A slow computer is a known issue for many users. Fortunately, solving it often does not require special technical knowledge, and sometimes, instead of buying a new computer, you can limit yourself to replacing a couple of components.
Instructions
Step 1
Dust cleaning. Dust builds up on the processor fan impairs hot air exhaust. When the processor needs to take on a high load, it overheats and "hangs" to cool down and continue working. One of these freezes can be the last for the processor. Be sure to clean the computer from dust at least once every 3 months, paying special attention to the fans - the most dangerous dust accumulates under them.
Step 2
Cleanup startup. Some applications immediately add themselves to startup after installation. This means that they will be loaded every time you turn on your computer without asking your permission. And, of course, they will consume some of the computer's resources.
To disable unnecessary programs, click "Start" - "Run" - enter "msconfig" - click "OK" (if you have Windows 7, click "Start" and enter "msconfig" in the search box). In the new window, click "Startup" and disable all applications except the most essential ones (for example, antivirus).
Step 3
Disable visual effects. If you have an operating system of the Windows family, you can increase the speed of your computer by disabling visual effects (the outline of files when they are moved to another folder, shadows on files on the desktop, etc.).
Right-click on My Computer, select Properties, then Advanced (or Advanced System Settings for Windows 7). In the new window under the heading "Performance" select "Options" and click on "Provide Best Performance".
Step 4
Disk Defragmenter. Over time, the information that you store on your computer takes on a chaotic form: one small file can be scattered in small pieces all over the disk, which noticeably increases the speed of access to it.
During defragmentation, pieces of files are collected together and re-saved to the hard disk. Defragmentation can take several hours. At this time, it is strictly forbidden to do anything on the computer, especially to create and delete files and folders. It is also advisable to disable all programs, including antivirus. The slightest changes can lead to file system failure and data loss.
To start defragmentation go to "My Computer", right-click on the drive you need, select "Properties", then go to "Tools" and click on "Defragment".
Step 5
Cleaning the hard drive. Over time, a lot of unnecessary information accumulates on the disk (error log, cookies, garbage from old applications, etc.). You can clean up the disk using the popular CCleaner program. You can download it for free from the official website of the developer - piriform.com.
Step 6
Increase the paging file. If the computer needs more RAM than the computer has, it tries to use a portion of the hard drive. This part is called the swap file.
To change the paging file, go to the menu for disabling visual effects (see step 3), select the "Advanced" tab and click on the "Change" button. Here in the minimum and maximum sizes you can enter "8192". Be sure to click the "Set" button, otherwise the changes will not be saved.
Step 7
Increasing the paging file using a USB flash drive. This tricky move can dramatically increase the speed of your computer. Buy an inexpensive 8 or 16 GB flash drive at any computer store or stall. Connect it to your computer and set the maximum possible paging file value for it. Thus, if there is not enough RAM, the computer will not switch to the hard disk, which already carries a considerable load, but to the USB flash drive.
Step 8
Purchase of RAM. Sometimes it is impossible to speed up a computer using standard methods - hardware does not allow. In this case, you can purchase the cheapest and one of the most important computer components - RAM. But there are too many nuances in this matter, so it is better to ask for help from one of your friends or call a computer wizard to your home.
Step 9
Purchase of a second hard drive. If you like to do several things on your computer at the same time (for example, search the Internet for information to music, alternately chatting with friends in ICQ or Skype) - you make the hard disk do a triple job. But it has an operating system on it. And the paging file too. It turns out that even an ordinary user has a hard disk constantly loaded with many tasks, which not only slows down the speed of its work, but can also cause premature failure.
What is the correct way to solve this problem? By purchasing a second hard drive, of course. One will be responsible for the operating system and applications, while the other will be responsible for data storage and the paging file. This is one of the most effective methods of increasing computer speed and is used by many large companies.
Step 10
Reinstalling the operating system. There are cases (for example, after a virus activity) when the operating system is so cluttered or damaged that it is almost impossible to restore it. In this case, the only correct solution would be to reinstall it.
