Improve your computer's performance

9th January 2024

If you don't have the benefit of IT Support, here are a few straightforward steps you can take to improve your computer's performance:

1. Restart Your Computer: Sometimes, simply restarting your computer can improve performance. This clears out temporary files and stops any processes that might be using up resources.

2. Update Your Software: Ensure your operating system and all installed software are up to date. Updates can include performance improvements and bug fixes.

3. Clean Up Your Hard Drive: Remove unnecessary files and programs. You can use built-in disk clean-up tools to delete temporary files, system files, and empty the recycle bin.

4. Reduce On-Start-up Programs: Disable programs that automatically run when your computer starts. You can do this through the Task Manager in Windows or System Preferences in macOS.

5. Check for Viruses and Malware: Run a scan using your antivirus software to check for any malicious software that might be affecting performance.

6. Increase Virtual Memory/Page File Size: If you're running low on RAM, increasing the virtual memory can help. This is especially useful for systems with limited physical RAM.

7. Defragment Your Hard Drive: If you're using a traditional HDD (not an SSD), defragmenting the drive can help improve performance.

8. Add More RAM: If your computer is consistently running slow and you're comfortable with hardware upgrades, adding more RAM can significantly boost performance.

9. Upgrade to an SSD: If you're still using a hard disk drive (HDD), upgrading to a solid-state drive (SSD) can dramatically improve boot times and the speed of loading applications.

10. Close Unnecessary Programs and Tabs: Having many programs or browser tabs open can slow down your computer. Close anything you're not actively using.

11. Adjust Visual Effects: Lowering or turning off visual effects can free up system resources. This is especially useful on older machines.

12. Check for System Overheating: Ensure your computer's cooling system is working properly. Overheating can cause significant performance drops.

These actions are generally user-friendly and don't require specialized technical knowledge, however, if you're not comfortable making certain changes (like hardware upgrades), we are here to help.