5 Simple Do-It-Yourself Tips to Speed Up Your Computer Performance

Tuning up your underperformed computer is not difficult as soon as you know the problems that hold your computer down. In fact, you might be surprised to know that most often what slows down your computer are software related aspects rather than hardware inadequacy. This should answer the question for some of you who have high-end PC system but as time goes by becomes slower and slower like a snail. In the other hand, this will raise some hope for those of you who got old computer with slow hardware performance. Just follow these simple tips and you will find your computer run at its peak performance. Once more, please run away as soon as you find any article that claim a registry cleaner alone can make the job done. I can guarantee that it is a naughty affiliate who wants to hard-sell a poor product.

1. Shut off Unneeded Services and Control Windows Startup Programs
You can improve Windows slow startup process by deactivating unnecessary Windows startup entries and services that run automatically. Some of these programs run quietly in the background while some others display their icons in the system tray at the bottom right of your screen. In order to get rid of the resource-wasting programs, you must open "System Configuration Utility" by typing and entering "msconfig" command in the "Run" command that lies on your Windows start menu. Under "Startup" tab, choose which application that you don't need. Be careful though not to choose the one Windows needs.

2. Defrag your hard drive
When you write, create, or copy a new file, Windows will allocate space that is needed for that file. It will automatically write the new file in the next available empty space. The problem is if the available space is not enough Windows will split the new file and allocate the other part to other area of your hard drive. If this continues, your file becomes fragmented because all the file's parts are not in one location. This way, your computer needs to work harder to find all the pieces. As a result, performance slows over time. Defragmenting your hard drive will rearrange these files, reuniting the separated parts to make your files more quickly accessible. Run Windows defragmenter by accessing Start Menu, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and then Disk Defragmenter.

3. Run antivirus and anti-spyware scan
If you frequently surf online and download files often, you have high risk to be infected by malicious software (malware). Malware is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to a slow-running Windows. That's why you need to run a full system scan at least once a week. Running antivirus scan can clear out resource-hogging infections. You don't need that expensive antivirus service. Use AVG Anti-Virus free version. Keep also your virus definitions up to date and maintain good browsing habits to minimize the odds of getting infected.

4. Remove Junk Files
Clean your system by doing some basic housekeeping regularly to preserve it from all the junk that tend to pile up in no time like your browser's cache and temporary files. You can use internal Windows Disk Cleanup. Open your Windows Explorer, choose the folder you want to clean and then right click it, choose Properties, and last choose Disk Cleanup. Similarly, you should consider uninstalling any applications you haven't used in over six months.

5. Scan, Clean, and Fix Registry Problems
Windows Registry holds thousands of information of all those settings on your computer. With so many activities we do like installing and uninstalling programs, changing and modifying setting for every application, or updating new drivers, it is very possible there are invalid registry entries and left-out keys from previous software installation. After some times, the problems will be accumulated and soon become potential to cause various irritating computer problems. Thus, you need a registry cleaner that can fix these problems. No need to pay, just use the free CCleaner. You can also use the commercial product like TuneUp Utilities for 30 days. Beware though of the so-called free registry cleaner. Most of them only allow you to scan your system without repairing the errors.

With these 5 simple tips, you should notice slightly quicker performance and much faster boot times with no cost at all. Most of these tips can be done with the help of Windows internal tools like disk defragmenter. But there is one type of software that can automate and put together all of the optimization tools in one place to make the job a one-click process. No, registry cleaner is not enough. You need more powerful software. A software that even offers antivirus protection and more things that are unimagined exist in generic registry cleaner. I pours much of this issue in my Trustful Registry Cleaners article.