Tired of Waiting? How To Speed Up An Old Computer

Summary: This 3-minute article provides some simple steps users may take to speed up their old computers. To make informed decisions about your old PCs or laptops, contact GEEKAID Computer and Network Support at https://www.geek-aid.com/ to discuss comprehensive business IT solutions for your small to midsized business.

It’s always an emotional rush to boot up a new computer for the first time. Once you set it up the way you want, everything seems to run at blistering speeds. Everything runs faster, from boot-ups to documents and apps opening, and we are usually very impressed by how little time is wasted waiting for your new computer to perform the tasks at hand.

Then, time passes and gradually, not noticeable at first, the monster computer that once functioned at maximum performance and efficiency slows down and, in doing so, slows down your workflow. Also, maybe it happens at a bad time when cash flow is slow and a new computer isn’t in the budget. But don’t waste money on software that claims to speed up slow PCs. The good news is that there are several free, simple steps users can take to speed up their old computers:

• Shut Down Your Computer Frequently – You probably don’t need to shut down or restart your computer every day. But, every time you do, your machine is cleared of temporary files and with them, the RAM is freed up. So, depending on your device and workload, you might need to shut down or restart it every few days.
• Uninstall Unnecessary Applications and Files – Applications take up a lot of space in your storage memory. The more unnecessary files on your drive {HDD or SSD), the longer it will take to search, find and retrieve files or load programs. Clearing out unnecessary clutter will contribute to the speed of your computer.
• Install All Updates – Updating your computer and all its programs will frequently fix bugs and conflicts. Therefore, it is essential to install all updates if possible.
• Remove Temporary Files – Temporary Files are used to execute functions. Once implemented, temporary files serve no purpose other than taking up space and slowing down your machine.
• Upgrade Your RAM – 8 GB has become the minimum sufficient RAM for today’s computers. Therefore, upgrading to 12 GB or 16 GB will significantly impact the speed at which your computer runs. The more RAM, the more functions you will be able to perform at the same time. Increasing RAM will speed up most computers.
• Offload Your Biggest Files You No Longer Need – Large files take up space and slow down computer systems. In addition, files such as videos and dense graphics take up much of the space on your storage drive. If you do not want to delete them, transfer them to an external drive or upload them to the Cloud.
• Remove or Disable Auto-Launching Programs – If your computer automatically launches too many programs upon booting up, it will slow down your PC. Carefully consider which programs you need to start up automatically and disable the rest. Otherwise, you could be enabling your computer to be slower from the moment you start it up.
• Don’t Leave Tabs Open – When you are done using tabs on your browser, close them. Commonly, users forget to close tabs. Then, so many are open that it slows down the computer by exhausting available RAM.
• Clean Your Computer – Keeping your computer free of dust and other debris will help keep it operating faster and more efficiently. In addition to cleaning and blowing out dirt regularly, you should open your computer and perform a careful deeper cleaning once a year. Blowing out the inside and carefully dusting away gunk with a soft brush or cloth will keep dirt from clogging fans and other components, thereby keeping your device from overheating.
• Try Reinstalling Windows (or IOS) Operating System – Operating systems can slow down over time. First, back up everything on your computer. Once you are sure everything is backed up (on iOS, use “Time Machine”), reinstall the appropriate system software. A clean, freshly installed operating system can fix many issues and speed up your PC’s functionality.
• Use “Overclocking” – Overclocking is defined by Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/ Overclocking as “the practice of increasing the clock rate of a computer to exceed that certified by the manufacturer. Operating voltage is commonly increased to maintain a component's operational stability at accelerated speeds.” Laptops generally do not permit overclocking. However, if your PC allows it, overclocking will speed up its operation. As many manufacturer warranties are voided by overclocking, you might wish to consult IT professionals before performing this operation.
• Replace HDDs with SSDs – Hard drives have moving parts that can wear out over time. As a result, they are becoming “old school” technology. Installing an SSD or Solid-State Drive will instantly increase the speed of your computer. In addition, SSD drives do not have to spin and search to find and retrieve data. Also, the cost of SSDs has come down over time and it is no longer a financially onerous option.

Many people cannot afford to upgrade or replace their computer systems in the current world economy. However, by applying some of the above techniques, you should be able to speed things up and buy some time before you must replace your computer.