The Best Programs to Speed Up a PC thumbnail There are a few programs you can use to speed up your PC There are a variety of reasons for a PC to begin slowing down. Over time, downloading, installing and removing different programs will fragment the files on your drive, causing the system to work harder to find the files.
Your PC also will run slowly if there are a number of applications running in the background, making the processor work overtime to compensate for programs you aren't even using. Fortunately, there are a few applications that come with WIndows to help speed up your PC. These programs will work in Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7.
Disk Defragmenter
You can find this program by going to "Start," selecting "All Programs," then "Accessories," and then "System Tools." Click on "Disk Defragmenter." This program locates the pieces of scattered files and puts them together, taking less time to load up applications in the future. This program should be run at least once a month to keep your PC running at optimal speed.
Msconfig
Click on the start menu and open "Run," then type "msconfig" in the box and hit enter. This program allows you to add and remove start up programs. Click on the tab called "Startup" and unckeck any programs you don't want to launch upon system startup. Many applications you install will add startup programs without telling you, causing the computer to take longer to boot up and leaving processes you're not using to run in the background, consuming needed resources. If you're not sure about what a process is used for, you can type the name of it into a search engine and determine if you need it running. Be careful what you uncheck; there are some startup processes that are essential.
Disk Cleanup
The Disk Cleanup program can be found by right-clicking on your disk drive in My Computer, selecting "Properties" and then "Disk Cleanup." This utility allows you to clear up space from unused programs, temporary files and your Internet browser's cache.
Speed Up Your PC by Removing the Useless Apps That Come With Your New Computer
Disappointed because the sleek, sexy new computer you bought moves like a snail? The problem may not be the machine's specs. Extra applications installed on top of Windows by the PC manufacturer can bloat and slow your brand-new system. Use third-party tools, built-in utilities and a bit of research to rid your new computer of memory-hungry apps you were never going to use anyway. Be careful, though, to preserve important system features. If you remove anti-malware protection, be sure to install a solid replacement.
Computer-Software Bundles
Retailers and PC manufacturers enter into agreements with software companies to put trial versions of software on new computers. For example, many computers ship with sample games; many of these are free to try for a limited time, then you have to purchase them. For retailers and manufacturers, these apps are an important source of profit in an industry where profits can be slim. These trial apps include anti-virus software, games, utilities like instant-message programs and media tools like CD burners. These apps affect a computer in two ways. First, if they're set to run when the computer boots up, the machine may take considerably longer to be ready to use after you press the power button. Second, if they run during normal computer operation, less memory and processing power is available for other tasks.
Removing Individual Programs
If you have just one program to remove, turn to the native Windows utility for this purpose. Press the Windows Start button to open the Control Panel, type "uninstall" in the search field in the top right corner of the window and follow onscreen instructions to uninstall a program. This approach is ideal when only one program proves troublesome. Note that if your machine is part of a network, you may not be able to use Windows tools to delete a program that your network administrator requires you to have.
System-Cleaning Software
For more comprehensive treatments, use a third-party program designed to remove unwanted bloatware. Applications like PC Decrapifier or Revo Uninstaller help to remove the unwanted programs. Tools like CCleaner, RegSeeker and IObit remove residual elements in the Windows Registry, which is the database for configuration files for all programs installed on your computer. Third-party tools are especially useful for getting rid of anti-virus programs, since these are usually designed to resist standard removal techniques.
Reinstall Windows
If there's just too much to cut through, you could take the somewhat drastic measure of wiping the hard drive of your new computer and installing Windows from scratch. This approach guarantees that you won't have anything unnecessary left over. It's increasingly common for manufacturers to put backup software -- which includes all the extra stuff you're trying to get rid of -- on a hidden partition on the hard drive, so you'll have to wipe that, too. The catch: you must have access to a separate, legal copy of Windows on disc. You'll also need to download drivers related to the video display or network adapter if they're not already recognized by Windows. Burn them to a CD or USB drive so you can install them when you refresh the operating system. Without them, you may not be able to see the screen or access the Internet to perform other updates or upgrades. Note that you can still use the license key that came with your computer. The key is usually printed on a sticker mounted somewhere on the computer case. So even if the disc is for a copy of Windows that's already installed on another computer that you own -- or if, say, the disc belongs to a friend -- as long as it's the same version of Windows you can use it for installation while using your own copy of the license key.
