Some things get better with time, but this is not the case with computers.
The older your computer gets, the more likely it is to suffer from problems relating to its speed and performance.
source: pixabay.com
Technology is continuously becoming more efficient and effective as developers discover new ways to unlock and enhance functionality.
While you might not be able to make an old PC as impressive as one of the latest models on the market, you can improve the overall performance of your tech by taking a few basic steps.
Here are some great ways to get your PC working like clockwork again, even if you’ve been holding onto your investment for a few years now.
Get Rid of Excess Bloatware
It’s not just older computers that experience performance issues.
Some of the newer PCs on the market can also struggle to keep up with expectations – particularly when companies pre-install a bunch of features intended to make your tech more effective.
If you’ve got “bloatware” on your old computer, or software that you simply don’t use, then you can quickly boost performance just by getting rid of that unnecessary weight.
Think of it like spring-cleaning your machinery. Search through your installed files and programs for things that are just holding your performance back.
There are even programs available online that can simplify this process, like PCDecrapifier.
Start Defragmenting
Once you’ve got your computer systems all cleaned up, the next stage is to begin defragmenting.
Many mechanical hard drives have problems caused by fragmentation. Your old files get scattered across a drive, slowing down your computer as it attempts to access all the various portions of a file.
Defragmenting puts your files back together again and increases the speed of your hard drive at the same time.
To start defragmenting your hard drive, go into your control panel, and click on “System and Security” under the Administrative Tools tab.
From there, you can analyze your drive to see how fragmented it really is, then run the process to defrag.
Run a Disk Cleanup
Speaking of cleaning up your hard drive and internal systems, there are other components of your computer that you can clean too.
For instance, Windows comes with a built-in tool that’s specifically intended to clean up the junk in your computer that accumulates with time.
To get into the Disk Cleanup option:
- Go to the Control Panel, and into the System and Security tab, then into Administrative Tools.
- Click on “Disk Cleanup.”
- Here, click on the kind of files that you want to remove or clean, and select “Ok.”
- Click on Clean Up System files and you’ll be able to remove anything that’s not necessary for your PC.
If you’d rather not perform this process manually, software like Avast Cleanup can help.
Make the Most of your Operating System
The operating systems included with most computers are designed not only to help you run your PC but also keep that device running smoothly.
For instance, if you’re using Windows 10, there are various systems built into the OS that can help you to make the most of your device, including troubleshooters that can highlight the things that are slowing your computer down.
Learn how to use Windows 10, from software removal tools to task managers and more, and you’ll find that it’s much easier to start getting better performance from your investment in no time.
Something as simple as getting rid of unnecessary animations and special effects could be enough to transform the way that your PC works.
Add New Components
There are a lot of steps you can take to improve your old computer’s performance that rely on updating and enhancing the internal software.
However, sometimes your hardware could be the thing that’s holding you back the most.
If your laptop only has a very small amount of memory or RAM, for instance, then you’re going to struggle to keep things running at a rapid pace.
Adding extra RAM can be a quick way to upgrade performance.
Another option may be to switch your mechanical hard drive on an old PC for a solid-state drive (SSD).
The fact that there are no moving parts in a solid-state drive means that write and read speeds are much faster, so having your operating system on an SSD will feel like having a completely new PC. What’s more, today’s SSDs are often cheaper and come with more volume than they once did.
Check for Malware
Finally, when you’re in the process of updating and enhancing your old PC, it’s important to be sure that there’s nothing malicious in the background that could be slowing your performance down.
Dangerous programs on your computer may simply make it seem as though your device is running slowly due to age when really there’s someone out there trying to steal your files or disrupt your system.
As we move deeper into the age of security, now is the time to invest in good antivirus software and updated forms of protection to ensure that your PC is protected against attacks.
There are plenty of free and premium tools to choose from on the market today.
Keep Your PC Running Smoothly
After you’ve improved the computer’s performance by implementing the tips above, make sure that you keep it running perfectly.
Schedule a regular cleanup were you can perform some of the actions outlined above, and make sure that you’re always keeping an eye out for new ways to help your computer perform at its best.
Ashley Wilson is working remotely as a content creator, writing mostly about business and tech. She has been known to reference movies in casual conversation and enjoys baking homemade treats for her husband and their two felines, Lady and Gaga. You can get in touch with Ashley via Twitter.
