When you first got it, was your computer fast enough to handle all of your tasks quickly, but now seems to have gotten bogged down and become slower over time? This is a common problem, but fortunately, there are a few simple steps any user can take to speed up her PC as time passes.
Instructions
1. Delete duplicate or unneeded files. The operating system of a computer uses the hard drive as temporary storage as it performs tasks. This is called the page file, and the more space the operating system has to use as the page file, the faster it can perform. By removing old programs and old or unwanted files, you give the operating system a chance to run faster.
2. Defragment your hard drive. When you save files to your hard drive, they are not all stored in the same place. Instead, they are stored all over the hard drive in file fragments. This means that, when you go to access that file on your computer, the operating system has to look all over the hard drive for all the fragments of that file. Defragmentation is a process that takes all of the fragments of those files and moves them around on the hard drive to put them all in the same place. This means that files are no longer scattered on the hard drive and are much easier to locate, making them much faster to access.To defragment your hard drive, go to your "Start" menu, then "All Programs," then "Accessories," then "System Tools," then "Disk Defragmentor." Then click your hard drive and click "Defragment." Do this before you go to bed, as it may take a few hours if it has not been done recently.
3. Use antivirus and spyware scanners. Viruses and spyware can slow down a computer by running processes in the background and using up system resources. Having an antivirus program can prevent these types of malicious software from getting onto your computer in the first place. Scanning with a spyware scanner can eliminate software that was installed secretly with other programs. AVG antivirus and Avast antivirus are both popular, well-reviewed antivirus programs that can be downloaded for free for home use. Ad-aware is a likewise popular and well-reviewed spyware removal program that is also available for free. (See Resources.)
4. Get more RAM. RAM stands for "random access memory"--the memory available for programs to use. The more of this you have, the faster programs can run, and the more programs can be run at the same time. RAM is a series of chips that have been manufactured together in a thin stick. Sticks of RAM are located on the motherboard in slots and are easy to replace, upgrade or add to. Since installing RAM only involves snapping a stick into a slot, and since it gives a boost to everything you can do on your computer, upgrading your RAM is widely considered the easiest and cheapest thing you can do to make your computer run faster. Also, if you don't feel comfortable installing something in your computer yourself, most vendors will offer to install it for you for a small fee.
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