First, remove all unnecessary programs. Most new computers arrive with plenty of extra software that most people never use. Go to Control Panel, click Add/Remove Programs, and review the list of the programs showing up in there. Un-install things you aren’t using, or don’t want. Those free trials of Office or Anti-virus? It’s going to become a pain when it is no longer “free” – so unless you fully intend to purchase and use this particular program, take it out.
Using a registry cleaner regularly speeds up performance. CCleaner is a good, free program, available from CNET (my favorite download location, filled with freebies!) So does the Disk Cleanup function built into Windows, which deletes temporary files and Internet browsing histories that may bog down your hard drive. Defragmenting improves overall system performance – and is a great idea after cleaning all unwanted files/programs off your machine.
Hidden processes and startup programs can steal resources and make your computer run slower, as will malware. You can bring up Windows utility MSCONFIG from the Run box, to control which programs load at startup. You can access most processes when you actually need them, so there is no point in having them running from the time your computer boots up, slowing down the process.
Many background processes (such as adobe reader, flash player, java updates) can be unchecked from the Startup tab – but will still function properly when you need them. If you see anything with odd symbols while you are in there – VERY good idea to uncheck those – they are likely malware. If you have any doubts about the processes that show up, simply “Google” the name.
Most off the shelf computers come with the bare minimum of RAM. Adding another gigabyte or two will help speed up most systems. If your applications are resource -intensive, or if videos display jerkily, add more RAM to speed things up. The Aero theme of Windows 7 looks cool but is a real resource-hog. Right-click on your desktop and select the “Personalize” option from the context menu. Then set a new theme that does not use Aero for an additional bit of speed.
Make sure your security updates – Microsoft, Anti-virus, Malwarebytes, etc are all kept up-dated, your friendly neighborhood virus will be! Your computer should perform much better with routine maintenance.