10 Easy, Free Steps to Make Your Computer Faster

Step #1 - Disk Cleanup
Clean up the unused junk on your computer.
After a lot of use, your computer's hard disk should be cluttered up with unwanted files that you'll never need. Instead of having to manually go through and delete every unwanted file, your computer most likely has an easy-to-use built-in method of getting rid of the junk! Simply follow these simple instructions.

1. Double-click on My Computer.
2. Right-click on one of your disk drives.
3. Select properties.
4. Select Disk Cleanup

When you click this, a small box should pop up that tells you that it's calculating the amount of disk space it can clean up. This can take several minutes depending on how much clutter you have on your computer. Once it's finished, a small box should pop up, giving you a few options of what you would like to have cleaned up. For now, I would just select "Compress Old Files," and "Temporary Files."

"Compress Old Files" - Simply compresses all your old files and folders that you don't use anymore. Don't worry, it doesn't get rid of them. If you want to access your old files, it will only take a little extra time before you can open it up. The amount of space that this cleans up is massive.

"Temporary Files" - Just gets rid of all the temporary files that you accumulate while browsing the internet. Your computer most likely saves these so that you can re-enter the pages faster next time, but the amount of space it takes up is great enough that the time-saving is practically non-existent.

These two are your biggest space-hogs and take up space that you could be using for much more important things. Click the "Clean Up" button and wait while your computer cleans up that valuable space.


Step #2 - De fragmentation
Put your files back together.

De-frag-men-ta-tion, big word, huh? Well, it simply means "to un-fragment" or "to put back together." What happens as you use your computer is the files that you use slowly begin to "fall apart." When you go to open a file, then, your computer has to go through, find the different pieces, and put them together in order for you to access the file. What defragmentation does is put those files back together and keep them together so the next time you go to open that file, it pops right up. Thankfully, your computer should have this "defragmenter" built right in. Simply follow these steps to put your computer back together:

1. Double-click on My Computer
2. Right-Click on your disk drive
3. Select Properties
4. Select Tools
5. Select Defragment

This will open the defragmentation window and will begin to put your files back together. This may take several minutes to even an hour depending on how frayed your files are and how long it's been since you last defragmented (if ever). As it defragments, be sure to leave your computer alone, as the opening of a file or folder will cause it to start over again. When it is complete, it may require you to restart your computer for the effects to take place.

Frequency: It would be advisable for you to do this about once every 6 months.

Step #3 - Disconnecting Network Drives
Why be connected if you don't have to be?
Note: Please only do this step if you are not connected to a network of any kind. If you aren't sure, better safe than sorry, just keep your network connections plugged in for now.

If you have more than one computer, chances are you have them networked together. This is very helpful, as it allows for the quick access of files between the two computers as well as sharing of a printer. However, if you only have one computer, this is not such a good thing. Every time you open or close a file or folder, your computer will search for that network connection to see whether or not it belongs to your computer and if not, what computer it needs to grab the file from. This is a pain. If you don't have a network, simply follow these easy steps to disconnect your network drive:

1. Double-click on My Computer (yes, you do this a lot)
2. Select Tools on the upper menu
3. Select "Disconnect Network Drives"

Easy enough, right? Simply get rid of all the network connections you don't need or recognize and your computer should be running much smoother.

Frequency: This only needs to be done once.

Step #4 - Cleaner
Getting rid of all the useless junk; with one easy click.
If your computer is anything like everyone elses, it's full of useless junk. Your computer automatically accumulates it, whether you want it to or not. Unused file fragments, useless files and folders, old registry files, old shortcuts, the list goes on and on. Although you may think you have to go through and get rid of it all by hand, there is a program to do it for you.

Instead of having a cleaning option built in to your computer, you'll have to download a special program. But don't worry, it's incredibly lightweight (doesn't take up a lot of space), simple-to-use, and (best of all), virus-free. I myself have been using it for many years and haven't had any problems yet. Simply download Cleaner and run the program.

Once you have run it, open the program and select "Run Cleaner." It should take a minute or two to process your files and see which ones to get rid of, and then it will delete them, clean and simple.

Also in the program is a registry cleaner. On the side-bar, select the registry cleaner and select the cleaning button. When it asks you if you'd like to back up your registry files, I'd select "yes." You can never be too safe when it comes to messing with your registry, as one wrong move will ruin your computer for good. Run the program, clean up all your problems, and you'll be set!

If you want a more professional registry cleaner, I'd highly suggest these registry cleaners.

