digitalbulls
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If your PC or laptop is running slower than you'd like, try these five easy ways to speed it up.
Clean out duplicate and junk files
As any PC or laptop ages, data will fill up the hard drive. This in turn slows performance, as your PC has to go further and work harder to find the files and programs it needs to access. Removing as much junk as possible will help to restore your PC- or laptop's zip. We'll start with duplicate files. Typically these will be music or photo files. There's no downside to removing such junk, and the free Easy Duplicate Finder will speed up this process. Install it and follow the simple instructions.
Delete programs you don't use or need
Next, remove any programs you don't use – again Windows has its own tool for this. In Windows 8 head to the Search Charm and search 'Uninstall'. You'll see an entry for 'Uninstall programs to free up Disk Space'. In Windows 7 head to Start, Control Panel, Programs and choose 'Uninstall a program'.
Defrag your hard drive
Once you have removed uneccessary files and programs from your PC, a good next step is to compact the remaining data so that your PC can access data in as efficient manner as possible.
Remove programs from launch
You don't even have to completely remove a program from your PC to speed things up. You could just remove them from the startup process. Many programs autoload at startup, so you don't need to wait around when you later want to use them – but you don't always want to use them. You know how your older Windows PC takes an age to boot up? Removing startup programs will help.
Clean up and organise your desktop
Finally, here are some tips to make your life easier when using Windows. They'll help you find files and folders quicker, regardless of the state of your PC- or laptop's hard drive.
Clean out duplicate and junk files
As any PC or laptop ages, data will fill up the hard drive. This in turn slows performance, as your PC has to go further and work harder to find the files and programs it needs to access. Removing as much junk as possible will help to restore your PC- or laptop's zip. We'll start with duplicate files. Typically these will be music or photo files. There's no downside to removing such junk, and the free Easy Duplicate Finder will speed up this process. Install it and follow the simple instructions.
Delete programs you don't use or need
Next, remove any programs you don't use – again Windows has its own tool for this. In Windows 8 head to the Search Charm and search 'Uninstall'. You'll see an entry for 'Uninstall programs to free up Disk Space'. In Windows 7 head to Start, Control Panel, Programs and choose 'Uninstall a program'.
Defrag your hard drive
Once you have removed uneccessary files and programs from your PC, a good next step is to compact the remaining data so that your PC can access data in as efficient manner as possible.
Remove programs from launch
You don't even have to completely remove a program from your PC to speed things up. You could just remove them from the startup process. Many programs autoload at startup, so you don't need to wait around when you later want to use them – but you don't always want to use them. You know how your older Windows PC takes an age to boot up? Removing startup programs will help.
Clean up and organise your desktop
Finally, here are some tips to make your life easier when using Windows. They'll help you find files and folders quicker, regardless of the state of your PC- or laptop's hard drive.
