How to Increase Speed on Your Computer

by: AimyD
Total views: 10 | Word Count: 1112

Computers are ever changing in our lives. It seems as though every year a new Windows program is being introduced. The internet is the same way, it all started with dial up, and now we have digital high speed internet, satellite internet, and even wireless for those of us on the go. With everything out there and all the programs you may use on your personal computer, it may start to slow down and not perform as well as it should. Here are some steps you can use to get your computer “up to par”, or at least get it as fast as it was before.

1) Disk Cleanup
Performing a disk cleanup regularly is a good idea. Whenever you "surf the internet", open attachments, and delete files, your computer saves a record of your activity. Many of these files are harmless, and may be very small. But if you spend a lot of time on your computer, before long you'll take up enough space to slow your computer down a bit.

Disk Cleanup is a Windows utility that helps keep unused and unwanted files from taking up extra storage space on your computer. Basically, it removes files that may have once been useful or used but now are just taking up extra room that could be used for more useful programs and files.

To perform a disc cleanup, click on the Start button on the bottom left of your computer screen, then Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disc Cleanup. A small box will pop up, allowing you to select the files to delete (most files are OK to delete, but if you are unsure, it is best to not select the file). Then click OK, and the unused files will be removed.

If you've never done a disk cleanup on your computer, now is a good time to get started. Depending on how much you use your computer, you can perform a disk cleanup every few weeks to keep your computer running smoothly.

2) De-fragmenting Your Computer
This is another way to improve the performance of your computer. What is de-fragmenting, and why do you need to do it? Here's a simple explanation:

Basically, de-fragmenting is putting files back where they belong. With the files in the proper order, your computer will run more efficiently.

You don't need to hire a computer expert to de-fragment your computer. It's simple to do. You just need to plan ahead, because if you have a lot of "stuff" on your computer, it could take a while, usually several hours before completion.
And it's best not to use your computer while de-fragmenting.

Not sure how to de-fragment your computer? You can either click on your computer's help file (Click the "Start" button on the bottom left of your computer screen, then Help), or click on Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, De-fragment - for most computers). Keep in mind that the actual wording is slightly different depending on the operating system you use (Windows 95, 98, XP, etc) so you might need to refer to your computer's help file.

3) Removing Spyware & Adware
If you've ever had spyware or adware on your computer, you know how frustrating it can be - strange things happening, your homepage changing, inappropriate pop-ups, unfamiliar icons, and so on.

What exactly is spyware or adware?

These may be files that are downloaded onto your computer without your knowledge. Unfortunately, many of these programs "sneak" their way onto your computer, so avoiding them entirely is difficult, especially if you spend a lot of time on your computer, surfing the Internet and downloading new programs and files.

Fortunately, there are ways to remove these unwanted files from your computer.

Here are 2 adware/spyware removal programs that are simple to use (and both are free):
Ad-Aware http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/
Spybot http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

Why does adware/spyware continue to be such a problem? Unfortunately, this is due to most of these programs making money for the people creating and spreading them. So, all we can do is try to avoid them as much as possible, and to remove them when they do find their way onto our computers.

If you do find spyware on your computer, don't panic. In many cases, you just have some extra "junk" on your computer. But keeping spyware and adware off of your computer will help it run more quickly and efficiently.

4) Uninstalling Old & Unused Programs
While uninstalling old, unused programs will help speed up your computer, removing the wrong files can cause you some big problems. So, please proceed carefully. And if you are not comfortable, please ask for help from someone you know who is more knowledgeable.

Most programs that you download simply have an "uninstall" feature that comes with them. If you download many free trials, or free games, pretty much any thing that can show up in a pop-up, after a while your computer begins to slow down. This means it's time to remove some of the old programs you don't use any more.

To uninstall unused programs from your computer, first click on the Start button on the bottom left, then Programs, then click on the name of the program and Uninstall. If there is no uninstall option, then click on the Start button on the bottom left, then Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs.

Again, if you are unsure whether or not to remove a program, it is best to leave it.
If you follow these instructions, you should find your computer working faster right away.

5) High Speed Internet Connection
If you spend a lot of time on the internet, a high speed internet connection is a must. It is more expensive, but for most people the savings in time and effort is worth the added expense.

There are several advantages of having a high speed internet connection - faster surfing, web pages open more quickly, files download faster, and if you send or receive large files, like pictures or video, trying to open these files with a slower dialup connection is extremely frustrating!

If you're already spending a good chunk of change a month for your dialup connection (through your phone line) then you'll find DSL to be comparable in price, and a lot faster.

A cable internet connection might cost a little more, but it is usually the fastest type of internet connection you can get from home.

High speed wireless connections are available for those who travel a lot. And high speed satellite internet is available in areas where other options are not (check your options first, as this is the most expensive high speed connection).

These are the tips for increasing your computer speed and helping your computer run more efficiently. If you encounter any problems, you can always call a company who specializes in this area, although, it is cheaper to try and do it yourself.