Posted by Nikoletta Ventseslavova

Laptops and desktop computers are part of our lives. We use them for everything and we count on them.  Sometimes they get tired and overwhelmed by the large amount of information we keep on them. Usually we multi-task by accessing internet pages and using other programs like Powerpoint, Skype or Excel. Every one of us has experienced a slowing computer. This can lead to serious blocking and difficulties to get anything accomplished. To prevent unexpected loses and keep your PC in a good shape, it’s important to know the following information:

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”

If you click on anything and Windows responds slowly, or you can’t open an application, your PC system needs a PC Doctor. If left untreated, system clutter can deteriorate PC performance. Chris Tull, the author of “Web Designer’s Guide to Adobe Photoshop” and PC expert says that besides getting angry, most people do the following:

-   Speed up their computer with additional memory;

-  Tweak their PC settings;

-  Give up, thinking that their computer is too old and it’s time to buy a new one.

It turns out that these solutions don’t fix the problem permanently. “A badly fragmented hard drive will bring even a top-of-the-line new computer to a grinding halt.” says Chris Tull, his article, published on Microsoft.com. Thus, it’s good to have a preventive maintenance plan. When PC performance gets low the most common reason is the hard disk. Over time it begins to store data inappropriately. To help your hard drive run smoothly it’s good to start with the built-in Windows tools: Disk Cleanup, Disk Defragmenter and Check Disk. Chris Tull advises users to automate (let Windows do the job) the tasks of: cleaning temporary files, defragmentation and error checking. It’s important to remember that these tools require our assistance to run correctly.

Free up disk space with hard disk cleaning

When we uninstall a program, some of the data remains on the computer. Its configuration, entries and settings files, for example, stay in the Windows registry. Windows keeps reading these wasted entries and gets slower as the number of entries becomes bigger. With a tool for registry clean up, our system gets rid of all those unwanted entries and settings. Also it fixes registry errors and makes our computer faster instantly. Chris Tull recommends users to run the Windows Disk Cleanup tool once a week to clean all the temporary files. We can schedule the task by choosing a time when we are in front of the computer in order to provide the input needed.

Defrag your hard drive, speed up access to data.

Accumulation of scattered files is also a reason for a slow computer. When a file becomes too large to store in one location, our computer breaks it in pieces. Whenever the file is accessed, the operating system needs a lot of time to piece all the scattered fragments together and that’s why our computer runs slowly. Windows has a tool – Disk Defragmenter – for such a situation. It rearranges the dispersed fragments and frees space on the hard drive. As a result our PC performs faster.  (The steps to do this are: Click Start> All Programs> Accessories> System Tool> Disk Defragmenter)

Detect and repair errors 

Chris Tull explains that when a program crashes, our computer creates errors on the hard disk. These errors “slow your computer to a crawl” he says. Fortunately, Windows has a CheckDisk utility, which corrects such errors. When CheckDisk runs, a black window opens. You can carry on working on other tasks while it runs. The box disappears automatically, when the check is complete. Be aware of the fact that you must be logged on as an administrator to do this. CheckDisk is selected manually : Start - Administrative Tools -Task Scheduler- Action –  Create Basic Task – name the task and click Next – select a schedule: Daily, Weekly, Monthly– Start a Program –Browse (select  chkdsk.exe)-Open.
Special care for fast computers – useful tips
● Remove unwanted programs. For best performance of your PC, delete any programs you don’t use via the Control panel -Remove programs. Shortcuts and directory files of the installed software must not be deleted directly from its installed location.
● Clean up and delete temporary internet files and cookies. Do this  every few days by clearing browser History and deleting temporary and cookie files from “temp” folder.
● Manage start up programs. This will stop programs from starting up automatically every time your PC reboots. The fewer the number of programs loading on start up (excluding essential windows programs), the better is the startup speed.
● Update your drivers by visiting the web site of your computer’s manufacturer and searching for updated drivers for your hardware. This process can be automated as well with the usage of a driver update utility.
● Don’t crowd your desktop with icons. Move all the unused files to your storage disk drive.
● Keep data in zipped files. This will save memory space and will increase PC performance.
● Virus software should be intact as well. Malware, spyware, or viruses can make a brand new computer run slowly. Malware can often stop services from running and make the PC owner doubt the performance of their systems. Moreover, spyware can endanger confidential information. To beat malware it is good to scan your system for viruses with the PC safety scan from Windows Live OneCare. After that, it’s good to have a spyware removal tool – for example Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool – it checks the computer’s system and removes infections. You can consider installing other antivirus software, like Avast and McAfee for example. Be aware that anti-virus software itself slows down your PC because it constantly scans for file infections.
● RAM optimization. Every PC needs a bare minimum RAM to function properly.  Even the fastest computer slows down when clogged with software and games. Chris Tull recommends the installation of Registry Easy for RAM optimization (The steps are: Registry Easy> Click Optimize System> Tweak Memory> Optimize)

● Use ReadyBoost to speed up your system. Experts from Microsoft recommend: “The recommended amount of memory to use for Windows ReadyBoost acceleration is one to three times the amount of random access memory (RAM) installed in your computer. For instance, if your computer has 512 megabytes (MB) of RAM and you plug in a 4 gigabyte (GB) USB flash drive, setting aside from 512 MB to 1.5 GB of that drive will offer the best performance boost. The minimum size for any USB flash drive to work withWindows ReadyBoost is 256 MB.”

Implementing the actions above can greatly improve your PC speed. They are all easy, low-cost methods that can be employed quickly.

Read also: Hard disk crashes - prevention and cure