Improve PC performance in 4 easy steps
Article By: Editor | Topic: Advice, PC Performance, Slow PC?
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.
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