It seems that the longer you use a computer, the slower it will go.
Most times, the age of the computer is not the problem. Instead,
years of surfing the Internet, saving files, and downloading media
has slowed it to a standstill. Before buying a new computer, try
the following tips to increase the speed and performance of the one
you already have.
1. Run Disk Defragmenter
Disk fragmentation will seriously hinder your computer’s
performance. When files are fragmented, the computer must search
the hard disk to locate all of the pieces before the file can be
opened. A fragmented disk will slow your computer down
considerably, especially when you run large programs or files. Use
your computer’s disk defragmenter at least once a month to organize
the files on your computer and give it better performance.
2. Repair Disk Errors
If your computer has ever crashed or shut down improperly due to a
power outage, your computer may have disk errors. Windows provides
an error checking utility to search the hard disk for bad sectors
to repair, giving your computer extra performance as a result.
3. Remove Fonts
Many computers now feature a long list of fonts to use in word
processor applications. These fonts, especially the TrueType fonts,
use quite a bit of your computer’s system resources. To give your
computer that extra boost, remove all the fonts, but those you
normally use.
4. Scan for Viruses, Spyware and Adware
Some viruses can wreak havoc on your computer, while other programs
such as spyware and adware will stay dormant in the background as
they collect personal information and display random pop up
messages. Whether you have a virus, spyware, adware or all three,
programs such as Ad-Aware can be used to protect your personal
information from a third party. When your computer is free of
viruses, spyware and adware, it could
fix a slow computer
5. Limit Programs at Start Up
Most programs are set to start automatically when the computer is
turned on. It's important to limit these so that they do not eat
away at the speed and performance of your computer. The less that
is running on your computer, the more space can be saved to run the
programs you really want.
6. Clear Browser Cache
The browser cache, also known as the Temporary Internet Files
folder, stores images, sounds, video, and web pages visited when
surfing the Internet. Though this folder is designed to speed up
page load times, most of the websites stored in it will never be
visited again. By clearing the cache periodically, you can free up
some space on your computer.
7. Delete Cookies
Nearly every website will give you a cookie. Most times you will
never use these cookies again. After a while your computer will
build up thousands of cookies that take up space on your hard drive
and slow your machine. It is best to delete your cookies every
month to keep your computer at its optimum performance.
Before you buy a new PC, see what you can do to make your current
computer work for you. By using these seven tips, you can easily
shorten the time that you spend staring at a screen waiting for
your program to load. Computer lag doesn't have to happen. By
tweaking your computer to make it work for you, it will run at its
optimum performance once again.
Tips For Slow Computer Fix
Date Published: Feb 16, 2009 - 11:16 am