How to clean and speed up your computer

March 31, 2021
How to clean and speed up your computer

Every computer user, especially if Windows is installed on a PC, at some point faces an important problem from his point of view – the computer becomes too slow for everyday needs.

Is buying a new computer the solution to these problems? Not always. In order to clean your computer and speed up its work, at first it is enough to use the capabilities of the system, then use the tools available on the Internet for free, and only at the end, when the actions in the system do not help, you should update the equipment …

Empty the trash and defragment the disk

Windows has a number of built-in tools that make it easy to improve system performance. At the very beginning, it’s a good idea to just empty the trash, which many users don’t pay attention to. This will free up disk space for subsequent processing.

This is where the system tool “Disk Cleanup” comes in handy, which allows you not only to empty the trash, but also to delete temporary files. The next step is to defragment disks and partitions. This procedure consists of combining pieces of files that have been divided into parts when they are saved, and placing them on disk in such a way that they are more accessible to programs and users.

Defragmentation is the default Windows tool, but it is better to use special programs like Smart Defrag or O & O Defrag. which allow you to set defragmentation options depending on the use of specific partitions. For example, to quickly access data or to get as much space on a section as possible.

When cleaning your computer, you should also consider cleaning the system registry. This can be done using free tools like CCleaner or Wise Registry Cleaner. It is also recommended to delete unnecessary files from the desktop and move them to a separate folder on your hard drive.

Disable unnecessary visual effects

New Windows systems look very pretty, especially Windows 7 with the Aero Glass interface and associated visuals.

However, all this slows down the system. If you don’t want pretty windows and pretty visuals, turn them off. In Windows 7, you can do this by choosing Personalization. Then, in the General Themes category, select Windows 7 Basic.

Remove unused programs

If your computer was used not only to browse the web, but also to test various programs, it is worth deleting the ones that you no longer use. This will not only free up space on your hard drive, but it will also remove unnecessary entries from the system registry.

When uninstalling unwanted programs, consider removing adware and spyware that runs quietly in the background and takes up valuable resources without attracting attention. For example, Revo Uninstaller will help with this, because in addition to removing the programs themselves, it helps to clean the disk and registry from redundant software.

However, if the user needs to use a certain program from time to time, it is worth checking if it is in the “portable” version, which does not require installation on the system, but only unpacks the package with it to a hard disk or a USB flash drive. These programs do not create their own entries in the system registry, but save all settings in configuration files located in their folders. By placing these programs in the non-system partition, you can make them work more efficiently. When removing old programs, it is also worth changing the antivirus program to one that does not load the computer components so much.

Sometimes you should think about updating the operating system, for example, Windows 8.1 and 10 have system requirements lower than Windows 7, thanks to which computers that are already out of breath under the G7 are spreading their wings under the new systems.

Replacing parts with newer ones

A computer, like any other device, gradually wears out. This is especially true of a hard disk, which after several years of operation can fail and lead to the loss of often valuable files. When deciding to replace your drive, you should consider purchasing a solid state SSD drive. This will ensure that the system and the programs installed in it start up much faster.

In addition, it is more shock-resistant, which is a valuable feature, for example, in laptops prone to falling. You should also place your most frequently used files and documents on the SSD. Other files that we don’t use very often should be left on a traditional magnetic disk (if using a traditional PC, not a laptop). Adding RAM also results in a significant improvement in computer performance.

Before buying, however, make sure how much RAM the motherboard will handle and which model is needed. It is less common to replace the processor, although it is worth considering replacing the fan and its heatsink as overheating the processor also slows down the system. In the case of laptops, it is worth disassembling them and cleaning them from dirt or giving them to a service center, where they will be cleaned of dust accumulating inside.

Replacing the power supply with a new one can also improve the performance of your computer. Many problems with the stability of computers are caused by unstable power supply, which can lead to unpleasant consequences of a computer failure.

Replacing your computer with a new one

If none of the above helps, you may need to buy a new computer.

It is worth choosing the one with a 64-bit system. It can efficiently handle much more RAM than a 32-bit system, making it easier to expand them later with additional RAM. It is also worth choosing hardware that will have a system partition located on a fast SSD.