Four Steps to a Faster Computer
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.
Even though there are several reasons for a computer slowing down, a slow computer is something that millions of people around the world are faced with almost daily. The good news is however, even though there is no magical quick-fix solution, there are certain things you can do, which in many cases will help to speed up your machine.
#1. Reboot your computer
You’d be amazed at just how many people never bother rebooting their computers, considering that this in itself is one of the biggest culprits in terms of slowing down a computer. After all, so many people now use 24 hour Internet access, with their computers being a part of their daily life, but what they don’t realize is, all computers need to be rebooted frequently in order for them to function as they should.
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. Upgrade your memory
The amount of available memory has a direct impact on the speed of your computer. At the very least you should have 512 MB RAM, and that if you’re running one of the earlier versions of Microsoft Windows such as XP. On the other hand if you’re using the new Windows 7 operating platform then you’ll need at least 1GB of RAM. In fact, even though Windows Vista is an earlier system, it requires a whopping 1.5GB. Ideally you should have at least 2GB of available memory on your computer if you have a 64-bit system, or if you enjoy playing games.
#3. Defragmenting the hard drive
As you may well already know, if your hard drive is fragmented it results in your machine becoming inefficient. You can bet your bottom dollar that if you’ve not been using the built in defragment tool, you’ll be forfeiting a substantial amount of your computer’s potential with regards to accessing files and etc.
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
The windows registry inevitably becomes full of clutter and this is why it is necessary to run a registry cleaner from time to time. In simple terms, the registry is virtually like the brains of a computer, and whenever you choose to install or uninstall a program, data is either added or removed respectively. Unfortunately however, very few programs uninstall as they should, and as a result pockets of data remain left behind. Because this data then has no use, it simply occupies available space, not to mention the fact that it can cause serious conflicts between different programs and different drivers. In fact, a cluttered registry can cause your computer to slow down to a snail’s pace. As a result, it is highly recommended that you use a registry cleaner frequently if you want your computer to continue operating at its best.
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.
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