believe how much dust gets sucked into it through the cooling fan. Dust can clog airflow, which is vital to keeping your system temperature down and if it overheats, its performance will slow.
Use a vacuum on a low setting to clean out the insides, but ensure the PC has been off for at least 30-minutes and it’s disconnected from the mains. Also, go easy when you’re poking around in there as you could dislodge some important cables.
10. Reinstall or upgrade your operating system.
Sometimes, the best way to improve performance is to simply wipe the slate clean and start from scratch. Reinstalling Windows will clear your hard drive and improve performance. Upgrading to a newer version of Windows will often increase performance as well, though obtaining a newer version will set you back about $100.
If you can, try to format and reinstall your operating system at least once per year. This will ensure that your computer is always running at optimal speed.
Many people are put off by the thought of the time investment needed for reinstalling their operating system. If you have a good backup system already in place, you can have your computer formatted and your operating system reinstalled in about an hour. When it comes to reinstalling your old programs, you’ll probably find that you actually used less than you thought.
COMMENTS