How to speed up a slow PC
February 23, 2011 Computer Tips And Tricks
One of the most commonly asked questions by PC owners is how to increase the speed of a slow PC, or how to fix a slow 
computer. This question hails from the desire each PC owner has to gain the maximum use and optimal speeds from his or her software and hardware configurations. There are many different reasons attributable why a PC slows down over time, which include hardware and software issues. Some of the more common issues affecting a PC’s speed include the fact that most PCs’ Windows Options are set to high performance, which uses up a lot of memory, and another being the PC running out of disk space which could result in the PC needing a serious clean up or total overhaul.
Speeding up a PC through Software Methods
Get rid of Start-up Programs – Have a look at which programs are set to start as Windows boots up, as these programs are responsible for dramatically slowing down the system during boot up. This can become increasingly annoying especially if you desire quick access to your PC after boot up. Remove unnecessary start up programs which affect your PC’s overall functioning.
Clean up Disk Space – Take the time to delete worthless files off your Hard Drive, as a drive full of unnecessary files will slow your PC down over time. If you feel overwhelmed and need help with this, employ the Disk Cleanup to effectively get rid of any unneeded files. Follow the following path to find your system’s Disk Clean up: Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Disk Cleanup.
Defragment your Hard drive – Defragment your hard drive every 4-6 months, as defragmentation will sort all the files into order on the Hard drive, and ensure that all sectors of the HD is functioning properly. This feature was designed with the purpose of creating ease of access to hard drive files. Its path is located at Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Disk Defragmenter.
Modify Windows Performance Options – This is one of the best things you can do to increase your system’s performance. Windows’ operating systems are notorious for spending a lot of system resources on aesthetic features Themes and backgrounds, while neglecting performance. As an example, Windows Vista can run very slow on a machine with full graphics. To change the Windows graphics on your system and set it lower, right click on Computer, clicking on the Properties option. Once the Options screen opens, click on the Advanced Tab and under Performance click on Settings. You will now be able to manually choose what Windows will look like, or simply click on “Adjust for best performance”. You will be amazed at the difference!
Increase Virtual or Physical Memory – The performance of any system can be improved by increasing virtual memory. This memory is the extra space on the hard drive Windows makes use of as it would use spare RAM. To adjust this, Right click on Computer, click on Properties and then Advanced. Under the Virtual Memory tab, select the customized size you want or you can use a predefined system approved size.
Windows Performance Settings
Check for viruses – Take the time to check whether a Virus is not affecting the performance and speed of your PC. This is a very common occurrence for why PCs slow down. Some of the most frequent viruses which duplicate on every click of the system are autorun.ini or folder.exe viruses. To get rid of these problems, and to eliminate any other possibilities, make use of a suitable antivirus program to scan the entire system with.
Unused network ports and other controllers – Check whether there are any unused network connections that can be disabled, as well as other PCI slots and devices not in regular use that you can remove completely.
Run Scandisk – Running Scandisk intermittently will check the system for bad sectors and errors that can easily be repaired. Run Scandisk with the command line CHKDSK, or by right clicking the C Drive and selecting Properties, then choosing Error Checking under Tools. This will setup a Scandisk check the next time the system boots up.
Update Operating System – By uninstalling and installing various components in the system, the Windows operating system can become corrupt. The only way to overcome this issue is by updating your Operating System from time to time. It happens frequently that Operating Systems come out with bugs or require updates and patches for it to run at optimal performance. The need to download and install security updates cannot be emphasized enough, as it will protect your system from dangerous and harmful virus infections. Rather update manually to avoid a lot of unnecessary software.
Hide Hidden Files – at times displaying hidden files can be useful but most of the time it means your system’s resources will be taken up by displaying thee random hidden files, which will invariably slow down your PC. Change it by following the path Tools -> View -> Do not show hidden files.
Know which Programs and Processes are Running – Press SHIFT+CTRL+ESC on the keyboard, and the Task Manager will appear. Click on the Processes tab to see which applications are using up the most resources, and close some of the processes which are consuming too much CPU usage. Before simply killing any process, Google the name first to positively determine what the process is. Users are also able to identify viruses in this way, so be on the lookout for anything that seems suspicious.
Increase Game Speed by Decreasing Graphics Quality – Fiddle around with the various video card settings on your system in order to gain the smoothest game play. Do this by right clicking on your Desktop and selecting Properties. Go to Settings -> Advanced. Search for the Graphics Card tab.
Stop Unnecessary Windows Services – Be careful about what you do decide to terminate, as some people end up terminating the wrong application and end up having to format their PC anyways.
Make the Boot sequence faster – This might sound more difficult than it actually is. Change the default boot timeout value. This is the setting for selecting the default operating system. It’s not an entirely useful feature unless you have different operating systems installed on your PC. Change the timeout by going to Start and then Run, and typing msconfig into the dialogue box. Select Boot.ini and you will see the 30 second timeout; change this to something like 3 to 5 seconds.
Time for a fresh overhaul! – It might be time for a fresh install and formatting of the hard drive if you have not formatted your PC in the last 5 years. This does not mean that you have to lose all your files, as you can make backups or simply partition your hard drive into two and complete the new install on a separate partition.
NTFS, not FAT32 – When formatting your PC, always choose NTFS, and never FAT32 or 16, or anything less. It’s been determined that an NTFS formatted hard drive is much speedier than older FAT32 standard.
Speed up your PC with Hardware methods
CPU overheating or clean needed – It’s normal for a computer which overheats not to run at its optimum best. This is even more so in the hotter summer months. If you feel it warrants, dust your CPU and case in an effort to allow better air flow.
A dying Hard drive – this might sound dramatic, but if you hear any strange noises emanating from the hard drive, such as the disc not spinning properly or unusual loud noises, this could mean that the hard drive is either overheating or simply nearing its death.
Invest in more RAM – This is always a great way to speed up your PC, especially with affordable Ram prices nowadays. Take into consideration what type of RAM your motherboard supports. Do not mix up different brands of RAM but stay with the same supplier.
Bios Settings – Ensure that your PC is set to run at high performance in your BIOS
Over clocking – This is a seemingly very popular option to increase the speed and get more from your PC. Caution should be applied here as you want to make sure your PC does not overheat. Heat is the biggest factor to take into consideration which it comes to over clocking.
