Remember the time when you first received that brand new computer and how fast it was running? Then all of sudden a year goes by and it starts running slow? What could be the cause of it you may ask? Well their are plenty of factors that come into play that slow down your computer. In this article we will breakdown the causes and what you can do to make your Windows computer run faster.
Speeding Up Your Windows Computer
Remove Programs
Problem – You may have a bunch of programs installed that you no longer need. You may also have a bulky internet security suite that is stealing way too many resources of your computer. What better way to slowdown your computer by having unnecessary programs clog up your hard-drive space and active memory.
Solution – Uninstall every single program that serves no purpose. You can access the uninstall option by going to Control Panel, then selecting Programs and Features. One by one, select each program and click on the Uninstall option.
Start Up Programs
Problem – When you start up your computer, you may notice it takes a while for it to load. Even shutting down seems to take so long. This is because you have many programs running in the background. Some are visible in the system tray, others are not.
Solution – You want to de-active all the start programs that are not essential for the functionality of your computer. To do this, click on the Start Menu icon, in the Run (Search) box, type in ‘msconfig’. Head to the ‘Startup’ tab. Now carefully uncheck all the programs you no longer want to run when the computer boots up. Once you finish, click on ‘Apply’ to save your changes.
Optimizing Your Computer
Problem – One of the most common things computer users don’t do is optimize their computer. Overtime, the computer gets loaded with temporary internet files, unused cached data, cookies, data logs, and errors. If you also use your computer a lot, the hard-drive may be heavily fragmented.
Solution – Optimizing your computer on a regular bases will not only help your computer to run faster but also preserve the life expectancy of your Hard-Drive. To get started, goto Start Menu -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Then click on ‘Disk Cleanup’. Select the C: drive to scan your computer. Once complete, select all of the items that you want to have removed, then click on the button ‘Clean up system files’
You will also want to scan and repair any errors on your hard-drive. Then after, proceed to doing a Defragmentation. To access these options, goto My Computer. With your mouse, right click on the C: drive icon, then goto the tab called ‘Tools’. This is where you will be able to scan your drive for errors and defrag your computer.
For repairing and optimizing your system Registry, use CCleaner or Tune-Up Utilities. Both are great for not only cleaning/speeding up your system registry but also providing you with a host of tools to keep your computer running at top performance.
Malware and Viruses
Problem – Soon as you turn on your computer, everything starts moving at a snails pace. Try and access your web browser and you can hardly load a web page. In the background, depending on the type of infection you have, you may have viruses that are actively monitoring or using your internet connection. Viruses not only create multiple duplicate files, but also constantly access your data at will and slow your computer down.
Solution – Purchase programs that are not resource intensive and safely cleans your computer. Two programs I recommend are Malwarebytes and Zone Alarm Security. Not only will your computer be clean of all infections, these programs will also protect you from any other incoming threats.
Computer Memory
Problem – You may suffer from a lack of computer memory (RAM). Anything under 4GB of ram is considered a problem in today’s standards (2018). If you are running 2GB or less, you may run into serious trouble when it comes to performance and accessibility.
Solution – The problem can be remedied by simply replacing or adding more RAM sticks into your computer. You can find out which RAM sticks to order by checking the computer manual. You can also open up your computer and see what the RAM stick looks like. Write down the model number and purchase 2 4GB sticks or 2 8GB sticks. Your computer manual will let you know how much RAM your motherboard can support.
Conclusion
Having a faster running computer is important, especially if you use it for either work, leisure, or entertainment purposes. If you follow each of the above steps, not only will you have a fast running computer, but also a system that will last you well beyond your warranty. If you have any questions, you can sound off below.