Just about everyone has had the experience of purchasing a new computer that seems lightning fast when it is fresh out of the box only to find it becoming slower and slower over the years to come. Thankfully, there are some remarkably easy techniques that nearly every computer user can complete in an afternoon that will considerably improve a computer’s speed and performance. These tips are designed to help computer users who are using Windows XP or higher.
Remove All Adware and Spyware from Your System
There are so many different types of spyware and adware on the internet that it is almost impossible to avoid getting some form of malware on your computer. Most forms of adware and spyware are not as malicious as security professionals would have you believe, but some programs can wreak havoc on your system’s performance. Simply download a reputable spyware protection program like System Optimizer Pro, and let it search your hard drive for potential problems.
Clean Up the Registry
Unnecessary entries in the Windows entry build up on a computer over time, and removing these entries will increase the speed of your computer. Just be sure that you know what you are doing when you are removing registry entries, as removing some entries may destabilize your operating system.
Run a Disk Cleanup
Windows is a fairly resource hungry operating system, and freeing up some space on your computer’s hard drive is one of the easiest ways to speed up your computer. One of the fastest ways to free up some wasted space is by performing a disk cleanup. Begin by hitting the Windows button on your computer and selecting “Run.” In Windows 7, you may need to add this command to the Start menu by right click and selecting Properties and Customize. When the command prompt pops up, type “cleanmgr.exe” and hit okay.
Edit Your List of Startup Programs
If you have noticed that your computer takes a ridiculously long time to load when it has been started, it is highly likely that you have a few programs that are set to launch every time that your computer is turned on. By pairing down your list of start-up programs to the bare essentials, you should find that your system will start loading much more quickly. Simply type “msconfig” in the run prompt and click on the Startup tab. Uncheck all of the programs that you know that you do not need to launch when you are first turning on your computer.
Defragment Your Computer Hard Drive
If you have not defragmented your computer in a while, you should expect this process to take a couple of hours and save this step for last. Defragmenting a computer system basically brings related files closer to one another on the computer hard drive so that information can be accessed easier. Bring up the Run command prompt again, type “dfrg.msc” and click okay. When the program loads, click Defragment and let the process run until it is complete.
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