There's nothing more frustrating than waiting for your computer to do something. But instead of giving it a good talking to, follow our top tips to clear out all that digital debris.
1. Uninstall some programs
Uninstalling programs is a really effective way of speeding up your systems, particularly ones which use up a lot of disk space. Doing so will free up your storage space and memory, which makes more room for the files and programs you use regularly. It is pretty simple in theory, but how you uninstall programs depends on whether you are using a Mac or a PC.
2. Turn it off and on again
No, really. More often than not, your computer just needs a time out. Although it's perfectly fine to put your laptop or computer to sleep so you can save valuable minutes when you start it up again, you should shut it down properly as often as you can. This clears out its memory, and closes any programs that might be running quietly in the background.
3. Stop ignoring updates
Nobody likes installing those pesky updates, because usually once you've turned on your computer you want to use it straight away - not wait ten minutes for all that 'configuring'. But avoiding updates makes your computer vulnerable to viruses, and stops you receiving bug fixes - both of which could slow your computer down. Let your computer update, its definitely worth it.
4. Do a full scan for viruses
Regularly scanning your computer for malware and any malicious software is a good way to keep your systems running smoothly. As well as keeping your device secure, scans can catch potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), which sometimes come 'free' as part of bigger installations. Malwarebytes is a good free solution for home computers.
5. Sort out your start up
If your computer runs slowly in the first fifteen or so minutes of you using it, its probably because there are too many programs running on start up by default. Some of these programs you won't use every time you're on the computer, so it makes sense to turn some off. To change which programs run on startup, you have to follow different steps for a Mac and a PC.
If these steps haven't helped and you think it might be time for a new computer, give us a ring on 0191 482 0444
