Sep
24
Four Steps to a Faster Computer
Filed Under Uncategorized
As a PC owner, from time to time, you get fed up and frustrated with the slowness of your computer. Maybe a certain program takes a long time to load, your PC boot-up time is ridiculously slow, or it takes forever just to do a simple task, like getting the start menu to open up.
Whatever it is, the slow PC problem is a real problem for millions of computer users. While there is not a sure-fire fix for slow PCs that will work, or even help, in every situation, here are the top four ways to speed up your PC.
#1. Reboot
Too many people never reboot their computers, and that is a major factor in the PC slowdown problem. In this day of always-on internet, and as our computers have become an integral part of our daily lives, many of us do not realize that PCs need to be rebooted from time to time in order for them to function at an optimal level.
Some computer programs do not really quit running even when you close them, some of your software probably has memory leakage or seepage, and over time, these memory-thieves will take their toll on your computers available memory. When your computer is using up a lot of its available memory, your computer is not nearly as efficient as it should be, and likely, its downright sluggish. A fresh reboot from time to time will help you to reset your memory to an optimal state, and chances are, your computer will speed up considerably from this small act alone.
#2. Upgrading memory
One could almost say that a computer’s memory is like its muscles, in that if it doesn’t have sufficient available memory, it becomes weak and slow. In fact, insufficient memory is perhaps the biggest course for personal computers becoming slow and sluggish. Nowadays, you simply cannot get by without at least 512 megabytes of RAM, and that only if you’re running one of the older Windows operating systems such as XP for example. Those who are using the Windows Vista platform will require at least 1.5 GB of memory, while those using the new Windows 7 system will require at least 1GB. Irrespective of which operating system you’re using, you should ideally have at least 2 GB of memory if you have a 64-bit system, or if you frequently play games and run many programs simultaneously.
#3. Defragment your computer
A fragmented hard drive is an inefficient hard drive. If you havent run your computers built-in defragmentation tool yet, you are probably losing out on a lot of speed that you could be enjoying. When your files are heavily fragmented, it takes your computer more energy to open those files, and subsequently other files, and it just clutters up your whole computing experience.
Windows PCs have a built-in defragmentation tool for a reason — you should use it at least once a month to ensure that your files are not heavily fragmented, and you will likely see a nice speed boost once you run a defragmenter, especially after not using it for a while, or ever, for that matter.
#4. Use a registry-cleaning program
Registry cleaners allow you to de-clutter your Windows registry. Which, if you dont know, your registry is like the brains of your computer. When you install or uninstall programs, add or remove drivers, etc, data is added to, and taken out of, your computers registry. However, sometimes programs do not uninstall correctly, or they leave information in the registry which is either just taking up space, or will cause conflicts with certain programs, which in turn can lead to a system slowdown and intermittent errors on your PC. Running a good registry cleaning program every once in a while is recommended if you want to keep your PC at its optimal running state.
For many people, just using the tips which have been mentioned above, has proven to make a noticeable difference in terms of speed. However, you should also bear in mind that practically all computer users will experience a gradual slowdown over a period of time. Of course, this is not something anyone enjoys encountering, especially if it reaches a stage where you need to reformat your computer or take it in for repairs. By applying the tips provided in this article you’ll at least be safe in the knowledge that you’re doing all you can in order to maintain the efficiency of your computer.