GUIDE TO MAKE YOUR COMPUTER FASTER
WAYS TO MAKE YOUR PC FASTER
For most of us, dealing with a slow laptop or slack screen can be a source of constant frustration, particularly when you’re attempting to either do your work or enjoy your favorite activities. Either your laptop has been working slowly for a while now or its performance has just catapulted down, but in either case, there are a few things you can try to increase its speed and performance easily.
In this blog, we will discuss some common reasons behind the sluggishness of your laptop and share some solutions to legacy issues that could get things moving better again. From software adjustments to hardware repairs, here’s what you need to know to restore your laptop to its former glory:
Step 1: Restart Your Laptop
It may seem like an easy fix, but a quick restart can work miracles on your laptop. A restart clears temporary files and refreshes your system, which may fix any minor glitches that are behind the slowdown.
Step 2: Scan for Malware or Viruses
Malware or viruses can slow down your laptop as they use system resources or create background processes that you do not notice. If your laptop is infected with any harmful files, running a full system scan with a trusted antivirus software can help to remove it.
To check for malware:
Open Windows Security: Click on Start Menu, type Windows Security.
Click Virus & threat protection.
Select Quick Scan or Full Scan (for more comprehensive outcomes).
Follow the prompts to quarantine or delete any threats it finds.
You could also consider using third-party tools, such as Malwarebytes, for additional protection.
Second Step: Close Down Unused Apps in the Background
More than one program running in the background is a resource eater, RAM, and CPU, which results in the slowest laptop. Quit any programs you’re not using, particularly those that open by default when your laptop powers on.
Step 3 To see and control background processes:
Open UP Task Manager – hit Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task manager
Switch to the Processes tab and look for the apps or processes consuming a lot of CPU or memory.
Select End Task after right-clicking on any nonessential process.
If you have programs that start automatically with Windows and you don’t need them, you can turn them off:
Open Task Manager, and choose the Startup tab.
Right-click and select Disable for any programs you don’t need to launch with your computer.
Step 4: Free Up Disk Space
A full hard drive can result in a sluggish system because your laptop lacks the space to run programs smoothly. Remove unnecessary files and free up disk space, so your laptop will give enough space to act more smoothly.
To free up space:
Just type Disk Cleanup in the search bar then open the Disk Cleanup utility.
Choose the drive to be cleaned (this drive is typically C: Drive).
Select the file types for you want to delete (temporary files, system files, etc.).
Click OK and then Delete Files.
Manually delete large files or programs you don’t need anymore. The external hard drive or cloud storage also helps as you can transfer files to making space.
Step 5: Know Your Operating System and Software Updates
Programs become less optimised, have bugs, or have vulnerabilities in older versions, which can slow down your laptop. Update Your OS and Apps Keeping your OS and applications updated means that you’ll always have the latest fixes and performance improvements.
To check for Windows updates:
Open Settings (click the cog icon in the Start menu).
Click Update & Security.
Select Check for Updates.
For other programs, such as browsers or productivity tools, open them and look for updates in their settings.
Step 6: Stop Visual Effects
Windows has some visual effects (animations and transparency, for example) that are nice to look at but can sap some younger laptops of speed. Turning off these effects can boost performance.
To disable visual effects:
Right-click This PC, and click Properties.
On the left side, click Advanced system settings.
Select Settings under Performance section
Pick Adjust for best performance, or select which effects to turn off manually (like animations and shadows).
Turning off these effects can help speed up things substantially, especially on higher-end laptops.
Step 7: Upgrade Your Hardware
If, after performing the steps above, your laptop is still slow-moving, you may need to look at hardware upgrades. Although it requires some investment, upgrading certain components can make a huge difference in your laptop’s performance.
Upgrade RAM:
So if the RAM you have on your laptop is less than 8GB, upgrading it to more RAM can make a huge difference, especially if you have programs running simultaneously or have a lot of browser tabs open. Many laptops allow you to increase RAM, which will lead to smoother multitasking.
Get an SSD (Solid-State Drive):
You may have a new laptop but maybe that comes with a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) which is old-fashioned nowadays. SSDs are way faster than HDDs, and this difference is apparent in daily usage.
Clean Your Laptop Internals:
Dust accumulation inside your laptop can lead to overheating and sluggish performance. If you feel comfortable with it, open the laptop up and blast it with compressed air to remove any dust from the fans, vents, and components. This can aid with cooling and combat thermal throttling that can cause your laptop to run slower.
Step 8: Disable Startup Programs
Numerous programs launch when you start your laptop. These programs also can add time to the start-up process and consume system resources unnecessarily. If you want your laptop to boot up faster, disable a few startup applications.
To manage startup programs:
Launch Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
Go to the Startup tab.
Right-click on programs you don’t need to open automatically and select Disable.
This can speed up startup time on your laptop and free up resources for other tasks.
Step 9:Ensure That Your Internet Connection Is Working
A desktop with a slow screen may not be the culprit; sometimes slow internet connections can make pages and apps slower. If your connection is slower than you expect, you can test it with tools such as Speedtest by Ookla.
On a slow internet connection, try:
Restarting your router.
How about the whole cheese about moving closer to the router?
Connect with a wired ethernet to gain faster speeds than is possible with Wi-Fi.
Step 10: Factory Reset (Last Resort)
If you’ve exhausted everything and your laptop remains slow, you should consider a factory reset. This reverts your laptop to its factory-fresh state, which means all files, programs, and settings will be removed. Before we even start on this, please make sure to back up any data from the device you want to keep.
To perform a factory reset:
Navigate to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.
Under Reset this PC, click Get Started.
Select Remove everything to perform a full reset.
Bottom Lines: How to Speed Up Your Laptop
A screen or laptop that ran slowly can lead to reduced productivity and fun. Luckily there are a number of ways to get your laptop running faster without forking out lots of cash on it. From freeing up disk space to upgrading hardware and managing background processes, these steps might help bring your laptop’s performance back in line.
These tips will help to keep your laptop running smoothly for as long as possible to increase both speed and overall user experience. If the problem continues, despite your best efforts to diagnose it, it may be time to call in a professional technician, to look for potential deeper hardware or software issues.
Disclaimer:
Always back up any important data before a factory reset or hardware upgrade to avoid losing anything vital. If you’re not confident about opening your laptop up for upgrades, take it to a professional technician.