For whatever reason, you are still using your old laptop instead of buying a new one. Well, there’s actually no problem with that as long as you can still use it or know how to speed up computer. But as days go by, you notice that your Windows laptop is getting slower and slower. At first, you can still tolerate it. But later, you cannot enjoy watching videos anymore. Your client or boss is getting mad because your Skype video chat is already slow. Sometimes, it takes ages before loading is complete even if the file is only small.
Now, your laptop’s turtle-speed has been affecting your daily tasks. It is already getting into your nerves, and you feel like throwing your laptop outside the window. But wait; don’t give up yet because there’s still hope. As a matter of fact, you don’t need to spend a dime to speed up computer faster. Yes, you can get a new notebook without breaking the bank, but there are also a lot of free ways to speed up computer. And no, you don’t have to be a computer expert before you can perform them. All you need to do is follow the simple tips below.
Tips to Speed Up Computer
Check for malware software and remove them
Without your knowledge, some online gaming sites have spyware or malicious programs embedded in their games after you download them. Once this happens, the speed of your laptop will be greatly affected. The best thing you can do is to scan your laptop using reliable antivirus software. There are paid ones, but most of them are free and can perform efficiently. However, make sure that you get the latest version. Some security programs have automatic updates, but doing it manually is also fine.
Uninstall unnecessary programs
Over the years, you might have installed several programs which make your hard drive nearly reaching its storage capacity. If you know which of them have no use anymore, you should remove them. To uninstall them, simply click Start button on the lower left side of your laptop, and then click Control Panel. For Windows 7, click Programs and Features and select a program and click Uninstall. For older versions of Windows (such as XP), you might see Add or Remove Programs instead.
Empty your Recycle bin
Deleting your unnecessary files means they will be transferred from the folders to the Recycle bin, a temporary location on the hard drive. But note that they can still be restored, so it doesn’t mean that they are already deleted from your laptop drive. Therefore, you should permanently remove them if you are sure you don’t really need them anymore. The principle is similar to that from uninstalling unnecessary programs, which means it can only speed up your laptop if the drive is almost full.
Turn off unwanted Desktop features
Some Windows versions have these dimensional effects, smooth edges, and fancy rounded window corners. These unwanted Desktop features can make laptop slow down so you should turn them off. The exact step-by-step procedures of turning off depend on the version. But generally speaking, you can click Start, then Control Panel, and then right-click My Computer. Go to Advance System and click Settings on the Performance option. Check the “Adjust for best performance” box, then click Ok.
Defragment all your hard drives
While using your laptop, you change, delete, or save some files. These changes are often stored in a different place which leads to fragmentation. This will cause your laptop to slow down over time because your drives need to work harder. Therefore, you should defragment them regularly, especially if you are a heavy user. Defragmentation of hard drives can be done through some commands on your laptop. However, you can also use free downloadable tools such as CCleaner.
Disable some processes during start up
If your laptop runs slow during start up, you should turn off the unnecessary files. For Windows 7, 8, and Vista, click Start, then type the command MSCONFIG on the search box, and press Enter. You will be led to the System Configuration Utility window. On the Startup window, you can disable the files you don’t need to run all the time. If you are not sure, you can check their names on Google. But because you can easily enable them again anytime, you can try doing some experiments.
Check your Internet speed
Apparently, you might be focusing too much on your old laptop, but you don’t realize that your problem could be your Internet connection. Check your Internet speed (measured in Mbps) at Speedtest.net. However, note that the average Internet connection speed also depends on your location or country. But if your Internet speed is by far lower than normal, contact your ISP (Internet Service Provider). Check also your modem, or tweak the settings of your router if necessary.
Reformat your hard drive
If you have done everything but your old laptop is still running slow, maybe you need to completely reformat your laptop. However, be aware that this process is quite complicated and might not be for you. Any small mistake can potentially result to not being able to run Windows properly again. First, you should provide a backup to all your important files. You also need to have all of the software required. You can visit the official website of the laptop manufacturer for the updated drivers you will need. If you’re not sure what do to and you are worried about reinstalling Windows, don’t reformat your laptop. Ask someone to knowledgeable to help you. If there’s a fee, it should not be expensive.
Conclusion
In some cases, increasing your fan speed or not using a beautiful desktop background can speed up computer. Except for the reformatting your hard drive, the effectiveness of the above tips depend on how old your laptop is and how frequent you use it. And while some of them may virtually increase your system memory (RAM), you can also add physical RAM to your laptop. RAMs these days are very cheap and are very easy to install. If you don’t know how, there are many free tutorials online.
About the Author : Charlie M is a friend of technology. He’s been studying Information Technology in university, and currently writes for web publications concentrating on computer hardware. He is also the co-editor of Tech For Pennies, a budget technology blog.
