A common issue amongst PC users is the ever-recurring problem of a slow PC.  While the truth of the matter is that fixing the slow computer problem isn’t generally complicated – many users falsely assume that because they know little about PC repair and maintenance, that there is nothing that they can do on their own.  That is, apart from dropping their computer off at a computer repair location.  However, this is patently false information and we’re going to disclose a few methods that even novice PC users can use to speed up their PCs.

Scan for viruses, spyware and other malicious programs

Many computer owners are not aware of the devastating effects that malicious programs can have on their computer’s performance.  It’s very common that a virus, trojan horse, spyware or adware will so integrate itself into one’s computer that it is constantly in-demand and continually eating up available computer resources.  By removing malware from your PC you’re not only going to notice an overall speed difference, you’ll be protecting your own privacy and security.

Registry cleaning – the one-step PC booster

Cleaning your computer’s registry should be part of your regular computer maintenance – though many PC users fail to recognize the importance of continual registry cleanings.  Basically, your Windows registry is the head-of-operations on your computer; everything that runs on your PC runs through the registry.  Through general usage over time, your computer’s registry will store redundant, invalid or flat-out errant information, which this degradation of your registry can lead to less-than-stellar PC performance as well as intermittent errors and computer crashes.

Remove excess and unused programs from your computer

If you are low on hard drive space, it is time to clean house and remove some of the programs that you have not used in months (or years!).  These unused programs are taking up space on your hard drive, they are taking up space in your registry, and it is always possible that certain applications came pre-installed with various forms of malware, which could be slowing down your computer in and of themselves.

When you are removing programs from your computer, be sure that you use the proper channels to do so - the Add and Remove programs option in your Windows Control Panel is the best way to remove a program.  Doing so any other way could actually cause you problems due to registry corruption.

Speeding up your PC doesn’t have to be difficult and there are certain things, such as we outlined above, that can be performed by computer users of nearly any experience level.  If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, you can save yourself some cash by trying out the suggestions above before you take your computer into the repair center.

Sluggish or slow PCs are a problem for users today; slow boot times, slow response times and overall less-than-stellar performance times are the bane of PC users everywhere. That being said - here are four easy steps that PC users can use to improve their PC performance - and it’s pretty simple, even for new or inexperienced computer users.

Defragment your hard drive

Unbeknownst to some, defragmenting your hard drive can be a very effective method for improving your PCs performance; it’s non-intrusive, simple and safe for computer users of any level to incorporate.

How to defragment your hard drive:

Step 1: On your computer main screen, click Start >> My Computer

Alternately, if you have a “My Computer” icon on your desktop, you can double-click on that.

Step 2: Right click (with your mouse) on your main PC partition (hard drive), this is usually labeled “Local Disk (C:)” or something to that effect.

Step 3: From the menu, choose Properties >> Tools >> Defragment Now

At this point you just have to click on the “Defragment” button and the process will start.  Now, be forewarned - if you haven’t defragmented your hard drive or have never defragmented your PC hard drive - it may take a while to complete.  However, the wait is well worth it as it can help to improve your PC performance exponentially.

Clear your web browser cache and temporary files

Your Web Browser’s cache stores temporary internet files, cookies and your entire internet viewing history, amongst other things.  All of these excess files take up space on your hard drive and can slow down your computer’s performance, especially when you’re browsing the internet.  Here’s how to clear your web browser cache and improve PC performance for the two most popular web browsers:

How to clean Internet Explorer (IE)

Once you have your Internet Explorer browser open, go to the menu and choose Tools >> Internet Options.

On the general tab you have the option to clear your temporary files, cookies and history.

How to clean FireFox

Firefox is just as easy to clean - from the menu just choose Tools >> Options >> Privacy.  At the bottom of the menu you’ll see an option for “Private Data” - you can just choose the “Clear Now” button and your cache and histories will be cleared - this will help you to free up hard drive space and in some cases, improve PC performance.

A word of caution - sometimes when you clear your private data (or web history, temporary files, etc), you will inadvertently removed saved passwords and saved website links that display when you begin typing in your web browser’s address bar.  If you wish to save certain data during the cleaning process, please adjust your settings - the Settings button can be found near the “Clean Now” buttons.

Use a registry cleaner tool

One of the most underused tools to improve PC performance is a registry cleaner tool or a “registry fixer”.  Essentially, a registry cleaner removes outdated and excesses references in you Windows registry - which can help to increase your computer’s speed.

Now - a word to the wise.  You should only choose a registry cleaner tool that allows for you to make a backup of your registry and we highly recommend the RegCure (YOUR AFFILIATE LINK HERE) registry repair tool. Not only is it easy to use, it allows you to make registry backups with every cleaning, a must-have feature for any serious registry repair tool.

Reboot your PC from time to time

Because broadband internet is widely available today with “always on” internet connections - many computer users mistakenly think that computers can be left running, without a reboot, indefinitely as well. Simply put - this is not the case.  By rebooting your computer from time to time you will improve your PC performance, it’s a proven fact.

Think about it like this - our body’s are always “running”, but we need to “reboot” (sleep and rest) in order to be more effective.  It’s really the same with your computer - by rebooting it from time to time you can potentially free up some memory and give your computer a “fresh start” once in a while - which will improve its speed and performance.

Improving your PCs performance isn’t all that difficult - with this short guide you should be able to improve your PC performance regardless of your current experience level.