How to Speed Up My Computer

While tapping your finger waiting for your computer to respond have you mumbled to yourself "There has got to be ways how to speed up my computer." There are. This article outlines some general computer maintenance items you should do on a regular basis to speed up your computer.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 
    
   Speed Up Your Computer

   Delete Browsing History Will Make Computer Faster
   
   The more you surf the Internet the more 'cookies' and 'temporary history files' are stored on your PC. Deleting both of these will free up operating space to help your computer run faster.
   
   • Open up Internet Explorer, click on 'Tools' and scroll down to Internet Options.
   • Under the 'General' tab scroll down to 'Browsing History'.
   • Place a check mark in the 'Delete browsing history on exit' option.
   • This will keep your browser cleaned from temporary files, etc.
   • While you are there you might as well delete 'browsing history' by clicking on 'Delete' in the Browsing History area.

2. 
    
   Make My Computer Run Faster

   Make Computer Faster By Defragmenting and Compressing Files
   
   This process will analyze the use of the space on your hard drive and defrag your files, put them back together, providing 'breathing room' allowing your computer to run faster.
   
   • Click the start button in the lower left corner.
   • Scroll up to 'My Computer' on the right side of the box that popped up. Click on it.
   • Right click on the "C" Drive and scroll down to Properties.
   • Click to open up the dialogue box. Towards the bottom of that box check the statement 'Compress drive to save disk space'. Then click on the 'Disk Cleanup' button. This process will take a few minutes.
   • Choose the 'Tools' tab and select 'Defragment Now'. Click the 'Defragment' button towards the bottom of this pop-up window. This, also, will take some time to process.

3. 
    
   Increase Computer Speed

   Clean Registry To Speed Up Computer
   
   The Windows Registry, on your PC, is the place where Windows stores information it might need to retrieve later. After installing and uninstalling programs, or just general use of your computer, the registry can begin to fill up with unnecessary bits and pieces and slow down the performance of your PC. There are several software programs you could buy, download and use to clean your registry but I found the Free Windows Live registry cleaner.
   
   • Go to 'http://onecare.live.com/site/en-US/center/cleanup.htm'.
   • Click on Clean Up Scan.
   • Windows Live free clean up scan checks your PC registry, locates items that can be removed safely, then you choose to remove all of the items or choose the items to remove.
   • This will 'put your computer files in order' and be an answer to your question, "How to speed up my computer."

4. Complete Virus Scan
   
   When you have cleaned up your PC with the items outlined above it is a good time to do a full system scan with your Internet Security Software. This will ensure that there are no little viruses to make your computer slow.

Tips & Warnings

• When your computer takes forever to load and you find yourself saying, 'come-on, come-on, come-on' try these computer maintenance item. They are all answers to your slow computer problems and answers 'how to speed up my computer'.

Resources

• How to Reasons to Take Time To Draft Your Small Business Marketing Plan
• How to Say It As Many Times As You Can Afford - Small Business Marketing

[derbyka]

on 3/9/2009 I've tried some of these things in the past but I need to remember to do them on a regular basis.

[ethoslogos]

on 3/4/2009 Great advice! Thanks, George! 5*

[MariM]

on 3/4/2009 Very helpful info. I just cleaned the browser history while I was reading this. Thanks5*

[PaulMcDaniel]

on 3/3/2009 Great information to know! Thanks for sharing these tips on how to speed up a computer!

[eliptica]

on 3/3/2009 This is great advice. I usually defrag my computer 2 times or more per year. Thanks.