As you use your computer regularly, over time you collect old data and parts of old programs that stick around and slow your computer down.
But what if there was a way to actually have your computer run like the day you got it?
Here are 7 simple steps you can take to fix a slow PC in minutes.
1. Free Up Some Space
One of the easiest steps you can take is improve your storage space. Large files like mp3s, movies and photos can easily be kept on a CD or an external hard drive to leave some eaxtra space so that your computer finds a program faster when you open it. The more free space you have on your hard disk the faster your computer will run.
2. Empty Your Recycle Bin
If there’s a file you don’t need, don’t keep it. Don’t just put it in your recycle bin, delete it once and for all. Leaving your recycle bin full of old files means you’re leaving rubbish in the path of programs that you use every day. Keeping your recycling bin empty at all times will greatly increase your computer’s speed as it will be easier for it to find the programs your are opening.
3. Uninstall Old Programs
With time, a regular computer user will have a dozen or more programs on their hard drive that had a purpose for particular task, but haven’t been opened for a long time. By removing these unused programs, it will free up your computer to perform the tasks you need it to do.
To find and remove old programs, go to Start, Control Panel, Uninstall a program (Vista), or for XP users, follow Start, Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs. This path will show you a list of familiar programs, some of which you may no longer have a use for. Click on the program, then select ‘Uninstall’.
4. Remove Temporary Files
Just as you want to clear your Recycle Bin daily, it’s also a good idea to find and remove files that you don’t need. You may have, for instance, some documents on your hard disk that were relevant a couple of months ago, but are not anymore. Another example is images. Lots of images will be downloaded that can be attached to an email or a signature file. You’re not using them, and they clutter up your computer’s hard disk. To clear your old and unnecessary files, go to Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Cleanup and select the files you want to remove.
5. Run System Recovery
If you own a relatively new PC and it is suffering from chronicle slow motion mood, you can restore it back to its original settings, just like you the first time you took it out of its box and fired it up. System Recovery will wipe your hard drive clean, taking all the slow bugs, and your data, with it. This is the nuclear option.
Use System Recovery AFTER you have backed up your important data onto an external hard drive or CD. To access System Recovery, enter your Windows install CD into your drive and follow the instructions.
6. Check Your Firewall
A slow computer sometimes means that they are victim of malicious program or virus such as spyware or malware. Spyware keeps tabs on the information on your computer and may transmit it to thieves to use your credit card data or similar personal information. Check now if your firewall is turned on. Follow Start, Control Panel, Network and Internet Connections, Windows Firewall.
Spyware will slow your PC down significantly and if you’ve got it, you should get rid of it immediately with an antivirus program.
7. Clear Your Registry
The registry is like your computer’s library that stores your programs. The problem with the registry is that every time a program is added or removed and has some programs are opened more frequently than others, the registry gets a little disorganized and is left with files scattered all around. A registry that is cluttered or very old will more often than not cause blue screen lags and computer crashes wich can be very annoying.
If you need to clean up your registry and/or speed up your cluttered computer, 1 Click Fix can help you bring back your computer to when it was fast.