3 Smart Tips To Enhance Computer Performance
Your computer needs maintenance in order to continue running smoothly. There are utilities built-in to your operating system that allow you to maintain the health of your computer. The following are 3 smart tips to enhance your computer's performance.
1. Clean Out Backup Files
You've gotten to the point of backing up your files to prevent lost data. But did you know that your computer actually creates duplicate files of this backup data and stores it on your hard disk - causing your computer to slow down?
Do a search of your hard disk for common backup file extensions such as: ".bac, .bak, .bck, .bk!, or .bk$". As you find these files, delete them permanently from your computer and you should see a difference right away in your computer's performance. Make sure to not delete the most recent backup files.
2. Defragment Files
Whenever you use, save or delete files or programs, your system stores pieces of that file on the hard disk. Because these pieces are not part of the full file, it becomes useless but still takes up valuable operating space on your computer - which in turn, slows down your performance.
Defragment your hard drive. To run the defragmenter, click the Start button on the bottom left corner of your screen and type "dfrg.msc" in the Run option (for Vista users, simply type "defrag" in the "Start Search" box after clicking the Windows logo in the same bottom left corner), and press OK. Select your preferred drive and press the defragmenter button. epending on how many broken files you have, the process could take five minutes to an hour.
3. Check for software updates
Often your computer may be running slowly because of a manufacturer related software issue. Make sure you check for updates and patches from your computer and software manufacturer. We know the update pop-ups can be annoying, but sometimes they can be extremely crucial to the performance and life span of your computer.
Help your PC Live Longer
Just because you computer is running slow and is no longer the newest technology does not mean that it is ready to be thrown away. What is not common knowledge it that your PC needs maintenace and servicing. After just a few months of use your computer beings to slow down, startup is basically a long drawn out event, browsing online is monstrous and running multiple programs at once may cause your computer to crash frequently.
But as most American households face the tightening of their budgets, people are looking for an alternative to just purchasing new when old is no longer adequate. Making do is the most wise choice but even better still perfoming some simple tasks and installing a few upgrades could save you PC from the recycling dump.
Windows has the Disk Clean-up and Disk Defragmenter utility programs built into its operating systems which walk you through steps to get rid of computer clutter and organizes the data on your computer. Another safe and easy task to perform is to completely delete any installed programs that are not being used. These unused programs sitting on your computer take up precious hard disk space, which is needed to keep your computer running smoothly. Use caution when deleting programs any unknown programs should be left intact.
Another culprit that may be responsible for the slowing down of your processes maybe to attributed to malware, viruses and such. Anyone who uses their computer to go online should use a good anti-virus tool, firewall and an anti-spyware utility. Each of these programs can be had for free. Now if you do not have the time or the expertise to put these useful suggestions into play, you should high an expert to do this for you.
