By Andrew Pallete, Staff Writer
A lot of people have that desktop. The computer whose fan sounds like it has ½ horsepower. The time it takes to boot up lets you go make a bowl cereal. Your parents use it because they don’t need another computer, and maybe they don’t. Here’s how you can speed up that hunk of plastic casing and wires.
If you feel one of these methods is too advanced for you, don’t try it. Backing up files would also be a good idea. There may be multiple ways to do some processes, but this is only one way. If you are in doubt of something, Google it.
1. Make space
What’s going on: If you barely have any memory in your computer, it’s definitely going to become a hindrance. In a way, it’s like a cluttered room, it has so much stuff it’s hard to work with it.
Solution: Identify what is taking up so much space. A big culprit is usually an extensive music library, which can be remedied by either moving it to another computer or to external hard drive for future use. Old programs that are no longer used should be uninstalled. Additionally running a program such as CCleaner will help you clean up additional unnecessary files. Beware while using this as it has the potential to mess with your computer.
2. Stop running start up programs
What’s going on: You finally loaded up the desktop, so time to get to work, right? Wait the computer is trying to load… Is that MSN messenger? And Skype? These take a toll on your computer’s ability to run other programs since it takes memory to start up and maintain them.
Solution: Go to the programs in question, and usually there will be a setting to prevent it from starting at boot up. Otherwise search for msconfig.exe from the start menu, and click the Startup tab and uncheck programs from startup. This may require a restart of your computer. Warning: msconfig.exe can change other settings, just stick with the process.
3. Defrag your hard drive
Only applies to computers with an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). If you are not sure whether your computer has an HDD, Google your computer model.
What’s going on: As you save your files, they get saved randomly on the disk. As a result, you may have files and file parts all over the disk. To read these files, the disk has to rotate to read them, slowing your computer down. Defragging brings the files and their parts closer together. Some newer computers defrag on a schedule, so you don’t need to worry about it.
Solution: Go to the Control Panel, and click System and Security. Afterwards, click Defragment your Hard Drive and the dialogue box will appear. Click Analyze Disk to see if you need to defrag it. Afterwards, click Defragment Disk and let it do its work.