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.