If marriages proverbially start to fail after the first year, the relationship with your computer could run into obstacles much sooner. Depending on the programs installed and the technical characteristics of your PC, it is likely that after the first twelve, idyllic months of use, something will crack.
The boot (i.e., the startup) of the operating system is no longer as snappy as in the beginning, the programs load with difficulty, sometimes it can even happen that the computer suddenly stops working for a few seconds and then resumes, as if nothing had happened.
In short, after a year or so of use, the computer could also start to become slow, to show signs of failure. In these cases, what should be done to speed up the PC? Two quick and easy tricks to do are disk defragmentation and periodic cleaning of your hard drive. But not only.
How to Defrag the Hard Disk?
We have already talked about the first of these operations. We explained what it means to have a fragmented disk – data saved “randomly” and not consequentially on the hard disk, with longer access times – and what to do to restore the situation.
But to improve the performance of your computer it is a good idea to keep it as “clean” as possible. This is because a hard disk that is too full implies longer access, read, and write times and, consequently, a general slowdown in the functioning of the computer. It will also save you from sudden external hard drive failure.
This is an operation that can be performed either manually, by selecting and deleting files of little interest, or by using the tool that Windows makes available to all users. From My Computer, you can access the options of your hard drive (right click on the HD icon and then options) and from there to the disk cleaning tool.
After a content analysis, the tool lists all those obsolete or useless files that you can get rid of, such as temporary system files, temporary Internet files, files in the recycle bin, and so on.
Alternately, a device like Xtra PC can also be used to bypass the old operating system and replace it with a fast and secure Linux OS. This article will tell you more about the Xtra-PC pros and cons.
Choosing the Right Antivirus for your PC
Another common cause of computer performance degradation is malware. These programs, even if we do not notice it, manage to enter our computer and, in addition to our data, also “embezzle” the resources of the PC, slowing down its functioning. The choice of a good antivirus, therefore, is essential to keep our trusted electronic friend in shape.
But the speed of the computer also depends on the applications running in the background and starting at the same time as the operating system. Some programs, in fact, must be started in unison with the operating system to allow full functionality – such as video drivers – or to protect it from possible external attacks – such as antivirus software.
Others, on the other hand, are not so essential and can also be started later by the user. Check which programs are started at power on and doing some cleaning is therefore essential to speed up the startup times of the operating system and keep some RAM free.
To access the list of these programs, click on the Start button and click on Run (or search for it through the search field in the Start Menu) and type the msconfig command in the window that appears. In this way you will have access to the System Configuration, thanks to which you can select which programs to start up and which not. Checkout the top virus and malware removing apps for PC.
Uninstall Unnecessary Programs
Are you really sure that all the programs on your computer are useful? Especially in the first months of use and with the emphasis of the new notebook you install any type of software without thinking, however, about what happens at the hardware level. Slowly the ignition begins to slow down, and we just have to wait a few minutes before the computer is ready for use.
But there is a solution, a bit extreme, that allows you to speed up the performance of your computer: uninstall programs that have not been used for a couple of months and recover space on the hard disk. To uninstall a program on Windows you need to enter the Control Panel and then click on the Uninstall a program section: a menu will open with all the software installed and the user can decide which to delete.
On the other hand, for those who own a Mac the procedure is slightly different: it is necessary to enter the Applications folder and then transport the selected program to the Trash. If not, even this solution leads to substantial improvements, the only solution left is to format the computer, remembering to make a backup of all data.
Add RAM to the Computer
If your computer has a few years on its shoulders, all that remains is to upgrade the hardware. The first factor to analyze is the amount of RAM mounted on the computer: now a notebook with less than 4GB can hardly support even the most basic programs such as a browser or a text editor.
For this reason, adding or replacing RAM is essential when the computer begins to show substantial problems in loading programs. Before going to replace the old RAM with a new model it is necessary to check if the system supports them. Adding RAM to your computer is a fairly simple operation and takes no more than five minutes.
Install a Solid State Drive
If during the purchase of your computer you preferred the 128GB solid state drive that offered 1TB of space over the 128GB solid state drive, you have made a serious mistake. In fact, solid state hard drives are the best guarantee of the proper functioning of your computer.
Thanks to their particular technology they allow to speed up the notebook and improve the usability of the device. Replacing the hard disk is not very complicated: in case you have any difficulties, just follow one of the many guides available on YouTube.
Conclusion
Slow computer? Mentioned above are some quick and easy tricks to put in place to improve your computer’s performance.
