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When your computer slows down, it’s a major problem. You’re angry and frustrated, inefficient and barely working. In fact, it doesn’t take long for a slow computer to make you stop working altogether … it’s that annoying.
But we don’t want that for you. We want you to fight back against slow computers and remain productive throughout the day. To help you do that, here are a few simple tips to help you fix a slow PC.
Related: What should I do when a computer freezes or locks up?
1.) Delete “unused” and “temporary” files.
Unused: To start, hold down the “Windows” and “F” keys at the same time to bring up the search function on your PC. Then, click the “date modified” filter under search filters. Choose the modifier “Not in a long time” and hit enter to search the files within that specified range.
When the files come up, carefully choose the files you no longer need (being careful not to delete anything crucial to your PC’s functionality) and drag them to the trash bin. Viola, you’ve freed up some space.
Temporary: These are the files that accumulate from your browsing history or all the installs you’ve ever performed (assuming you’ve never deleted them). Here’s how to clear them.
Click “My Computer.”
Select your main drive and click the “Windows” folder.
Open the folder labeled “Temp,” and select all the files with a date older than your current day.
Press delete, then go to the recycle bin and empty it.
There, now you’ve gotten some clutter out of the way.
2.) Run a “disk defragment” to organize your files
First, select “My Computer,” then right-click on your hard drive and select “Properties.” Look under the “Tools” tab and there should be an option to “Defragment Now.” Keep in mind you’ll want to perform this one at the end of the day when there’s no more work you need to do, as it could take some time.
3.) Run a “disk cleanup”
This will remove unnecessary and large files from your computer to free up space. Here’s how to do it.
Click “Start.”
Select “All Programs.”
Click “Accessories.”
Choose “System Tools,” and then “Disk Cleanup.”
Follow the instructions from there.
4.) Disable unnecessary startup programs
A lot of programs are designed by their maker to automatically run in the background when your PC starts up. These can be a massive drain on RAM and can really slow down your computer.
Here’s how you can adjust which programs open at startup:
Press and hold “Ctrl” and “Alt” and “Del” to bring up the task manager.
Select “More Details,”
Click the “Startup” tab.
To stop a program from launching automatically, select that program and click “Disable.”
Still running slow?
Unfortunately, if these steps don’t remedy your basic performance speeds, it may be time to take a deeper strategy like upgrading your RAM or buying a new computer. Both may require the services of a qualified IT professional. Particularly if there are additional issues going on with other devices in your office.
At the end of the day, your time might be better spent focusing on your business operations, not your technology issues.
