One of the most common problems that a computer user will run into is a computer that is running slower then it is intended to do. There are many factors
that have to be considered and even with the introduction of Windows 8, this is still a very common problem. Sure, most of us clean out the browser and delete cookies but is this all enough? Absolutely not! There are many other steps that must be completed to ensure a fully cleaned out system.
I think one of the most common mistakes many people make is to go online and try to find a free tool that promises the world to the user. The truth is, almost all of these tools are useless and in many case will either bring in more Spyware or will slow down your system even more. Adding software is absolutely not the answer. Most of the tools you will need you already have installed on your computer.
We have seen many cases where a user will install countless tools trying to fix a problem only to make it much worse. There are, however, a handful of useful tools you can use that are Spyware free and do the job they are intended to do and they do it quite well. Ccleaner and Malwarebytes are 2 tools no computer should be without. Combined, these tools give a one two punch in both cleaning unnecessary files and battling Malware and pups, which we will discuss later.
One of the first things we are going to look at actually will involve you opening the case or rear panel of your computer. RAM (Random Access Memory) is one of the most important hardware components besides your hardrive. The RAM chips on your system store information that you have recently opened so that when you open it again, it opens faster. RAM is faster then your hardrive so getting to this stored information will dramatically speed up your system. The more RAM you have the more temporary information you can store.
The more you can store the faster your computer will operate. Once the RAM is filled, it spills over to an area on your drive called the Paging File. Since this file is on your hardrive, the access to this information will usually be much slower. Adding as much RAM as your system can handle will greatly increase your computers ability to multi-task without bogging down or crashing. Many machines that are purchased at bargain prices seriously lack enough RAM. When purchasing a system, make sure it has a minimum of 4 GIGS of RAM but 6 or 8 is much better if it is available. It is less expensive to add it when you buy the computer then to add it later as an upgrade.
The next thing we need to look for are running programs. Even a new computer fresh from the factory is running too many programs when you first start it up! These programs running at start up are using RAM and stealing valuable CPU cycles away from the things that matter. Essentially they are like vandals that are stealing your property. The best way to stop these thieves is to use the configuration utility to shut them off at start up. If you are running Windows Vista or Windows 7, go to the START menu and type MSCONFIG in the search and click on the top result.
This will open the Configuration Utility. Now, click on the Startup Tab and uncheck everything you do not need, which will be most of it. Keep your ant-virus program checked. If you uncheck something you need, you can always go back and recheck it later. Click Apply and close the boxes and reboot. In Windows 8, you can access the manager by right clicking on a blank area of the Taskbar and choosing Task Manager in the sub menu. You can also enter the task manager by pressing both the Windows key and the R on keyboard. This will open the RUN box where you can then type MSCONFIG.
The next topic we are going to discuss are Pup’s. This is essentially one of the most common pieces of Malware you will find on your system today. In almost every case, they are avoidable. Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUP’S) can usually be avoided by being sure downloaded software such as browsers and games are downloaded from the official site. If you are not paying attention while performing the install, you could be installing more then you bargained for! Once installed, most of these programs are difficult to remove. This is when you need to download and run Malwarebytes, just be sure you get it from the official site! This program will remove many of the most common issues but if the slow computer issue persists, you will require the help of a professional to resolve the problem.
In addition to the above, there a few other tweaks you can do that can help to increase your computers speed. One is to make sure you only use about half of your drives capacity. Once you exceed this point, some decrease in performance could be seen. If you are limited on RAM, do not try to keep multiple programs open at the same time. Close a program before you open another. If you have a picture you are using as a background on your screen, change it to a solid color instead. This puts a lot less load on your video adapter and will help to speed things up. Do not cluster your desktop with live gadgets. They will certainly look cool but you will pay the price with performance.
One last tip is to switch to a solid-state drive. These drives although not huge in capacity have no moving parts and generate almost no heat. They can access your files almost instantly and allow for extremely rapid boot up times, usually in just a few seconds. Although they can wear out over time, the drives of today will last much longer then the first ones that were produced. If you accidentally bump the drive, no worries, it will be just fine! These drives are especially great in laptops that are often jarred and bumped. This is especially true if you do a lot of traveling.
There are obviously even more tweaks that can be done that are too technical to mention here but these basics will speed up almost any machine. The best way to cover all the bases is to have your computer cleaned by a professional. Remember a fast machine will always equal a happy user.
Article by, Tech Joe from Computer Geeks Online.net – Do Not Copy!
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