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Slow Computer? Tune it up!
You once had a sleek, fast computer but now it?s bogged down and slow. Time to get a new machine? Not necessarily. Here are a few simple ways to speed up your computer.
Uninstall
Uninstall any programs that you no longer need. Doing so frees up space on your hard drive and can reduce the number of programs feeding off your computer?s limited resources.
Background Programs
Take a look at the list of programs currently running in your task bar, typically on the bottom right of the screen. You can often configure many programs so they don?t automatically start up every time you turn on your computer.
Duplicate Files
Eliminate duplicate files. Many tools are available that can automatically detect duplicate files on your machine. You might be surprised to find hundreds of duplicate photo, movie or music files. Removing those files can free a lot of disk space.
Full Hard Disk?
How full is your hard disk? If you have less than 10% free space it might be time to think about either deleting files or add another hard disk. External or network drives can be an easy and cost-effective way to add storage.
Time for some Memory?
When your computer runs short of memory, called RAM, it starts to use your spinning hard disk instead of its fast memory chips. The performance reduction when you?re out of memory can be dramatic.
Fragmented Disk?
Your hard disk prefers to store information in large chunks so it can quickly go to a particular location on the hard disk and read information. Hopping around from place to place to gather little bits of information can really slow down your computer.
Simultaneous Programs
Finally, run fewer programs simultaneously on your computer. Each program uses memory and your computer processor?s time. If you?re running short on RAM this tip is especially useful.
Sure, there are more complex ways to fine tune your system but hopefully the tips above will help you make a few steps towards having a faster running computer.