How To Fix Slow Computers 13 Steps With Pictures

Removing viruses can be a difficult process, and oftentimes it may be easier to simply backup and reinstall your operating system instead of trying to track it down and eliminate it.

You can run error-checking tools using the built-in Disk Management utility, or you can download more extensive programs that can perform a variety of tests on your hard drive. Defragment. A fragmented hard drive will slow down your computer and affect the speed at which programs load and write to the hard drive. Defragmenting your hard drive on a regular basis will ensure that your programs are loading as fast as possible. Defragmentation happens automatically on most newer versions of Windows, but it important to check in on regularly. [2] X Expert Source Gonzalo MartinezComputer Repair Technician Expert Interview. 25 July 2019.

Even if you use a program often, it doesn’t necessarily need to start up with the computer. Most programs will work fine if you start them up later, so you don’t need to clog up your startup sequence with a bunch of programs.

CCleaner is a very powerful hard drive cleaning program. The basic version is free and can quickly analyze your computer and clean out unused files and registry entries. Uninstalling old programs is a great way to keep your computer performing well. Many programs run in the background and start up with your computer. If you’re not using these programs, they’re taking up resources that could be better used elsewhere.

You can see what programs are hogging all of your resources by using the Task Manager. Look for programs that are taking 90% or more of your CPU or are taking the majority of your available memory. You can end these programs from the Task Manager if they’re not critical.

RAM is one of the cheaper upgrade options available, and you can have it installed in just a few minutes. When installing desktop memory, you almost always will be installing in pairs. Both sticks will need to be the same manufacturer, model, size, and speed. If they do not match, your RAM will be clocked down to the lowest speed and your computer might not start. Most RAM is sold in pairs. Laptops generally have much less breathing room when it comes to upgrading RAM.

If you are upgrading the hard drive that your operating system is installed on, you will need to reinstall your operating system. SSDs are typically much more expensive per GB than a standard hard drive, and as such they are generally smaller. A popular setup is to install your operating system and essential programs on the SSD, and then use a larger standard hard drive for media and document storage. This will give you very fast operating system speeds, and you won’t have to worry about the smaller size.

If you can, try to format and reinstall your operating system at least once per year. This will ensure that your computer is always running at optimal speed. Many people are put off by the thought of the time investment needed for reinstalling their operating system. If you have a good backup system already in place, you can have your computer formatted and your operating system reinstalled in about an hour. When it comes to reinstalling your old programs, you’ll probably find that you actually used less than you thought.

Many programs attach themselves to your startup process but don’t actually need to start with your computer. Most programs will run fine if you open them later, speeding up the time it takes your computer to start up.

There are several programs available for Mac that can make cleaning up and maintaining your hard drive much easier, such as OnyX, CleanMyMac, and MacKeeper. These allow you to see exactly what types of files are taking up the most space, allowing you to quickly remove files you no longer need.

The Activity Monitor allows you to check what programs are causing your system the most stress. You can open the Activity Monitor from the Utilities subfolder in the Applications folder. [5] X Expert Source Gonzalo MartinezComputer Repair Technician Expert Interview. 25 July 2019. Processes that are taking the majority of your CPU or memory will have a big impact on your computer’s performance. Use the columns in Activity Monitor to determine the offending programs.

Take stock of the programs you actually use. You may find after reinstalling that you use less programs than you thought you did, meaning more free space and less time spent reinstalling programs.

RAM can be installed in just a few minutes, on both desktops and MacBooks. Different systems require different types of RAM, so be sure to check the documentation for your Mac to see what kind you should get and how much the computer supports.