Everyone wants a faster computer, but did you know that there are many things you can do to your PC that are easy and quick and can make your system feel brand new? Here are the top 5 ways to increase the speed of your PC.
Get Some Help
Now, I don't mean enlisting the help of some overpriced IT professional in order to make your PC be quick again, but if you really have a serious problem (like a huge virus infestation for example) it may be necessary to enlist a professional geek. However! When it comes to just improving the speed of your PC there are a myriad of programs that can do exactly what we need. For Vista users, I recommend Yamicsoft's “Vista Manager” (available for download here. For XP users, Yamicsoft also have an “XP Manager,” available here. There are fantastic programs that really do the work for you, and are inexpensive compared to enlisting a professional. Once you've downloaded the program, run the Optimization Wizard and see how huge a difference it makes. The one click cleaner that is bundled with the software is also fantastic. Using it is so easy and can be done anytime your PC feels a little sluggish.
Add Some Memory
The easiest and most expensive solution in speeding up any system's performance. Every computer contains memory chips, and these memory chips provide your computer with RAM, or Random Access Memory, the memory your computer uses to perform the tasks you tell it to. You can purchase new memory at any computer store. If you are running Windows Vista, it is possible to add RAM to your system without actually installing new memory chips! Microsoft has developed a system called “ReadyBoost” which allows the user to enlist their external hard drive (such as a flash drive or even an Ipod) to boost the system's speed while the device is connected. Check this out here.
Protect Against Spywayre, Malware, and other baddies.
Get yourself a program that will scan your computer for adware, spyware, and all the other junk that can crowd up your system and run it regularly. Lavasoft makes a great one that's free for the basic model. You can get it here.
Run Windows' disk utilities
In order to get the most out of any PC, a little maintenance is necessary and goes a long way, just like with a car. Fortunately, Windows comes with all the basic utilities you need. Here's how to access them:
- Double click the My Computer icon on your desktop
- Right-Click the drive you would like to work on. Normally that's C: Drive.
- Select Properties from the list
- Click on the Tools Tab, and you will be presented with a few options.
Now, simply by clicking “Run Now” and following the instructions on screen, your PC will actually go about speeding itself up! It is important to use these tools on a regular basis, because, like a car that's oil is never changed, a computer that is not maintained can't do its job!
Defragment your Drive
When a computer is told to fetch a file, it can sometimes put it back in a slightly different place than it was originally. This causes fragmented files, which make it more difficult for your computer to find the files it needs to do its job. While all recent versions of Windows come packaged with a defrag utility, they tend to be fairly slow, and there is a free version that can do much better. AusLogics disk defragmenter has been a favourite of mine since I first used it almost 2 years ago. You can get it for free here.
There we go! Now your computer should be a lot happier, and so should you! Congratulations on investing a little time on the maintenance of your PC. Its performance should be thanks a plenty.
