Trim-down and tune-up tips anybody can do
Nobody enjoys using
a slow computer. You want your computer to be fast and responsive,
whether it's brand
spanking new or four
years old. Follow our tips to keep you zooming along the
information superhighway, regardless of your PC's age!
1. Run the essentials
The most
basic thing you can do to speed up your computer is also one of the
fastest changes you can make — close unneeded applications! If
you're working in Excel, the odds that you'll need Word open at the
same time are slim. Limit open software to what you are using at
the time. This also cuts down on distractions and helps you get
your work done more quickly.
If you have a
stubborn application that won't close, treat it as a frozen
application and kill
it via Task Manager by hitting
Ctrl+Alt+Del and selecting Start Task Manager.
Your computer
automatically starts some programs when you turn it on. Some of
these are necessary parts of the Windows operating system, but you
may be able to disable some applications. Open the program in
question and go into Properties or Options. Usually, auto-start
options are found under General or Launch settings and will be
labelled "Launch when Windows starts." Uncheck the check box and
save the setting change to keep the application from coming back up
the next time you reboot.
If you don't find an
option like that, there's one more place to
look for applications that
auto-start. Be forewarned, this option is for advanced users —
disabling essential startup items can have catastrophic results.
Don't kill the auto-start settings for anything you don't
recognize!
Scour your programs list for items that can be deleted
2. Fluff not necessary
Unless you've built your PC from scratch and manually installed
Windows, hands have touched your computer before. Heck, you may
have even had some kind of setup service performed at the store
immediately following your purchase. The downside to all this
pre-use activity is that applications that you will
likely never touch
have likely been installed and are running on your computer.
To deal with this
preinstalled mess, go to Control Panel > Programs and Features
and uninstall the unwanted
items. Things to avoid removing include standard Microsoft
software bundles such as Office, software you have actively paid
for such as Photoshop, and your antivirus package. If you're not
sure where something came from or what it does, do your online
homework and search for software's name before uninstalling —
better safe than sorry!
Extra software can
also end up on your computer after you install applications you
actually want. As you go through the installation process, be sure
to keep your eyes peeled for additional install prompts. These will
look something like "Install Utility Name for Internet Explorer/Firefox" with a check box
next to it. Make sure the checkbox is not checked, to keep the junk software at bay.
3. Safe and simple browsing
Current versions of popular browsers (such as Internet
Explorer, Firefox,
and Chrome) let you do
much more than the mere web surfing of their predecessors:
extensions and add-ons let your browser do all sorts of things.
Have you set up something in your browser that displays an unread
emails count icon, or maybe clips web sites to Evernote with one touch? Then you're using extensions!
Did you know these
extensions require additional resources beyond the standard browser
requirements to run? You can disable these items when you want to
speed up your computer (and your browser). The process varies a bit
based on your browser:
Browser add-ons can seriously hinder your speed
4. Timing your antivirus scans
You may think that running your antivirus program at all times is
the epitome of safe browsing. While it's true that running scan
jobs during peak hours may keep your computer marginally safer, it
comes at a serious expense to speed. Most antivirus packages have a
background task that runs at all times and scans new files when
they are downloaded, while operating with a lower demand to your
computer's resources.
To keep your top
browsing hours free of any unneeded antivirus burden, configure
full scans during hours that you are definitely not on your
computer.
Find the hours that
work best for you, and configure your scanning schedule
accordingly. Make sure that your real-time or on-demand scanning is
also enabled when setting up your schedule!
5. Add a physical boost
If you've done everything above and your computer is still
sluggish, your last option is to upgrade thememory
(RAM) in your computer. RAM acts
kind of like short-term memory for a person, giving your programs
more room to keep data while they're running. However, figuring out
what kind of RAM your computer needs and installing it can get
complicated: so if you want to upgrade your computer's memory, we
recommend calling your local computer repair shop and letting them
take care of it.
Good housekeeping
Keeping your
computer in top form requires regular maintenance. Follow
a maintenance
schedule for your standard
activities, perform a little seasonal cleanup, and
use Tecca's maintenance
tips to keep your PC at its
speediest!
