If you can speed up your computer, that often means improving your overall work performance as well. As your computer ages and as you use it more, it’s natural for it to seem slower than it did when you first bought it. Before committing to buying a new computer outright, though, there’s some things you can try to get some more life out of your PC.
Restart your computer
Sometimes, a quick restart is all you need to get your computer running quickly again. If you’re someone who rarely actually shuts down your computer, it may have surprising results. Restarting kills processes that you no longer need and clears out excess use of RAM, so it’s always a good choice to try a quick restart before anything else.
Disable start-up tasks
If you have a bunch of programs that start every single time your computer starts, it may be slow right off the bat. If you press CTRL + Shift + Escape to bring up the Task Manager, you can see every program that starts when you turn your computer on. Just press “More Details,” and go to the tab labeled “Startup,” to see them. You can then right-click to disable them. Windows even lists how much of a startup impact each program has – pay attention to whether you really need everything listed under “high!”
Uninstall unneeded programs
Over time, it’s likely you’ll accumulate a bunch of programs that you no longer need on your computer. If you haven’t cleared these out in a while, it’s always a good idea to go and uninstall some of these. You can easily uninstall programs by opening Control Panel > Programs >Programs and Features, or by simply typing “add or remove programs” on your taskbar’s search. Once you reach the “Apps and Features” screen, simply click on whatever program you no longer want to see the option to uninstall it.
Clean your PC – literally
Over time, the intake fans on your computer will become clogged with dust. If your computer is running hotter, it’s expected for the performance to worsen. Grab some compressed air to clean it with, and you may be surprised at how much dust was in there!
Get new hardware
Switching to an SSD for your operating system will have enormous impacts on your computer speeds. A computer with an SSD will typically boot in under 30 seconds, and will continue to be faster than an HDD during continued use. Switching to an SSD is one of the most impactful, but often under-looked, upgrades you can get for your system. If you use multiple different programs at once or have an older system, there is a high chance that getting new RAM installed will greatly increase your computer’s performance as well.
Conveniently, getting new RAM and/or an SSD is a very quick process as far as hardware installations go. If you think an upgrade is in order, our team will gladly help you figure out the best option and take care of the installation process.
If you still need help with your PC, or perhaps your whole office needs a refresh, our techs at Kitsap Networking Services & Sequim IT will be happy to figure out the most effective solution for you. A slow computer can make it unbearable to try to get any work done. You’ll be happier – and more productive – once you take just a little bit of time to fix it!
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