An Introduction
A slow computer is usually the result of having too many programs open. This consumes a significant amount of computing power and hinders performance and speed.
What is the most effective technique to boost a computer when slow, unresponsiveness, and taking lengthy load times become the norm? Fixing computer lag issues may appear to be a daunting task, but it is not. There are two possible solutions: lowering the variety of programs running and boosting the processing and memory capability of the computer. And what’s more? This guide will reveal how to speed up a slow computer with simple, minute-long actions that yield immediate, long-lasting improvements. So off you go!
The following are the steps we think can help in speeding up your slow computer:
1. Run the SFC scan:
Users can use Windows’ built-in System File Checker tool to look for and fix corrupted system files. All of the corrupted system files are being fixed, therefore the overall performance of Windows is improved. Since all of the damaged system files are being fixed, Windows’ performance is enhanced. Scan all system files with the sfc /scannow command, and if any are found to be corrupted, they will be replaced with cached copies stored in the %WinDir%System32dllcache folder.
Here is how you run the SFC scan in Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10,11:
- Initiate the process by pressing the “Start” button.
- Just put “CMD” into the search box to bring up the command prompt.
- To launch CMD.exe with administrative privileges, right-click it.
- When prompted by User Account Control (UAC), select “Yes.”
- Type “SFC /scan now” into the command prompt and hit “Enter.”
- The Windows system file checker tool validates the safety of all system files and makes any necessary fixes.
- Restart the machine once the operation has finished.
2. Remove unwanted programs:
The Windows Control Panel is a graphical user interface for managing various computer settings. It’s a collection of applets that allows you to do things like install or uninstall programs, manage user accounts, adjust accessibility settings, and modify network parameters.
Pre-installed software on many modern computers serves little purpose other than to take up hard drive space and perform routine maintenance tasks in the background.
Navigate to the settings menu and remove any unnecessary software which are not it use, taking care to keep any essentials. Check how much free space you have on your PC. The performance of your PC may suffer with less than 15% free space. You can free up space on your device by getting rid of unused programs and data, or by compressing the ones you need to keep (especially large ones). Note that if your computer is performing slowly and storage isn’t full, your operating system may be having troubles.
3. Check your computer for malware:
Scanning your computer for viruses and other forms of malware is simple and may take a few minutes. There will be a direct correlation between the number of files and the speed of your computer, so plan accordingly.
- The free Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool must be downloaded and run. There are two options: one for 32-bit Windows and one for 64-bit Windows.
- Not all malware can be detected by Microsoft’s free malware removal program, but it does a good job of looking for the most common threats. Using Windows Update, update this program if you already have it installed so that it can detect the most recent malware threats.
- You should always use the most up-to-date versions of antivirus and antimalware software. Check that the virus definitions are up-to-date before launching a full malware/virus scan (this usually happens automatically, but not always). Antivirus software relies on these regular updates to learn how to detect and eliminate the most recent threats to your computer.
- Scan your entire computer for viruses by running a full system scan.
Avoid performing only the standard, brief system scan, as this may miss critical components. Make sure you’re scanning the entirety of all of the drives and external storage devices attached to your computer.
The master boot record, boot sector, and any programs in memory should all be scanned for viruses. These are some of the most vulnerable spots on your computer, where malicious software may be hiding.
You can check out these free scanners –
A. MRT scan:
Microsoft’s Malicious Software Removal Tool for Windows is called mrt.exe. Microsoft’s helpful program can scan for and eliminate spyware from your computer. The program is widely available at no cost and is bundled with most Windows editions. Simply enter mrt into Windows’s search box to open it.
B. AVAST free PC scanner:
To keep your computer safe from malicious software, Avast Antivirus offers multiple scan options. Create your own scan with custom settings. This free antivirus provides a range of scans such as smart scan, custom, scan, quick scan, full virus scan, and more. The paid version of this tool is also available.
C. CleanMyPC :
CleanMyPC is a free software through which you can scan your PC and remove all the junk files which will help your PC to run faster. CleanMyPC is a helpful set of tools designed to keep your computer functioning at peak performance. Registry cleaners aren’t required, but they do make it simple to take care of a number of factors that can affect your computer’s performance. If you want to speed up your computer, you should disable unnecessary startup programs, delete unnecessary files, and uninstall unused programs.
D. Defragment your hard disk
When data on your hard drive becomes fragmented, your system’s performance will degrade unless you’re utilizing an SSD. There’s no need to panic; defragmenting the hard drive will take care of the problem in no time. Since hard disks are inherently unpredictable, data is fragmented throughout the transfer process. The information on a hard drive is stored and retrieved using an actuator, actuator arm, spindle, platter, and read/write head.
When information is being written (stored), it is written to the first available vacant space on the drive. When a large amount of data has been written to a hard disk drive, the number of blank sectors decreases. It’s getting more and more difficult for the disk to quickly locate all the files and programs you specify. When you defragment a hard disk, you tell the computer to move all the fragmented files to a single location. As a result, the drive will be able to retrieve data and locate free space on which to store fresh information much more quickly.
Using the Microsoft Windows Disk Defragmenter tool is the recommended method for defragmenting a hard drive.
Learn how to defragment your hard disk quickly by following these instructions.
- Clicking the Start button will launch Disk Defragmenter. Simply enter “Disk Defragmenter” into the search bar and pick it from the resulting list. Simply click the disk’s Current status drop-down menu and choose the Defragment button.
- You may check if the disk needs to be defragmented by selecting Analyze disk. You\d need an administrator approval. You should enter the administrator password or confirm your selection if you are prompted to do so.
- Once Windows has done its analysis, you may look at the Last Run column to see what proportion of the drive is fragmented. There’s a need to defrag the disk if the percentage is higher than 10%.
- Select Defragment disk and press Enter. Needs approval from the administrator Type the administrator password or provide confirmation if requested to do so.
Wrapping Up!
After completing the scan, refresh your PC and this will possibly help in speeding up your PC.
There are many potential causes for a slow computer. Hopefully, these steps will be good enough to speed up your slow computer if you follow them correctly. However, if you are still facing issues with a slow computer, even after going through the necessary steps, you can always contact our expert engineers who are always willing to help you out. Happy surfing!