Considerations
One way of speeding up a PC is reducing the bloat of system startup. Some useless apps slow down a computer's boot-up speed because these apps, although unused, are scheduled to load when the computer turns on. If you don't mind keeping the programs but want to gain startup efficiency, run "msconfig" -- a system-configuration utility in Windows 7 that will let you select individually which applications load when the computer powers up. When some programs uninstall, they leave residual files, settings or folders on your computer. Although you can remove them manually if you wish, these lingering components will usually not affect your computer's operation once the program itself is disabled or deleted. Some programs look like unwanted bloatware but actually provide essential functionality for your computer. If the computer manufacturer supplies its own programs to support a custom hardware driver, for example, it might be tricky to distinguish driver software from a program you have no use for. If the program's author is the same company that manufactures the computer or any of the computer's components, do some research to see whether the offending program provides a critical system component before you kick it to the curb.
Five Ways to Speed Up Your Computer
If your computer seemingly takes forever to open an Internet browser or even a notepad document, the possible causes are many: general computer use, malicious software, memory leaks or, in all likelihood, lack of owner maintenance. Fortunately, the fixes are easy and inexpensive. Applying these tips will have your computer running faster than the snail's pace to which you've grown accustomed.
Delete Erased Files and Empty the Prefetch or Cache Folder
• You can start speeding up your computer by emptying that mass of junk you've allowed to accumulate in the Recycle Bin (or Trash on a Mac). Sending something to these folders, which hold deleted files, just moves it from one location on your hard drive to another. The item remains the same size and takes up the same amount of space. To get rid of the file, take out the garbage by emptying the Recycle Bin or the Trash. Unnecessary items in a PC's Prefetch folder can slow down your computer. The Prefetch folder contains files that help your computer to speed access by not having to load everything from the beginning. It saves remnants of the pages you've visited and files you've opened. So to speed things up, empty out the Prefetch folder: open it, highlight what's not needed and delete. Follow the instructions below to locate Prefetch:
Click on My Computer or Computer.
Click on your primary hard drive (usually C).
Click on Windows.
Scroll down to Prefetch.
Throw Out Those Temporary Internet Files and Cookies or Empty the Cache
• Temporary Internet files and cookies (Windows) and the Cache folder (Mac) work the same way as the items in Prefetch---they help speed your Internet browsing by retaining Web-page information so the computer doesn't have to load it all over again. However, too many of these files can slow your computer. Delete them often, especially if you're a big Web surfer, because temp files and cookies pile up quickly. Remove them by pulling down the Tools menu in Internet Explorer and Firefox or access the Cache by clicking on the Safari toolbar button on a Mac.
To delete these files in Internet Explorer:
Click on Tools and click on Internet Options.
Click on the General tab and click on Delete.
Check both Temporary Internet Files and Cookies and click on Delete.
In Firefox:
Click on Tools and click on Options.
Select the Privacy tab.
Click on Settings in the Private Data section.
Check Cookies and Cache and then click on OK.
Click on Clear Private Data to delete the items.
In Safari:
Click on Safari. Scroll down to Empty Cache... and click on it.
Install a Memory Module
• Adding memory is one of the easiest, fastest, least expensive ways to speed up your computer, and it most often takes only a Phillips-head screwdriver and about 10 spare minutes. Memory modules supply random access memory (RAM) to support programs. With more memory, a computer can spend less time alloting modest amounts of memory to all the programs it's running.
Delete Programs You Don't Use
• Programs can pile up on a computer, especially if you're a gamer or an electronic musician. Get rid of programs sitting idle on the hard drive to free some space for applications you are using. Uninstalling gets rid of the program and most of the Registry entries created when it was installed. The fewer programs hogging space, the faster your computer runs.
Run Your Utility Programs
• Regularly run your Disk Defragmenter, Disk Clean-up, antivirus software and any other applications that help make your computer fast and efficient. Scan the antivirus software weekly and run the others at least every two weeks. You can install dozens of other free programs that are compatible with both, Windows and Mac. CCleaner, Tweak Now! Reg Cleaner and Revo Uninstaller will each keep your hard drive free of clutter.
A Revo Uninstaller utility is said to erase data off your system so effectively that even the FBI might be unable to restore it. Avast Antivirus, AVG Antivirus and Avira, also free programs, eliminate malicious software and come with firewalls to protect your computer. These utilities work together, stripping out anything that will make your computer sluggish, allowing the system to work faster and more smoothly.
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