Having a slow computer is not something most users fancy, but that is what most of us end up with after prolonged usage despite having the latest hardware. Understandably, there are also a few of us who are trapped with a low-end PC and are forced to get as much out of it as possible. This article caters to both these type of users as it not only explains how to make your computer as fast as it was when new but also how to reduce the footprint of your system to utilize your PC's current system resources in the best possible way.
If your computer is infected, the first thing you need to do is deep scan your entire hard drive to remove all traces of the virus. Also, scan your secondary storage devices to make sure that they are clean as well. Additionally, be sure to follow best security practices to avoid getting infected in the future.
Now that we are sure that your computer is not slow because of a virus, you need to get rid of all the unnecessary programs that you have installed on your PC. To remove these programs, go to Programs in the Control Panel and uninstall your unnecessary programs one by one. If you are like most Windows users and are having a tough time figuring out which programs to uninstall as all of them seem important, follow this rule: If you have not used the program in the last month, it probably is unnecessary. It is better to uninstall that program given that you can reinstall it whenever required. It also is a good idea to remove all the useless software that came bundled with your computer. If you want, you can remove unused Windows features as well to further tone down your operating system.
Often, when you install an application, the process also installs a number of start-up programs that run each time Windows is started. This increases boot-up times and slows down the overall running of the machine. These can be disabled or removed altogether.
To do this, type in “Msconfig” on machines running Windows 7 or earlier. Windows 8 users onwards can locate the start-up programs list in the task manager.
On the Startup tab, look for anything programs you think you don’t need to use. Uncheck these items and click on Apply. Reboot the laptop to apply these changes.
To do this, open that Start Menu and start typing in “Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows”. Click on this option and from the scroll menu untick everything you don’t wish to see on the desktop (such as shadows, smooth fonts, etc.) Click on OK and this will change the desktop to something more basic looking.
On systems other than Windows 10, switching everything off gives the desktop a Windows 95-style look and feel. It is surprising to note how much of the so-called “flat look” of Windows 10 relies on graphical flourishes when you switch everything off.
When Windows stores a file on your hard drive, it does not look for a single place to store your file as a whole. Instead, it stores the fragments of the file randomly, i.e storing them at whatever empty space it can find the quickest. Due to this, the fragments of a single file can be scattered all across a hard disk. A hard drive that has many files distributed like this is called as fragmented.
To defragment your hard drive, you can use the in-built Windows Disk Defragmenter utility. It can be searched on the Start Screen/ Menu in Windows 10, 8 & 8.1 and is located at Start>Programs>Accessories>System Tools in older versions of Windows.
First thing first. Make sure your PC isn't infected by a virus, worm or other malware
If your computer is infected, the first thing you need to do is deep scan your entire hard drive to remove all traces of the virus. Also, scan your secondary storage devices to make sure that they are clean as well. Additionally, be sure to follow best security practices to avoid getting infected in the future.
Remove unused and unnecessary programs
Now that we are sure that your computer is not slow because of a virus, you need to get rid of all the unnecessary programs that you have installed on your PC. To remove these programs, go to Programs in the Control Panel and uninstall your unnecessary programs one by one. If you are like most Windows users and are having a tough time figuring out which programs to uninstall as all of them seem important, follow this rule: If you have not used the program in the last month, it probably is unnecessary. It is better to uninstall that program given that you can reinstall it whenever required. It also is a good idea to remove all the useless software that came bundled with your computer. If you want, you can remove unused Windows features as well to further tone down your operating system.
Disable start-up programs
Often, when you install an application, the process also installs a number of start-up programs that run each time Windows is started. This increases boot-up times and slows down the overall running of the machine. These can be disabled or removed altogether.
To do this, type in “Msconfig” on machines running Windows 7 or earlier. Windows 8 users onwards can locate the start-up programs list in the task manager.
On the Startup tab, look for anything programs you think you don’t need to use. Uncheck these items and click on Apply. Reboot the laptop to apply these changes.
Switch off unnecessary animations
To do this, open that Start Menu and start typing in “Adjust the appearance and performance of Windows”. Click on this option and from the scroll menu untick everything you don’t wish to see on the desktop (such as shadows, smooth fonts, etc.) Click on OK and this will change the desktop to something more basic looking.
On systems other than Windows 10, switching everything off gives the desktop a Windows 95-style look and feel. It is surprising to note how much of the so-called “flat look” of Windows 10 relies on graphical flourishes when you switch everything off.
Defragment your hard drive
When Windows stores a file on your hard drive, it does not look for a single place to store your file as a whole. Instead, it stores the fragments of the file randomly, i.e storing them at whatever empty space it can find the quickest. Due to this, the fragments of a single file can be scattered all across a hard disk. A hard drive that has many files distributed like this is called as fragmented.
To defragment your hard drive, you can use the in-built Windows Disk Defragmenter utility. It can be searched on the Start Screen/ Menu in Windows 10, 8 & 8.1 and is located at Start>Programs>Accessories>System Tools in older versions of Windows.
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