A slow computer is one of the worst nightmares one can have. Blame it on the operating system as much as you want; it is a good idea to ponder upon the problem before the frustration takes its hold. Here our team of tech geniuses, geeks, and your average IT guy teamed up to gather the most reliable methods on how to speed up your computer.
Perhaps overconfidently, I can say that having a slow computer is one of the key contributing factors in stress-related illnesses. I feel no need for an academic article to back it up as it is an experience we can all understand. I won’t be filling up a search box in expectation to confirm my bias with its results. No, I firmly believe (and solemnly swear!) that this frustration is intolerable, and I will not let another soul suffer it.
Why Is My Computer Slow?
Let’s begin with the basics. The time you recognized the problem might have a vital role in solving it. If it is an older, unsupported operating system or a 10 years old Windows laptop, then the answer lies in front of you. It is unlikely to have solved your problem but keep reading because the methods below will surely help you.
Removing Unnecessary Software
Nothing is better than a good, thorough cleanup when all those installed programs begin to slow down your computer. You should visit the control panel and check the installed programs. Eliminating unnecessary ones might relieve some issues.
If you are a fan of recycling like us, then you might have a tad too many documents in your recycling bin. You must know that the data in the recycling bin is still stored and kept on your computer. So you should empty it from time to time to give a breather to your faithful companion.
How to Disable Startup Programs
If your computer takes its time turning on after clicking the start button, you might want to check the startup tab. It is where you can see all the programs that are set to launch when Windows starts. To reach the Startup tab, you should first click the Start button (also known as the Windows button); then, in the same order, you need to select Settings, Apps, and lastly, Startup. There, you can easily turn off the apps you don’t want to start when you log in.
Another, perhaps easier method is to reach Task Manager by writing it on the search box or simply using CTRL + ALT + DEL. There under the Startup tab, you can easily enable or disable whether your programs start when you turn your computer on or not.
Make Sure Everything is Up to Date
Needless to say, the high number of software we use in our day-to-day life makes it really hard to keep track of all those pesky updates. Windows update does its job perhaps a bit too well in reminding you of its own updates, and it helps speed up Windows 10. But, not every software does it as efficiently or regularly. And to top it all, most of the time, we disable update warnings. And they are, most of the time (let’s be honest here) quite annoying. So checking each of your, at the very least, important software can help alleviate your annoyance.
After you are done with the software part, make sure to check your drivers. This part might initially scare you a bit. There are tons of devices that need drivers. And most of them have unusual names as if they came out of a sci-fi dystopia. However, you don’t need to be a tech-savvy person to update your drivers and speed up Windows 10.
Windows 10 Handle Updates Surprisingly Well
Nowadays, Windows handles most driver updates, and graphics card brands have tackled their part of the problem long ago. Simple enough, for the graphics card, just download your graphics card’s driver from their website. It will guide you for the best performance. You can even tinker with some of the settings their software provides to make it suit your needs better.
Windows 10 handles driver updates well enough; however, you might want to check and manually update some devices. To do this, you should search for Device Manager in the search box on your taskbar. Here, you can see the category of devices, and if you click to expand the category, you will see each of the devices under it. Then you can individually update, enable, or even disable them by right-clicking on any of them. Updating drivers should feel easier now. So make sure that all your drivers and programs are always up-to-date, especially if you value high performance.
You Might Want to Consider Getting Better Hardware
If these answers haven’t helped you much and you still feel the need to restart your computer frequently to make it function alright, then you might consider getting better hardware. But if we intend to spend less and keep our budget low, we should first learn what part of your computer requires an upgrade.
If throughout the day, increased workload boggles down your computer like the number of tabs open on your browser, then you should check if your CPU or RAM is bottlenecking. But how do we check it? Well, you can use CTRL + ALT + DEL shortcut or just search Task Manager at the search box. There under the performance tab, you can see the data helpful for you to diagnose the problem.
Just Upgrade to SSDs Please
One word: SSDs. Well, technically, it is an abbreviation, but anyway. You might have lagged behind while all the cool kids transitioned to SSDs. It is key for high performance. An HDD can no longer keep up with the performance we expect from our computers. And if you are upgrading to an SSD, the difference is on a whole new level. So we urge you to get an SSD if you don’t have one yet.
Conclusion: It Should Run Faster
After removing all the unnecessary programs, managing what programs are enabled for Startup, and making sure that all our software and drivers are up-to-date, it should run faster. However, if the improvement is not satisfying and our computer is still annoyingly slow, then you should go for a hardware upgrade.
We suppose you have enjoyed tinkering with your PC for better performance.