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One of the most common complaints computer users have is that, over time, their computers become slower. The machines start freezing up or even showing error messages.
There are many different reasons why this can happen. When a computer is new there’s plenty of hard drive space, there are few (if any) programs installed, and it’s free of viruses and spyware.
But as you use your computer, install new programs, surf the web and download content, your computer may become slower. Luckily, there are several ways to speed up your computer that cost only a bit of your time.
In this article, I’m going to talk about computers that run Microsoft Windows 10. If you’re running an earlier version of Windows, you should consider updating. Microsoft has discontinued support for all earlier versions of Windows, so those operating systems are no longer secure.
This might seem like a simple tip, but I find many people never think of rebooting their computers. While computers can be left on for long periods of time, if you find things are slowing down or programs are not working properly, your first step should always be to restart the computer.
I shut my computer off every night, but each person is different. If you don’t want to shut your computer off each night, you should reboot it at least once a week.
Startup programs are those that load and run in the background every time you start your computer. Many times when you install new software, the program is added to the startup list. That means each time you start your computer, that program is loading and running in the background; you may not see it or even be aware that it’s running.
Each one of those programs running in the background uses system resources and memory and can potentially cause a conflict with other programs you have installed. Eliminating startup programs will improve boot time, speed up your computer, use fewer system resources and leave less room for conflict.
Some programs need to run at startup. For example, your anti-virus software is a program that must run all the time. But most programs don’t need to load and run each time you start your computer.
If you’re not sure whether a program needs to run constantly, do a Google search for the program name to find out.
Once you’ve determined which ones don’t need to run at startup, find each program and change the settings by following these steps:
You can turn off or adjust some of the visual effects in Windows 10 to improve overall system performance. Open the Control Panel, go to “System” and then click “Advanced System Settings.” Click the “Advanced” tab in the system settings dialog and then click “Settings” under “Performance.” Put a check in the box for “Adjust for Best Performance” and click “OK.
Windows 10 has a built-in utility that will scan and check your hard drive for errors and problems.
Here’s how to run the tool:
If Windows detects any errors, you will be prompted to check the disk. If no errors are found, you will see a notification that says “You don’t need to scan this drive,” but you can still choose to run a scan if you like.
Make sure you close all programs before running a scan. Once the scan is complete, you will see a notification that either several errors were found or no errors were found.
If errors were found, you’ll be prompted to restart the computer so that the file system can be repaired.
Over time as you use your computer, temporary files are created and can accumulate. Deleting those files will free up disk space and may help your computer run better.
To run a disk cleanup, follow these steps:
The files you selected will be removed.
Every web browser creates a cache. A cache consists of stored web pages, images, cookies, temporary internet files and other downloaded content.
Cookies are small text files that are collected by your web browser for pages you visit on the internet. A cookie file stores information about your browsing habits including the website address, any information you filled out on the site, the time of your visit, your location and other personal information. So clearing your cookies can help protect your privacy.
Not all cookies are bad. For example, a “session” cookie is used by websites just to ensure that the user is recognized when moving from page to page within the website. But over time these files accumulate, and you’ll want to delete them.
Each browser is slightly different in how to clear the cache, and these steps may change over time. Here are instructions for the three most used browsers: Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome.
Microsoft Edge
Mozilla Firefox
Google Chrome
New computers usually have “bloatware,” which is a term used to describe the list of junk and trial programs that come pre-installed. Depending on the manufacturer, the list of bloatware programs can be quite large.
Many of these programs are unnecessary and sometimes even harmful. Uninstalling them will improve the overall performance of your computer.
You may have also installed programs in the past that you no longer need. Removing unnecessary or unneeded programs will free up disk space and system resources. Many programs include an uninstall option.
If the program does not include an uninstall option use the add/remove programs feature in your computer’s Control Panel to uninstall the program:
You can also use the Apps menu in Windows 10 to remove programs and apps:
Over time the inside of your computer will accumulate dust and other debris. When the fans and other components are dirty, it may suffer performance problems and over-heating issues.
Before cleaning the inside of the computer, unplug the power cable and all peripherals connected to it (mouse, keyboard, printers, USB devices, network and phone lines, etc.).
You can use a vacuum cleaner with small attachments, a can of compressed air, a soft cloth and cotton swabs to clean the inside of the computer. (You can also buy cleaning kits.)
Be very careful when you work on the inside of the computer. The motherboard and other hardware are fragile and can be easily damaged. Pay particular attention to the case fan, CPU fan and power supply. These become coated with dust and debris very easily. You should clean your computer at least once a year.
Trojans, viruses, spyware, grayware, rootkits, backdoors and worms. All of these can slow down your computer and cause other problems.
Always have a good antivirus program installed. Windows 10 comes with Windows Security. I use that program, but there are other good antivirus software programs out there, and some of them are free. Configure your antivirus software to update and scan automatically on a schedule.
I hope some of these tips help you accelerate your computer’s speed and thus delay a new purchase.
But when the time comes to upgrade your device, check out Team Clark’s guide to finding the best laptop deals and this list of current laptop deals from Clark Deals.
This post was last modified on March 16, 2021 8:19 am
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