Six Ways To Improve Slow PC Performance
Posted on Dec, 16, 2008
by Jason Biddle, MSCE Certified Tech
The PC is one household appliance that not only gets a lot of use but also much abuse. As we come to depend on our PCs more and more there are very few people who actually take the time and effort to ensure their computer is kept running at optimal performance.
When people think to improve PC performance, they usually imagine costly software or pricey tools. Improving the performance of your PC need not be a costly experience, below are six tips which cost nothing or little to utilize.
1. Don’t Hoard Files
Get into the habit of deleting old and unnecessary files and folders. Your PCs storage space is not limitless and keeping these redundant files will take up too much precious space on your hard disk. There’s no need to keep lots of copies of photos or mp3 files either. If you want an extra back up, burn it to a disk.
2. Uninstall Unnecessary Applications
Delete all unnecessary programs and applications saved on your PC which you no longer need or use. We all like downloading free applications to try them out but we end up never using most of these and leave them stored and forgotten about taking up space on our hard drives. A lot of this freeware actually has spyware and adware installed so your PC is susceptible by having it installed.
3. Delete Temporary Files
Every time you visit websites, data is stored in the Temporary Internet Files of your PC. It is possible to change the settings on your computer so that this data is automatically removed after a period of time. Unfortunately most people don’t realize this and these temporary files end up getting stored for a very long period of time. This in turn causes their PC to slow down. It’s important to remember to clear out these files regularly by navigating on your web browser to Internet Options and deleting your browser history and the Temporary Internet Files.
4. Defragment Regularly
As you install, uninstall and add to applications, files and folders to your PC this data is stored on your hard drive, often scattered in many places. When your system opens a program it first has to gather all the information it needs and as the data is fragmented it will take much longer. Defragmenting or defragging simply means to group this scattered data all together and form complete file segments. This also frees up valuable space on your hard disk.
5. Clean the CPU Unit Regularly
It’s important to give just as much care and attention to the exterior of your PC as you give to maintaining the software. Regular cleaning is a must as dirt, dust and corrosion can not only slow down your PC but also do serious damage. If you wish to do this cleaning yourself use only cleaners and wipes made specifically for this job, otherwise take your machine to a PC repair shop once every six months.
6. Purchase a Trusted Registry Cleaner
For a minimal cost you can purchase a trusted registry cleaner which is a software application that will clean your Windows registry. It works by removing files and data left behind after installing or uninstalling old programs and various other pieces of information including old drivers that can get stored in the registry. A registry cleaner such as RegCure is simple and easy to run and will improve the performance of your PC.
Your PC will benefit from following the tips mentioned above and if carried out on a regular basis should ensure a great performance from your system.


Leave a reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.