Feeling frustrated with the speed of your computer? Perhaps you're thinking of tossing it out and spending money on a new one? Wait! Read this before you do so, it may just save you some dosh.
Windows may slow down over time due to various reasons. It may also happen that some of the functions do not execute properly or take more than the usual time during execution. These types of issues are common, and mostly occur when your computer has become slow.
In most cases, a restart may fix many issues; for example, an issue with your internet browser not opening may be fixed just by a restart. However, if restarting does not fix the issue and your computer is still slow, Melbourne-based Techaroo computer repair services can provide you with 6 simple steps to speed up your computer.
Step 1 – Disable Startup Programs
Windows launches several programs during startup. Some of those programs use a lot of resources, making the PC slow. So, it is better to disable the unwanted startup programs.
To disable unneeded programs, right-click the Taskbar and select Task Manager. The “Task Manager” window will appear. Now, select the Startup tab to view the programs that you would like to disable, and are making your PC slow. From here, right-click on the program you want to remove and select Disable.
You can disable programs that do not need to be running all the time, such as Adobe Update, Skype, or some Control Centers.
We do not recommend disabling anti-virus or anti-malware programs, as doing so causes your machine to be vulnerable to infections.
Step 2 – Scan for Malware and Adware
If your computer has been infected by a virus or malware, it can slow down the computer too. Sometimes there are programs installed on your PC that are not considered malicious by software protection applications; however, they run in the background to serve a specific task, such as browser extensions or system widgets.
Such programs are called Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs), and a common example is Ad Pop-ups, which automatically display ads whenever you are surfing the Internet.
To find which applications are PUPs, viruses, or malware, you should scan your full system regularly using a good anti-virus program (we recommend Avast) and an anti-malware program (Malwarebytes is our choice).
Remember, many anti-virus programs fail to find PUPs, so it is recommended to scan your computer using an anti-malware program in addition to the anti-virus application. Anti-malware programs have capabilities to detect PUPs as harmful applications, whereas anti-virus software typically only scans for specific threats.
Step 3 – Uninstall Programs You Don’t Use
Uninstalling the programs that you no longer use or that add no value to the PC—such as applications that come pre-installed with new machines (which we call Bloatware). Some examples of bloatware are Cyberlink Media Suite.
Removing these can help improve the speed of your PC substantially.
To uninstall unwanted programs, open Control Panel, then go to Programs > Programs and Features. You will see a list of the programs installed. Select a program you want to remove and click Uninstall.
Doing this will also free space on your hard disk and prevent your PC from slowing down.
Step 4 – Defragment Your Hard Disk
Hard disk defragmentation also helps improve speed; however, many modern systems use solid-state drives (SSD) that do not require defragmentation at all.
Only mechanical hard disk drives (HDDs) need defragmentation due to the way the heads read the data off the drive media.
If you are not sure which type of hard disk drive you have installed in your PC, open the Disk Defragmenter tool via:
Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter.
Here, you can see the status of the last defragmentation and start a new one.
Step 5 – Find Resource-Hungry Programs
Not all programs consume the same amount of resources. Some programs are resource intensive and often cause a slow machine.
To find and close such programs, go to Task Manager and select the Processes tab. You will see a list of currently running programs along with CPU, memory, and disk usage.
Select the program causing the problem, right-click and choose End Task. After the application closes, you should see a sudden improvement in the speed of your Windows computer.
Step 6 – Free Up Disk Space
If your PC has accumulated many temporary, Recycle Bin, and log files, they will be using space on the hard disk. If your disk becomes full, you will experience a reduction in speed.
To free up disk space, select:
Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup.
The “Disk Cleanup” dialog box will appear. Select check boxes for log files, downloaded program files, recycle bin, temporary internet files, and temporary files.
This tool will show you the space that will be available on the hard disk after cleaning. Start the cleanup process. Once completed, you will notice some improvement in the speed of your PC.
These are the top 6 ways to speed up a slow Windows PC. We have no doubt that if you implement all or even some of these methods, you will see a noticeable improvement in speed.
However, if you do not find any improvement, you can either reset or reinstall your Windows operating system completely — or if you're in the Melbourne area, you can call Techaroo and we will be more than happy to offer assistance with all your computer repair and tune-up services.