5 Easy Ways to Speed Up Your Slowing Computer Leave a comment

Does your computer feel slow and inoperable? All computers eventually slow down due to an overload of software, mixed files, or an operating system that hasn’t been updated. Thankfully, you don’t need to be a tech whiz to revive your computer’s performance.

Here are five easy ways to speed up that slow computer and have it up and running like new once again.

1. Remove Unwanted Programs

So many computers come preloaded with software or apps that you may never need. After a while, this consumes valuable space and may choke your system over time. Go through your programs installed and get rid of the ones you do not need.

How to do it:

In Windows: Open the Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall a program.
On Mac: Open Finder > Applications and drag to the trash those applications you don’t use.

2. Clean Up Your Hard Drive

One of the causes that lead to a slow computer is a cluttered hard drive. Files, temporary data, and apps seem to build up redundantly over time it and reduce the available room inside for better performance.

Tips: Make it a habit to delete temporary files, old backup files, and any other data that are of no use to you, using integrated tools like Disk Clean Up in Windows and Disk Utility in Mac.

3. Disable Startup Programs

These programs automatically start in the background when you happen to turn your computer on, which slows down the process by a significant margin. Disabling such programs greatly improves your computer boot time when it is at full functionality.

How to disable the startup programs:

On Windows: In the Task Manager open with Ctrl + Shift + Esc, under the tab named Startup disable all the unnecessary programs.
Mac: Launch System Preferences, click Users & Groups, click Login Items, and uncheck any apps you don’t need to open at startup.

4. Update Your Software and Operating System

Almost all performance-related problems are due to outdated software or an operating system. New updates fix bugs and enhance performance, so keeping things updated means your system will run well.

Check for updates:

On Windows: Go to Settings >> Update & Security >> Check for updates.

On Mac: Open System Properties > Software Update.

5. Add More RAM or Consider Upgrading Computer Hardware

If the computer is still slow after the above steps, you might need an upgrade in hardware. The addition of RAM increases the performance of the system, allowing it to multitask and perform resource-heavy applications. Tip: Normally, it would be important to check with your computer manual or a professional if the upgrade of RAM is possible at all and to what extent your system supports additional memory.

Conclusion

A slow computer is not necessarily a frustration that you have to bear. Pay attention to uninstalling superfluous programs, cleaning up your hard drive, managing startup items, keeping updated software, and possibly upgrading your hardware for increased performance in your computer.