Speed Up an Old Computer With These 7 Tricks

That computer was so snappy when you bought it. Now you can take a shower and drink four cups of coffee in the time it takes your computer to start. When it finally is up and running, it’s like trying to swim through molasses. What you would really like to do is toss it in the dumpster and head for the nearest electronics store.

Try these tricks first. Your wallet will thank you!

1.   Optimize and free up hard disk space.
A nearly full hard drive will slow down your computer. Get rid of temporary internet and Windows files. There are some free programs out there, just be careful what you choose and stay very close to the program’s default settings. Run Disk Defragmenter (found in the control panel) to consolidate fragmented files and folders and speed up the reading and writing to the disk. Scan the drive for bad sectors and file system errors by running the Error Checking utility.
If your hard drive is still nearly full, consider moving your photo, video or music library to an external drive.
2.   Speed up your startup
Installing a solid-state hard drive will make your older PC like new again. It can be a little bit of an expense, but really worth it. Also check to see if you have too many programs that start automatically when you turn on your computer. These programs will zap resources needed during startup.
3.   Increase your RAM
A sensible upgrade to 4GB from 1 or 2GB of RAM will definitely help the processor read data at a much faster rate if you are a multi-tasker.
4.   Boost your browsing
The frustration of a slow computer is only compounded if you have a slow internet connection. This fix could be as simple as abandoning Internet Explorer for a much more nimble Firefox or Chrome. Also walk away from junky toolbars by manually removing the browser in the add-on settings.If you think the problem is in your wireless network, you can check to see if the internet speed is in fact as fast as what you are paying for. You can try Speedtest.net to run a test. Also try tweaking your router settings.
5.   Use faster software
There are several free, open-source software programs available that are cost saving and leaner and faster than their commercial counterparts. Programs like Foxit Reader or Sumatra are great options to Adobe Reader. GIMP is very comparable to Photoshop but does not hog resources. LibreOffice and Thunderbird can replace Microsoft Office and Outlook with ease. Try VLC instead of Windows Media Player.
6.   Remove pesky viruses and spyware
Spyware and viruses will bog down your performance as well as compromise your privacy. Fight this by scanning your machine for malware. Update your security programs often to stay protected. Weekly scans are not too much.
7.   Think outside the box
You may be tired of the hassle of trying to manage all of this techy mumbo-jumbo yourself. You may want to consider renting your computer. This is an affordable, no-hassle solution to the sluggish computer. Renting a computer puts the maintenance in the hands of professionals every time and allows you to upgrade much more frequently than if you had to purchase a new, bigger, better computer every couple of years.