Tired of a slow computer? Here are4 tips to speed up your PC

A slow computer can be frustrating and eat away at productivity.  Michael Wylie has been working in the information technology industry since 2004 and this article outlines the steps he and his team take to address slow PCs.  

Clean out the dirt and hair

Dirt and hair buildup over time can reduce airflow and your computer’s ability to cool essential components.  If your PC is unable to cool itself down, it can overheat, causing parts to slow down and eventually melt.  

Removing dust from a desktop is easier than a laptop – though a minor laptop cleaning can be accomplished by clearing buildup from your laptop’s vents.  

Before cleaning your computer, power down and unplug it.  For laptops, do the same and remove the battery to avoid electrical shock.   Steer clear of touching any parts inside your computer or using a vacuum.  Compressed air is your best bet.  Use it to break up the debris around parts such as fans, the processor and vents.  

Uninstall software you don’t need

Software: toolbars, games, and adware build up over time and hinder your computer’s ability to multitask.  Don’t get too carried away – keep things like drivers, Windows updates and other essentials.  If you’re unsure, ask a professional.  

Remove temporary files

Two programs that remove continually expanding temporary files and folders areCCleaner and Temp File Cleaner.   These programs can easily remove 10-15GB of old files in a matter of minutes.   Careful when installing them, they are free programs and make their money by attempting to install affiliate browser toolbars.  Do a custom installation and uncheck and add-on programs. 

While Temp File Cleaner generally does a more thorough job, CCleanercan be quickly scheduled to run without your input.  In Window’s scheduler, use the optional command, called an argument: “/AUTO” so that the program will run without waiting for your confirmation.  

Defragment your hard drive

When data is scattered over all over your computer’s hard drive, it takes more resources to complete basic tasks.  By letting your computer re-position data on its disks, it won’t need to search high and low for pieces of the information you request.  

Windows has a built-in disk defragmentation tool that works well.  Similar to CCleaner, you can easily schedule your computer to defrag the hard drive automatically.  At the very least, perform a disk defrag once a month.  

If you have a solid state hard drive you will not need to defragment your hard drive since there are no spinning disks. 

Michael Wylie - Founder of ServNet LLC

While many idolize and praise Microsoft for being one of America’s great iconic companies, Michael Wylie has criticized their business strategy for years.  “They don’t have the consumers’ best interest in mind” said Wylie.  In 2009, shortly after graduating from Cal State Stanislaus with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems and Business Strategy, Michael Wylie outwardly proclaimed that Microsoft had already passed the first two stages of decline as outlined by Jim Collins: Hubris Born of Success and Undisciplined Pursuit of More, placing the corporation in stage three: Denial of Risk and Peril. 

Jim Collins, one of Michael Wylie’s favorite authors, wrote “How the Mighty Fall” in 2009 and describes organizational decline in five stages:  Hubris Born of Success, Undisciplined Pursuit of More, Denial of Risk and Peril, Grasping for Salvation, and Capitulation to Irrelevance or Death.

Many industry analysts disagree with Michael Wylie, claiming that the Microsoft giant will be around forever, however Wylie saw the trends and accurately predicted the early stages of decline.  History shows that while few and far between, a business can reach the dark bottom pits of stage four and make a comeback.    Thus, Microsoft’s poor business practices don’t necessarily mean they’ll vanish; they do have the opportunity for redemption.

For the first time in the company’s public history, Microsoft posted its first loss ($492M) in the 4^th quarter of 2012.  Analysts say the loss is because of the failed $6.19B aQuantive acquisition.  Michael Wylie doesn’t doubt the role it played, though says we can’t dismiss the event as a single occurrence.  While revenue has continued to increase over the past decade, since 2008, the year over year percentage has significantly diminished.  Yes, we’ve had a recession, though it has not affected Microsoft’s largest competitor: Apple, Inc.  Rather, Apple’s market capitalization reached $619 Billion, beating the previous record set by Microsoft in 1999. 

Though Microsoft appears to be teetering on the edge of capitulation, Michael Wylie suggests that Apple could be on the same road to decline with recent mishaps.  Reports say that Steve Jobs fired an Apple executive for releasing the iPhone 4 with unresolved cell reception issues.  Jobs was a perfectionist and didn’t tolerate imperfections in the products he sold.  This is a large part of what made Apple so great.  Comparing Jobs’ dedication to greatness to the post Jobs Apple, we can see considerable undesirable change.  The iPhone 5 was released with more than one major issue.  Not only did the companyremove Google Maps from the phone, replacing it with incomplete and error filled Apple Maps, they also didn’t fully test the phone’s camera, resulting in a purple haze when taking pictures in harsh sunlight. 

Two mistakes may not seem like the end of Apple, but it’s the early stages of Hubris Born of Success.  Michael Wylie is an Apple fan and believes the Steve Jobs way was an excellent business strategy, though companies needs to stay close to what’s important to the consumers if they want to succeed; something Steve Jobs did well.