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A hard drive that is almost full will slow down your computer. First, get rid of temporary Internet and Windows files with the free CCleaner program.
Then from Start >> Control Panel, run Disk Defragmenter (Optimize Drives in Windows 8) to consolidate fragmented files and folders and speed up read and write to disk. Also run the error checking utility, which checks the drive for bad sectors and file system errors.
If you’re still close to your hard drive’s storage limit, consider moving your photo, video, or music library to an external drive. Use a free disk viewer program such as WinDirStat to see what other applications and files are taking up more space.
Two more free programs help. Get Revo Uninstaller to completely remove all programs you no longer use. Zap test software and other unwanted bloatware with PC Decrapifier.
If you can afford it, installing a solid state hard drive will make your old PC look like new. Boot SSDs up and launch apps in a flash compared to conventional HDDs. You can install one in a second storage compartment. If you can live without a DVD / CD optical drive, it can also be removed and replaced with an SSD. Of course, this will slow you down a bit. A 128GB drive costs around $120.
Before doing this, it’s a good idea to check that there are many programs that start automatically when you turn on your computer. This takes away the resources the computer needs during startup.
Autoruns is a freebie that can help reduce the load. It finds and disables programs that start automatically so it doesn’t slow you down. But it won’t interrupt the important startup processes you need, like security software.
Cleaning up your registration with CCleaner can also reduce startup time. Don’t stray too far from the program’s default settings, or you can damage programs and Windows.
If you only have 1 or 2 GB of RAM and multitask a lot, increasing your RAM to 4 GB is a sensible upgrade.
When programs and files in current use fill up its available RAM, the computer’s processor has to read data from the hard drive much slower.
A slow Internet connection is just as frustrating as a slow computer. The solution to this could be as simple as abandoning Internet Explorer for Firefox or more nimble Chrome.
Getting rid of useless toolbars will also simplify your navigation. You do this manually in the browser add-on settings or use a program like Toolbar Cleaner.
If you suspect the problem is with your wireless network, first check that the Internet speed you’re getting is as fast as what you’re paying for. Speedtest.net is a great service that will quickly test the speed of your Internet connection.
You can adjust router settings to eliminate crashes and bottlenecks.
Free and open source software programs not only save a lot of money, they are also leaner and faster than their bloated commercial competitors.
Download Adobe Reader for Foxit Reader or Sumatra to make PDF documents easier to read. GIMP has most of the features and Photoshop power without being a resource hog. Replace Microsoft Office and Outlook with LibreOffice and Thunderbird and watch your productivity increase. Try VLC instead of Windows Media Player.
In addition to compromising your privacy, spyware and viruses will degrade your PC’s performance. Fight this malware by scanning your machine.
Remember to update your security programs frequently so you can stay protected from emerging threats. Weekly scans also help.
Kim Komando hosts the nation’s biggest radio show on consumer electronics, computers and the Internet. To get the podcast, watch the program, or find the station closest to you, visit www.komando.com. Please email techcomments@usatoday.com.
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How to Speed Up Your Old Laptop – Guide
The cliché ‘time heals all wounds’ can be applied to most things, such as real wounds or suffered connections, however it is to some extent repetitive for hardware.
For the desktop PC, the weather is horrible; its normal life expectancy is around five to eight years, and it is much more limited for PC owners (three to five). Regrettably, technology doesn’t go on forever (it’s an upgrade-based industry), however this isn’t really a terrible thing as it can spawn new and innovative products that make our lives a little simpler.
Free up and optimize hard disk space
Speed up your startup
increase your RAM
Increase your browsing
Use faster software
Remove nasty spyware and viruses
Final note
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