How to Speed Up Old Computers

There’s nothing more annoying than wanting to check something quickly on your computer and having to wait 10 minutes or more due to the device being old and slow. Even though the simplest solution to old, slow devices, is buying newer ones, it is a very expensive one, especially when there are cheap and easy alternatives around.

According to Austin Alexander Burridge of Rosemount, Illinois, a self-taught coder with a passion for all things tech, if you’re also dealing with a slow computer or laptop, the following information will help you speed it up.

First of all, how long has it been since you last scanned your device? Do you even have antivirus software on your device? If your device is running Windows 8 or up, then the answer is yes, and the software is called Microsoft Defender. If you are running another version of Windows or another operating system, and you can’t remember whether or not you have an antivirus, then the odds are you don’t have one. Buy one or download one of the many free offerings, such as Malwarebytes Anti-Malware.

After finding your antivirus software, make sure to run a complete scan of your computer and delete the infected software after the scan is complete. Normally, antivirus programs run scans periodically, but they only run quick scans, which do not cover the entirety of your hard disk, which means that certain pesky viruses might still be uncovered.

Another easy way to make your computer faster is to go over everything on your hard disk and delete anything you do not need anymore. Chances are, there are many folders with useless files hanging around your hard disk, and the sooner you delete them, the sooner your computer will be running faster. Alternatively, if there are many important files just sitting on your computer, but you do not want to delete them, you can always search online for cloud storage, and upload your files there. Uploading your files to cloud storage will not only help free some of the space on your computer but will also help you recover your files in case something happens to your device.

If you are not very tech-savvy like the computer wiz based in Rosemount, Austin Alexander Burridge, then it is possible that whenever you install a new program, you just click the “next” button without checking what you are accepting. If this sounds familiar, then head to the “Programs” section of your operating system, and start looking for unneeded programs that are installed when installing other programs. While you are doing this, it’s also wise to look for the programs you don’t use anymore. When you find unneeded programs, uninstall them.

If your computer is very slow when starting up, it most likely is caused by the fact that there are many programs in your startup queue. To check this, go to your operating system’s startup section, which on Windows is found by pressing Ctrl, Shift, and Esc at the same time and navigating to the “Startup” tab. From this section, you can see all the programs that start with your computer, and disable the ones you think you don’t need so that your computer is usable faster after booting it up.

In certain cases, following the steps listed above will not speed up your computer noticeably. Then, the only easy solution left is to reset or reinstall your operating system, deleting everything on your hard disk for a fresh start. A fresh start will make your computer run as well as it can with its hardware, and formatting will help get rid of any hidden viruses.

If your device is still under warranty, you can always send it to the designated service to get it cleaned up and, if need be, repaired. You can do so by first contacting your device’s manufacturer and following their instructions. Paid service is also an option if your warranty has run out, but it might be very expensive, to the point where it’s cheaper to buy a new device.

Lastly, if your device’s warranty has run out, and you’re not afraid of getting your hands dirty, it might be worth opening your computer to clean its components of the dust that builds up over time. The most critical areas to clean up are the fans, as it is the area where air flows and can bring dust from the outside.

Additionally, if you’re really confident in your abilities, and you are willing to spend a bit of money to make your computer faster, then buying some thermal paste to replace the original one on your processor and graphics card might drastically improve your computer’s performance. If you are willing to go even beyond that, buying more RAM or a Solid-State Drive, which is a faster alternative to the classic hard disk, will make your computer even faster than it ran on its first day.

All in all, speeding up your computer or laptop may sound like a daunting task, and it will certainly take some of your free time. However, if you follow the steps in this guide, you will no longer have to waste your time waiting for your computer to load even the simplest things, as your device will be fast again.

About Austin Alexander Burridge:

From an early age, Austin Alexander Burridge of Rosemount enjoyed exploring the imaginative worlds offered via video games as well as the internet and soon developed a keen interest in both tech hardware as well as innovative software design. He continues to nurture his interests both in his professional career and as a passionate online commentator for new tech ranging from smartphones to groundbreaking graphics cards.