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.

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When installing new software on your computer, not only does your hard-drive space decrease, but also new data entries are created in your systems Registry. The system registry is like the brain of your computer where all important instructions are saved. The system registry defines certain actions for each individual program as well as how your computer starts up and shuts down. After you have installed many programs, your system registry will become loaded with information. The real problem people face with the registry is when they un-install programs that are no longer being used. You would think everything would get erased when you hit that uninstall button, but that is not necessarily the case. Some programs offer the option of cleaning up after it’s self of everything while others don’t.

Another problem that arises with long term use of a computer without constant optimization is system errors. System errors are created when your computer fails to shutdown properly or is damaged by virus or malware attack. It’s easy to assume in this technical age of computers that if you fail to shut down your computer correctly, everything will be ok, but that’s not true. You see, when your computer turns on, system tasks and processes are running in the background. These processes are constantly shifting around data as well as creating data which keeps your system operating the way it should. When a computer abruptly shuts down, that cycle of data gets interrupted and files as well as registry data can become corrupted.

A lack of memory or system resources is another problem that many computer users face. Certain programs are more data intensive or resource hungry than others. For instance, a program like Adobe Photoshop requires a minimum of 2GB of memory to run. If the computer you are running is old or a model that came with limited amount of RAM, then you will have to consider purchasing more memory (if your computer supports it) or purchase a new computer that can handle programs like Adobe Photoshop. Here’s another scenario that may seem relate-able. There are computers that are found in households that have more than one computer user. The computer originally started out for just to doing homework or office assignments, then eventually became a computer for games, movies, production and other multimedia purposes. A low-end computer now a days will not be able to run multiple applications all at once.

Another common problem faced by computer users is viruses and malware. When you visit certain risky websites, sometimes the advertisements you see are not really ads at all. Some of these ads are script loaders which install programs or java in the background without you even knowing it. Certain malware are not only dangerous to your computers privacy but also bogs down your computers resources. Viruses on the other hand act like its malware cousin but do a lot more damage. Catching a computer virus is easy, especially for people with limited knowledge of a computer. When you visit shareware sites that offer free software to try out, it can be very tempting not to download. Especially if it’s a brand new game or finance software that seemed interesting at the time. There are many sites that are legit, but most are not. When downloading then installing an infected program, on the surface everything looks great but in the background the virus begins to spread its infection. Some viruses’ purpose is to steal your information, other viruses are created to just wreak havoc on your system, multiplying files and corrupting others.

If this article speaks volumes to you, then it’s ok. Every person eventually runs into computer problems whether its software related or hardware. At the end of the day it’s all about being aware of how to use your computer and learning all of the do’s and don’ts. Computers, just like the human body or even a car needs to be maintained for constant efficiency, ignoring this fact can potentially leave your computer to ruin. Hope this article opens your eyes. Happy computing!

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