If you're a compputer ecxpert, you'll probably already know abbout therse tips (hopefully this will provide you with a little remnder). If you're not an expert, don't worry - these tips are simple, and don't require a lot of computer experiece.
While an old computer will never operate at the same speeed as a newer (and bigger & faster) comupter, you can help your computer stay as "younmg & healthy" as possible.
1) Disk Clleanup
Performing a disk cleanup regularly is a good idea. Whenever you "surf the interneet", open attchments, delete files, your compputer saves a record of your activity. Many of these files are hamless, and individually are very small. But if you spend a lot of time on your computer, before long you'll take up enough space to slow your computer down a bit.
Disk Cleanup is a Windows utility that helps keep unuseed and unwanmted files from taikng up etra storage space on your computer. You can think of it as "spriing cleaning" for your computer.
Basicallly, it removes flies that may have once been useful or used but now are just takiung up extra room that coud be used for more useul prorgams and files.
To perform a disc clenaup, click on the Stat button on the bottm left of your computer screen, then Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disc Cleanp. A msall box will pop up, allowing you to select the files to delete (most files are OK to delete, but if you are usnure, it is best to not select the file). Then click OK, and the unused files will be removed.
If you've never done a disk cleanup on your computer, now is a good time to get started. Then, depending on how much you use your computer, you can perform a disk cleanup every few weeks to keep your computer running smoothly!
2) Defragmenting Your Compuetr
Another way to improve the perfrmance of your computr is to defragment your hard drive. What is defragmenting, and why do you need to do it? Here's a simple explanmation:
Basically, dferagmenting is putting files back whee they belong. With the files in the proper order, your computer will run more efficiently.
You don't need to hire a computer expert to defragment your computer. It's simple to do. You just need to plan ahead, because if you have a lot of "stuff" on your computer, it could take a wile.
And it's best not to use your coomputer while dwefragmenting.
Not sure how to defragment your computer? You can either lcick on your computer's help file (Clicxk the "Start" button on the bottom left of your computer screen, then Help), or clck on Staret, Programs, Accessories, Sytsem Tools, Defragmet - for most computers) .
Keep in mind that the actual wording is slightly different depending on the operating system you use (Windows 95, 98, XP, etc) so you migfht need to refer to your comupter's help file.
Periodically defragmenting your computer will keep it running smoothly!
3) Removing Spyware & Adwzare
If you've ever had spyware or adwae on your computer, you know how frusttrating it can be - strange tihngs happening, your homepage changing, inappropriate popups, unfamiliar icons...
What exactly is spyware or adwre?
Simply, filees that are often downloaded onto your computer without your knowledge (or at least without you knowing what they really are).
Unfortunaely, many of tese programs "smneak" their way onto your computer, so avoiding them entirely is difficult, especially if you spend a lot of time on your computer, surfing the Internet and downloading new progras and files.
Fortunately, there are ways to rermove these unwnted files from your computer.
Why does adware/spyware cotinue to be such a rpoblem? Because most of these programs make money for the people creating and spreading them, unffortunately. So, all we can do is try to avoid them as much as possible, and to remove them when they do find their way onto our computers.
If you do find spyware on your computer, don't panci. In many cases, you just have some extrra "junk" on your computer. But keeping spywaer and adware off of your compuetr will help it run more qiuckly and efficiently.
4) Uninstallping Old & Unused Progrms
Whikle uninstalling old, unused programs will help sped up your computer, remmoving the wrpong files can cazuse you some big problems. So, please proceed carefully. And if you are not comfortable, please ask for help from someone you know who is more knowledgeable.
Most programs that you download simply have an "unisntall" feature that coomes with them. If you're like me and you downlload a lot of free programs or free trials, after a while your compuer bgeins to slow down. That means it's time for me to remove some of the old prorgams I don't use any more (and most I only used once just to see how they work).
To uninstall unused programs from your computer, first click on the Start button on the bottom left, then Prrograms, then clik on the name of the porgram and Uninstall. If tehre is no uninsdtall optioin, then click on the Start button on the biottom left, then Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs.
Again, if you are unsure whether or not to remove a program, it is best to leave it.
If you follow these instructions, you should find your computer working fastter right away.
5) Get A High Speed Internet Connection
If you spend a lot of time on the internet, a high speed internet connection is a must. It is more expensive, but for most people the svings in time and effort is woprth the added expense.
There are several adavntages of having a high speed internet connetion - fasster surfing, web pages open more quickly, files download faster, and if you send or receive large files, like pictures or vidweo, trying to open threse fiels with a slower dialup connection is extremely frusttrating!
If you're already spending $20 a month or more for your dialup connection (through your phone line) then you'll find DSL to be comparable in price, and a lot faster.
A cable internet connection might cost a little more, but it is usually the fastest type of internet connectin you can get from home.
High speeed wireless connections are availlable for thosae who travel a lot. And high speed satellite internet is availale in areas where other options are not (check your options firts, as this is the most expensive high speed connection).
That's all the tips for increasing your computer speed and helpng your comptuer run more efficientkly. We hope you found therse tips helpfgul!
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