How to speed up my computer

In today’s digital world where every second is a race, we find ourselves frustrated if we have to deal with a slow computer. Fear not, there are several effective strategies you can implement to speed up your computer and optimize its performance. We will explore some of the tips which might help you to run your computer faster. You might need not to upgrade your computer hardware to speed up the performance, it is worth trying some simple tricks before spending more money on your machines.

Let us start with checking some of the steps.

TIPS 1: Verify the resource consumption

Type Task Manager in search bar and open Task Manager to identify applications that are consuming a lot of system resources, such as CPU, memory, or disk usage.

Close these applications by right clicking on the process to free up resources and improve your computer’s speed.

Note : Make sure not to close any system related application.

TIPS 2: Close Unnecessary Programs

You might have opened multiple application for your work on the computer and did not close them gracefully. To free up computer processing units, make sure to close all those windows which are not needed anymore. And always try to run only necessary application at a single point of time.

TIPS 3: Clear Temporary Files

Your computer stores unnecessary files, old downloads and more over time. There is a built-in Disk Cleanup tool available in windows which you can use to remove these redundant unnecessary files and free up disk space. By doing so, your computer can run more efficiently.

To access the tool

Go to Start menu,
Search for “Disk Cleanup,”

Select the drive you want to clean (usually C: drive).

Check the categories you want to clean (e.g., Temporary files, Recycle Bin)
Click “OK” to initiate the cleanup.

TIPS 4: Manage Startup Programs

There might be many startup program which starts automatically during your machine boot-up and could slow down your computer while booting. Make sure to keep minimal application to be selected as startup program

Use windows task manager to disable or enable startup programs-

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open “Task Manager.
Go to the “Startup” tab to view a list of programs that launch during startup.
Identify the list of programs that start automatically with your computer.
Right-click on the program you want to “Disable” to prevent it from launching during startup.

Note: You can always re-enable the startup program by simply right-click and select “Enable.”

TIPS 5: Uninstall Unnecessary Programs

There could be many applications which you have installed for a purpose and it is sitting in your computer for many days. You have hardly used them for years.
Make sure to uninstall all unused application from your computer
This can slow down your computer as the Unused or infrequently used applications can take up valuable disk space.

Go to the Control Panel or Settings to uninstall programs you no longer need.

TIPS6: Defragmenting Hard Drive

Whatever files you saved on your drive, they become fragmented gradually. It may lead to slower read and write speed while accessing those files. There is a Windows built-in de-fragmentation tool which helps to re-organize and optimize your files, enhancing disk performance.

How to Use Built-in Disk Defragmenter

Navigate to Start menu and search for “Defragment and Optimize Drives.”
In the Disk Defragmenter tool, you’ll see all drives list .
Select the drive you want to defragment (usually C: drive) and click “Optimize.”

Note: It is a good practice to check and “Analyze” to assess the level of fragmentation on your drive. This will provide a complete report on whether your drive needs to be optimized.

Once the process is complete, the tool will display the results, showing how much fragmentation was reduced.

Schedule the optimization

You may schedule the defragmentation to do it on its own on regular interval.
Select the change settings under “Schedule Optimization”
Make sure to do check mark on “Run on a Schedule” and select a Frequency. You can choose the drives on which the optimization process will run.

TIPS 7: Regular Maintenance and Updates

You should make sure to perform regular update of software, running disk checks, windows patch update and maintaining a clean desktop. If your system organized and up to date, this will contribute to run computer faster and more efficiently. Additionally, this will enhance your computer security and keep the computer compliant.

Go to “Windows Update” by searching it in the search bar and check the status of widows patch update.

TIPS 8: Reboot Your Computer

Sometimes, all it takes is just a fresh start. There could be many background applications running which might eat up all the memory and CPUs and it turn your computer behave sluggish. You may do a reboot of the machine to start from beginning.

Scenario1: Computer is responding to input but it is slow

Do a graceful restart by going to window menu

Scenario2: Computer is not responding at all to any input

Press the reboot button to do a forceful reboot

FAQ

How often should I clean my computer?

Regular maintenance is key. Aim for a physical clean every few months and a digital cleanup every few weeks. This helps keep your system running smoothly and prevents buildup of dust and unwanted files.

Can too many installed programs slow down my computer?

Yes, especially if these programs run background processes. Each program consumes resources, and having too many can significantly slow down your system.

What’s the difference between disk cleanup and defragmentation?

Disk cleanup removes unnecessary files, freeing up space. Defragmentation reorganizes fragmented data, making it quicker to access. Both are important for maintaining a healthy, fast computer.

Is it safe to disable startup programs?

Disabling non-essential startup programs is safe and can improve boot times. Be careful not to disable necessary system processes or antivirus software.

How do I know if my computer has malware?

Symptoms include slow performance, unexpected crashes, and frequent pop-ups. Regular scans with updated antivirus software can help detect and remove malware, keeping your system secure.

We’ve explored some of the basic ways to optimize a sluggish computer. Embrace these tips, it might help to boost your computer’s performance, ensuring smooth and swift operations.