How can you make computers work faster?

Question

Hi, My computer is getting slower and slower all the time and I want to get it back up to speed the way it use to be. It is also mostly slow on the net when it use to be fast. I have done everything to make it fast again...

Answer 1

You need to clean up the computer - get rid of old files and programs that you dont need and that are taking up space. Also clean up our internet cache.

Answer 2

Well there are a few free things you can do, but most likely you will need to upgrade your RAM (physical memory) in the long run, but here are the free things.

1. Run disk defrag - right click on your c: drive in my computer and select properties. it should be an option in the tools tab.

2. run disk check, which can be found in the same spot

3. Don't run too many programs at once.(Ideas: if you have weather bug turn it off, only run one messenger at at time and only if your chatting with it. Get rid of internet security programs, and practice safe web surfing instead)

4. Delete files and cookies in internet explorer. Click on tools-->internet options and right there on the general tab should be the option to delete browsing history

But again, RAM is relatively cheap so I would suggest spending the money to upgrade that to at least 512meg or 1gb.

Answer 3

Do you have windows or mac?

Well for windows, click on start, go to accessories, then system tools, click on disk clean up. clear out everything. Then click on defrag, which is located in the same place as disk clean up. After that, you will want to update your internet security, then run a full system scan to make sure there are no viruses, spy ware, etc. Afterwards, uninstall all programs you no longer use.

Reboot your computer. All should be better now.

Answer 4

Try formatting it, this will erase all data and restore your computer back to the way it was when it left the manufactures. you will have to restore drivers and other needed programs however, but it will absolutely speed it up, this will also rid the computer of any virus it may have gotten from a defected program. Viruses also slow the compter down considerably. Good Luck.

Answer 5

Empty out your temporary internet files, along with cookies. Then run a defrag on your harddrive. You can find the defrag program under the start/programs/accessories/system tools folder. Then, check what programs you have running all the time on your taskbar (look in the lower right corner) If you have a lot of programs running, you should see about disabling them.

Answer 6

Things that might help:

Defrag the hard-drive.

Run a full-system check for spyware.

Don't keep files on your desktop. Move them to "My Documents" and then put links to them on the desktop.

If you put your computer into sleep/hibernate mode instead of always turning it off [as I do], you should still shut it down and off about once per week.

I've done all the things above -- plus installed more RAM -- and they helped somewhat. However, Microsoft Word still often takes a full minute to engage; very frustrating.

Answer 7

A clean computer is key to a faster computer. Run the 3 scans below.


Run a virus scan weekly.

Update and run your Anti-Virus program. Don't have one? You can run a free online scan from CA.
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virus...



Run Spybot and SuperAntiSpyware weekly.


Download, update and run Spybot---http://www.safer-networking.org/...... . Don't forget to use the Immunize feature.


Download, update and run SuperAntiSpyware---http://www.snapfiles.com/get/SuperAntiSpyware.html




Now to prevent spyware from being installed in the first place....

Download SpywareBlaster---http://majorgeeks.com/download2859.html...
SpywareBlaster doesn't scan and clean for spyware - it prevents it from ever being installed.

It's main features include:
- Prevent the installation of ActiveX-based spyware, adware, browser hijackers, dialers, and other potentially unwanted pests.
- Block spyware/tracking cookies in Internet Explorer and Mozilla/Firefox.
- Restrict the actions of potentially dangerous sites in Internet Explorer.






Now lets clean up your registry.




Run RegScrubXP weekly. Run Cleanup every time you log off.


Download RegScrubXP--http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?d...

Safely cleans junk out of the Windows 2000/XP system registry. All changes made to the registry are fully restorable to it's original condition. You can make an exclusion list of registry entries that RegScrubXP will not display as problems. You can sift through a list of file extensions, company names, run upon startup programs, Internet Explorer history, and uninstall programs to delete what you think is junk.



Download CleanUp---http://www.stevengould.org/software/clea...

Free disk space, make your computer run better/faster and protect your privacy - all in one easy solution. All for free!





Now lets clean up your disk.



Run a Disk Cleanup 2 times a month. Run Disk Defrag. monthly.


Do a Disk Cleanup and Disk Defrag. You can find both of them by following the path below.
Start>all programs>accessories>system tools>Disk Cleanup. Let it do its thing. You can check every box that has something to delete.
Now follow the same path and do a Disk Defrag. Again just let it do its thing.




Now lets tweak your connection.


If your speed is good I would not mess with it by trying to tweak it. If you do tweak once it is done you should not have to do it ever again.


There are many programs out there to do this. I will give you 2 of them.
The first one is TCP Optimizer.

Description: The TCP Optimizer is a free, easy Windows program that provides an intuitive interface for tuning and optimizing your Internet connection. There is no installation required, just download and run.


http://www.download.com/SG-TCP-Optimizer/3000-2155_4-10488572.html

You can get support for the best way to set it up right from their forum http://forums.speedguide.net/

The second one is Cablenut.

Windows XP tested and approved

CableNut is a tool for optimizing your Internet Connection. We have provided a way to tweak any option you may want to in the adjuster. You can load "CableNut Custom Setting" files that are included with the program to tweak your Internet connection.

http://www.cablenut.com/

Again support is available right from their forum.http://www.broadbandnuts.com/index.php?p...




All programs are FREE!




After applying the suggestions above you will have a clean and faster computer. Enjoy.

Answer 8

i found that the more memory that is being used in the C drive the slower they work so try and keep that clean as much as you can

also try fragmentation that can help

and try a programme called ccleaner it is free at ccleaer.com i think is the sit that helps to get ride of things that are not being used now

Answer 9

have you done a defrag? Cleared the cache? Checked the windows system registry? Run scandisk?

Then you haven't done "everything"... also how old is the machine? Sometimes they just get obsolete.

Answer 10

01. Uninstalled useless programs...
02. Go to start > run > msnconfig > startup tab > uncheck all that useless stuff you dont want.
03. Get more RAM