Tech Tips – How to make your PC run faster

According to a recent Harris Interactive poll, the #1 reason for replacing a computer or laptop is poor performance – the machine just becomes too slow.

If this sounds familiar – and you haven’t significantly changed the way you have been using your computer over the last few months – then there are some simple steps you can take to clean it up and improve performance. A successful clean can make you more efficient – and save you several hundred dollars on an unnecessary replacement.

1. Check the storage space

Start out by checking the free space on your hard drive. You do this by clicking on the Windows Start button and selecting Computer. Windows XP users can just double click on the Computer icon on the desktop.

Once you have identified your hard drive – often designated as Drive C – right-click on that drive and select Properties. You will see a colored disc, indicating the amount of Used space and Free space. If the Free space is less than 10% of the total capacity, then that’s probably a contributing factor to the slowdown.

However, if your Free space is rapidly diminishing, all is not lost. You may be able to free up additional space by deleting files or programs you no longer use. (See below).

Something to keep in mind – if your total hard dive capacity is less than 50GB, you might want to start thinking about upgrading your computer anyway. Even mid-performance laptops now come with up to 250GB. If you handle a lot of media files or you ever want to upgrade to Windows 7, you will need extra space.

2. Delete old files and programs

Go through your main folders and delete files you no longer use. Particularly look for media files, Photoshop files or anything else that eats up lots of space.

Also, uninstall programs you don’t use anymore. Older computers have a habit of accumulating unnecessary software and programs – everything from that Barbie game your daughter hasn’t played in years to copies of out-of-date tax software.

To do this, go to the Windows Start button and choose Control Panel. Windows XP users will see it under Settings. Select Install/Uninstall Programs or Add or Remove Programs, depending on your version of Windows. Run down the list of programs. If you see one that you recognize and you know you don’t use it, click Uninstall. If you are unsure about a particular program, then leave it alone.

3. Delete temporary files

Every time you visit a web site, your computer stores information so next time you visit, the page will reload faster. This information is stored in temporary files, which have a tendency to mount up, clogging space and possibly slowing down the computer.

Go back to the hard drive Properties window, as described in 1. above. Click on Disk Cleanup. After running some checks, your computer will present a window with options for clean up. Check the box against Temporary Internet Files, leaving the other boxes unchecked. Click OK.

4. Scan for viruses, spyware, etc.

Finally, after deleting old programs, files and temporary files to free up space, you should run up-to-date security software to check for viruses, spyware and other bugs. If you have been having trouble with e-mail – it’s slow and unstable – then that’s usually a sign that viruses are present.

If you don’t have security software installed, buy or download software from one of the reputable security firms. (Symantec and McAfee are two of the larger players.) Stay away from companies that offer software to run free security checks. They will usually present you with an incomprehensible list of problems and then bug you forever with reminder messages!

Once you have taken these four steps, your computer should be noticeably faster. If everything works out, repeat these steps every three months or so to maintain optimum performance.