Ways to Optimize Your Computer's Performance

If your PC seems to be running slower than usual, there are several surprisingly easy things you can do that can get the speed back to normal. Hard drives become cluttered over time, so it is important to practice regular maintenance to ensure your computer's performance is optimal.

Delete all Unnecessary Files and Programs

• Precious disk space can be recovered by deleting old or unused files such as photos, music, and videos. If you don’t want to lose these things, it is recommended that you back them up on a separate storage device so they will not have a negative effect on your computer's performance. Programs you no longer use can also be removed to free some space. You can do so by going to your Control Panel, and select “Add or remove programs” under Programs and Features. From the list it gives you, you can select what you would like to uninstall.

Manage your Startup Programs

• Programs running in the background while you use your PC can slow your computer's performance down drastically, especially the startup process. Some programs automatically start running as soon as you log on, even if you are not using them at the moment. You can easily control these settings by going to Start, then clicking Run. Enter “msconfig”, and System Configuration should appear. Go to the Startup tab, and there you will see a checklist of all your programs. Uncheck the ones that you do not wish to start up automatically every time you run windows.

Disk Cleanup

• The disk cleanup utility is a very useful and time saving feature, designed for the purpose of freeing up space to enhance the computer's performance. It removes temporary files and other unused files. You can access it by going to My Computer, right clicking on the disk you would like to free space on, and selecting Properties. You will find Disk Cleanup in the General tab. Select the types of files you’d like to delete, and click OK when you are ready. It conveniently shows you how much space you are freeing.