How To Speed Up Your PC Or Laptop In 10 Easy Steps

If your PC makes you feel like her… a crazy person in the park.. then this article is for you. First tip: Make some coffee or tea or even a beer for this one….. As I go about my regular IT support role, I usually end up fixing the same problems. I can go to one client, who’s PC is stalling, fix everything up, then go to the next client and deal with the EXACT same problem. The solutions usually fall under obvious categories. Obvious for me of course, cause that’s what I do. However, I want to share with you the 10 basic steps you can perform for free at home and not spend a penny.

In fact, if you call your IT guy out to the house, he will/should run most of these steps before he gets to the main problem. So, if you do this first, it could save money since he may not be there as long.

In some of these tips, I say go to Start > Run.

If its not there, don’t worry. Just right click the start menu and go to properties. Click on customize start menu. In that list near the bottom is is RUN. Tick this box and click OK.

Also, don’t worry if my screen shots look slightly different to yours. The same basic principles will apply.

Before you do anything else, you need to create a system restore point. Its easy. Go to Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore > Create…

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MSCONFIG  – Stop unnecessary programs starting with windows.

Go to Start > click on run > type in msconfig > click OK > click on the startup tab > untick any programs which aren’t required. Nearly everything can be disabled. Sometimes its hard to tell what can be disabled. If, like the screenshot on the right, it says unknown, then look at the file path and you should get some idea. Tip: Hit disable all. Go back and enable your Anti Virus software. Reboot. If anything is not working the way it should, just go back in and tick it again to enable it. By doing this, you should notice a significant improvement in the time it takes for your computer to boot up.  Run this check every 3  months!

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DEFRAGMENT – Speeds up data access routines and file searches.

There are a few ways of doing this. You could download a piece of software called Defraggler which is a good piece of software. However, Windows has what you need built in. Go to My Computer > right click on the C drive > select properties > click on the tools tab > click on defragment now > select the drive you want (if you have more than one hard drive partition) and then click on defragment.  You’ll notice in my screenshot I have zero fragmentation. Pat on the back for me! Do this every 3 months or if your defragment software has a scheduler built in, schedule it to run more often. And, do this for each of your drives listed in My Computer

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CHKDSK – Error Checking

You may have noticed in the last set of steps, there was an option above the defragment option called Error checking and the check now button. Well good on ya.. Lets go there. Go to My Computer > right click on the C drive > select properties > click on the tools tab > click on Check Now… You will most likely get a warning saying it can’t be done now. If so, accept the option to schedule the check. A warning though, this means on the next  reboot, it will be performed, thus slowing you down on accessing your PC for that session. This can be run every 3 months or so.

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NCLEANER – An Excellent Piece Of Automated Cleaning

Ncleaner is a free piece of software that removes junk from you computer. Every time you open a file, a temporary copy is made. Every time you install some software, temporary files are left over. Every time you  browse the Internet, you create an enormous amount of temporary files. And when you uninstall software, guess what? You leave temporary and permanent files and traces behind. Do this for six months and you wonder “what’s wrong with this stupid thing?”

Ncleaner helps clean up after you. Download it here [download id="1"] Truth is, this article deserves a full post all by itself and if you feel you need help with it, just say so in the comments.

Its pretty much a click and click program. There are a few options to use here. Start with Clean System and Click Scan/Analyze and run. Then jump to Find Junk and and this time you have two columns to work with. On the left I would keep the defaults ticked and run with that. (Warning: until you understand this software, leave the last two options unticked. You could do some damage.) Then follow up with the right hand side, clicking select all and run with that.

You’ll notice this software has Tweak options and Start up Monitor. Again, I’ll leave that till I do a full post on the software. It also  has a few other options, particularly the notices section. I generally apply all the suggestions it makes.

Finally, once this is done, go ahead and do it again, if it has been a long time since the PC has been cleaned.

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REVO UNINSTALLER – The safest way to uninstall software

Again, someday this is software that I will do a full post on… someday. Its feature packed. But still simple. I strongly recommend you use this to uninstall software whenever removing software. It removes the software using the normal Windows method and then it does its magic. It watches the folders and registry entries this program uses and then allows you to delete them. This is the best way to keep your PC running smoothly. The software is feature packed. It has browser cleaners and Hunter Mode. It has Unrecoverable Delete, allowing you to securely delete a file that can’t be restored. Be careful with it. Download it here – [download id="2"]

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UPDATES – Yes! Updates..

I know you hate them. But its for your own good. It always amazes me when I get to a job and the problem is a as simple as click the OK button and allow the updates. Microsoft and your anti virus software, etc offer updates for a reason. So when you see the pop up, then respond to it. Updates mostly contain security plugs and fixes. Keep everything up to date! Always!

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HARDWARE – Keep Your Drivers Up To Date

This is important because sometimes Windows updates doesn’t notify you of what’s available. This is a little more complicated and when you should definitely, definitely create a restore point before you start this. Even the most qualified IT technician gets caught out here. Sometimes a driver update is a bad thing but generally its a good thing. To do it manually, go to the My Computer Icon and Right click on it > Choose Manage > and then choose Device Manager > Right Click any device and choose Update Driver. … OR…. Use Driver Magician. Its not free. Its $30 and worth it if you do re-installs a lot. This software automates the whole process of getting your drivers updated and also backed up. Download it here – [download id="3"]

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SPYWARE – MALWAREBYTES

Spyware gets us all at some time. Its just nasty. You have to take action as soon as you can. Malware Bytes is a great piece of software that you should run regularly. It is very thorough in routing out any nasty spyware. Again, follow the defaults and it will go smoothly. I would recommend you run this every month. It has a free version which does the job perfectly. Here is a quote from their site:

Malwarebytes is a site dedicated to fighting malware. Malwarebytes has developed a variety of tools that can identify and remove malicious software from your computer. When your computer becomes infected, Malwarebytes can provide the needed assistance to remove the infection and restore the machine back to optimum performance.

Download it here – Malwarebytes Website

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ANTI VIRUS SCAN – Full And Thorough

I know you have anti virus install. Ya? OK.. we’ll look the other way while you head back to my earlier post last week and get that sorted. Microsoft Security Essentials – Free Welcome back…. Now this is simple.. When your Anti Virus says “I want to run and check everything is OK”…  Say yes! I find it amazing how many people ignore this. Also, the auto scan is usually a quick scan not a thorough scan. Once a month, delve into the software and run a thorough scan.

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SET REMINDER – This Is Easy

Set a reminder in your calendar, on your phone or in a diary. Once a month, run this list again. That way you’ll enjoy a happy, stress free computer life and still be able to come back here for more. If you follow all this and run into issues or know better ways to do it, please let me know. I hope you feel like this guy - If you enjoyed this article, please let me know.

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