Don't let your PC's performance deteriorate. Clean it up.
When you have been using your computer for a while, you may start to notice a decrease in the PC's performance. It may be a little slower to start up or sluggish when opening programs; applications may freeze during use or shut down for no reason. You do not have to deal with the frustration of a poorly performing PC. You can increase the PC's performance by eliminating the programs and files that are cluttering the hard drive and causing the issues.
Instructions
1. Uninstall programs that you do not use from the computer. These may include the programs that came preinstalled on the system by the manufacturer or programs that you have downloaded and only used temporarily. Use the built-in "Uninstall" feature to remove programs. The "Uninstall" feature is found by selecting the "Start" menu, then "Control Panel," then "Uninstall a program" or "Add/Remove Programs." Right-click any program name in the list that comes up and choose "Uninstall" from the menu.
2. Delete any files that are stored on the hard drive of the computer that you do not use regularly, including files that you want to keep. To clear up space on the hard drive, it is worthwhile to transfer files, especially large files like videos and photos, onto an external storage device, such as an external hard drive or a flash drive. To transfer the files, plug the external device into the USB drive of the computer, open the folder from the "AutoPlay" box that automatically pops up and drag any file that you do not use on a regular basis from the folder on the hard drive to the external storage device window. Once the file appears on the external storage device, you can delete it from the hard drive.
3. Eliminate programs that open during the startup process if the computer is slow to boot up. Go to the "Start" menu, then the "Accessories" folder and select "Run." Enter "msconfig" in the "Run" box and hit "Enter." Go to the "Startup" tab to see a list of programs that start up automatically during the booting process. If you do not use a program every time you use the computer, uncheck the program name to stop it from automatically starting and click "OK."
4. Clear your desktop shortcuts. Like startup programs, the computer must load all of the shortcuts on your desktop every time it boots up. The more shortcuts, the more time it takes your computer to load.
5. Run the scan feature of your antivirus software regularly to eliminate files in your computer's registry. Each time you download a file or install a program, files are saved into the computer's registry. When the file or program is removed from the system, the registry files are often left behind. A virus scan finds and deletes these files.
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