Is your computer slowing down? There are a number of reasons for a computer’s slow performance such as if you are saving more and more files and the computer is low on memory or your computer is infected with viruses, spyware or adware that can all contribute to slow processing. Whatever the reason is, here are some tips on how to speed up your computer.
The first step is to get a good anti-virus program if the PC does not have one yet. Run it and scan the computer for viruses and any malicious files. Sometimes the anti-virus software can heal the infected files but there are cases when you need to re-format your computer. Re-formatting can be complicated. You will need the Installation CD of your Windows OS or the recovery CD. If you are not familiar with the process, it is best to get a professional to do the job.
Before you start doing so, always make sure to backup your files first. The most common way of doing this is by burning them on a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM but this can be time-consuming. The best way to backup your files is to do so is on a virtual storage space. Get an account with a file hosting site and save your files on that network. There are a number of free file hosting sites that you can use, some for a specific type of file like photos but many work for all types of files.
Another effective way of boosting the speed of your computer is to add more memory to the system. The amount of RAM you need depends on how you use your computer.
The average PC has a minimum of 512MB of RAM and the usual activities of a computer user are internet surfing, word processing, video and audio streaming, email and instant messaging. The more you do all these things the more RAM you need. The typical recommendation is 1GB for great performance. Simply doubling the RAM that you currently have will certainly speed up your computer.
If you are not sure how much memory your system has right now, go to “My Computer” from the start menu and click on the option “View System Information” at the left. This will open a box where you can find, on the general tab, how much RAM your computer has. There are also online memory recommendation tools that can help you determine the amount of RAM your system needs by just asking for the manufacturer and model of your computer.
With a new memory stick in place, another way to enhance the speed of your computer is to run the Scan Disk and Defragmentation Utilities, which you can find on the Tools tab of the properties box that will open when you right-click on the hard drive on the “My Computer” box (Windows XP and Vista). On older Windows versions, these utilities are in the System Tools folders under the Accessories and Programs folders in the Start Menu.
Lastly, some easy ways to speed up your computer, usually the startup process, is by cleaning up the desktop. You might be surprised to find that many of the shortcuts and files on your desktop are old and you are not really using them anymore. Emptying the recycle bin is another simple way to clean your computer system and speed it up.
As you can see, you can boost your computer up to the speed that you need for all the things that you want to do on it with a little investment, using some easy do-it-yourself tools or through professional help.
