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Seven Ways to Improve the Speed of Your Computer

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Make Your Computer Run Faster

A common complaint of computer users is a gradual decrease in computer speed over time. This can be caused by spyware and viruses infecting your computer. Whether you use your computer every day or once a month, you will need to install an anti-virus software for security. Below are a few simple steps that computer users can take to optimize the speed of a computer without paying for costly maintenance by computer professionals.

Improve the Speed of Your Computer

1.   Remove spyware or viruses: First, you should always take steps to remove spyware and viruses from your computer that may adversely affect its performance. You can find a number of free virus and spyware removal programs available online that you can download and run to remove common viruses and spyware.

2.   Purchase antivirus software: Purchase an annual subscription to an antivirus program that will continually monitor your computer for spyware and viruses and remove these problems as they occur. Antivirus programs are relatively inexpensive in terms of the problems that they potentially prevent with your computer’s performance.

3.   Free up disk space: You can free up disk space on your computer, allowing it to run more efficiently. For instance, you can delete files and programs that you no longer use. Depending on your operating system, you may have a disk cleanup tool that allows you to automatically identify temporary Internet files and other unused programs that should be deleted.

4.   Permanently delete unused files: You also can empty your recycle or trash bin, which typically contains files or programs that you have deleted.

5.   Defragment your computer: Sometimes files become fragmented on your computer, which can cause major delays in pulling up files or programs that can cause your computer to run slowly. Your computer will have a defragmentation tool that allows you to defragment or “defrag” your hard drive, which pulls all of the pieces of your files back together. This process is free and will allow your computer access to files more quickly.

6.   Check for system errors: Your Windows operating system may also develop errors or problems over time, which, in turn, may cause your computer to slow down. System files may change or become corrupted. You should run a tool called system file checking on a regular basis in order to identify and repair these errors.

7.   Disable auto-start programs: Many computers have pre-installed programs, such as messaging services, which start automatically when you boot your computer. If you do not use these programs, then you can disable them so that they do not boot automatically.

The above tips can help your computer run faster and more efficiently. However, if these steps fail, you can completely wipe out your computer’s hard drive and reinstall the operating system. Since everything will be deleted from the computer and you will be starting over from scratch, you will need to back up all important files and data before doing so. While this measure takes time and planning, it can significantly speed up your computer if no other technique makes a difference.

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