Frequency: As often as you like. I use it about once a week and it cleans up a good amount every time.

Step #5 - Remove Old Programs
Get rid of the stuff you never use anymore.
Chances are, you still have those old programs on your computer from years ago. That old game demo you tried, that software that never seemed to work out, and others. Chances are, those programs are still on your computer, taking up valuable space. Get rid of them for good:

1. Click on Start Menu
2. Select Control Panel
3. Select Add/Remove Programs
4. Select "Sort By Size" on the upper menu of the Add/Remove Programs page.
5. Select "Uninstall" on all programs that you recognize and no longer need.

NOTE: Never delete anything if you don't know what it is. You may see a "useless" program and accidentally uninstall a vital program from your computer. Better safe than sorry.

Frequency: Once a year or two. If you keep up with old programs you don't need, you won't have to do it again.

Step #6 - Startup Programs
Don't run programs under the hood that you don't have to.
A lot of you are running programs under the hood that you don't need to be running. These programs automatically start up when you turn your computer on and keep running until your computer gets turned off. Some of these programs are necessary, some aren't, some are viruses that slow your computer down. To get to your start-up list:

1. Click on the Start menu
2. Select "Run"
3. Type in "msconfig" without the quotes. This will take you to what's called your System Utility Configuration.
4. Select the Start-up tab and deselect any KNOWN programs that you don't want running in the background.
5. For all programs you don't know about, or aren't sure about, go here:
Startup List

Simply type in one of your start-up programs and read about it and whether or not you need it. This will help you out significantly, especially if you have a virus that may be slowing down your computer.

Frequency: I suggest doing this once a year, or whenever you notice an inexplicable and sudden decrease in computer speed.

Step #7 - Defragmenting Paging File
Whatever that means...
Yes, lots of big, somewhat meaningless words, but a very important thing to do, nonetheless. Simply said, your paging file is what is used when you search for files and folders and when you open them. When it gets fragmented, it takes longer to open and search for your files and folders. To "put the pieces back together," you need to defragment your paging file. Simply click to run PageDefrag.

After you run the program, it should be installed on your computer and run every time you turn on your computer. This reduces the worry, as you can just forget about the program and reap the benefits of a faster computer.

Frequency: As the program runs automatically, you don't need to worry about it after you install it.

Step #8 - Cleaning Your Recycle Bin
No one likes having garbage lying around, do they?
A surprising amount of the problems involved with computer speed are involved with the recycle bin. The next three steps should help take care of that.

When you delete unwanted files and folders, they go to the recycle bin. But where from there? Once a week, old files and folders MAY get routinely deleted, but for that time span, they just sit around and take up space. In order to get rid of those old files:

1. Right-Click on Recycle Bin
2. Select "Empty Recycle Bin"
3. A box will pop up, asking you if you really want to get rid of those files, simply click "yes."

And those files are gone! When you run Cleaner, this also gets rid of the files in your Recycle Bin, so you may not need to do this as often, but simply right-clicking and selecting is easier than having to open up a program and run it.

Frequency: When you delete a file.

Also, you may want to check this out:
Every time you go to delete a file or folder, a small box pops up asking you if you're SURE if you want to delete the file. Chances are, you probably do! So why ask the question if you know the answer?

1. Right-Click on Recycle Bin
2. Select Properties. You should be on the same page as step #9.
3. Un-check the box that says "Display Delete Confirmation Log"

And there you go! Instead of having to ask every time, your computer can just cut to the chase and delete the file. If, however, you accidentally delete a file, simply go into your Recycle Bin, right-click the file, and select "Restore." Good as new!

Frequency: Only once.

Step #9 - Bootvis
Making your computer start up faster
When you start up your computer, chances are it takes a while. What it's doing while it's loading is taking all of your files and folders and putting them in order before starting up your computer. In order to get these files in order and keep them in order, download Microsoft Bootvis and run the program. Restart your computer. You should see a separate screen for the program putting your files in order. This will SIGNIFICANTLY decrease your start-up time and make for a much faster boot.

Frequency: Only once, it runs by itself after you install it.

Step #10 - Anti-virus
Who makes these memory-sucking trojans anyways?
If you search the internet, there's a pretty high chance that viruses are trying to break into your computer. This might be by "too-good-to-be-true" downloads, free music, or just an average page viewing. To protect you and your computer, you'll need an anti-virus. Although there are a lot of good anti-viruses out there, a lot of them cost some money. Frequency: Only one download, but run regular scans.