Tired of Waiting? How to Speed Up an Old Computer

Summary: There are simple steps professionals use to speed up old, slow computers during PC service. Try these easy methods to speed up an old computer before deciding to buy a new one.

It is an emotional rush to boot up a new computer for the first time. Once you set it up the way you want, everything runs faster than the old computer did. It is impressive how little time it takes a new computer to start up and open documents, web pages and apps.

Why is My PC So Slow?

Time passes and gradually the monster computer that once functioned at maximum performance and efficiency slows down and affects your workflow. Maybe the slow-down happens at a time when a new computer is not in the budget. There are companies that advertise software fixes for slow computers, but do not waste money on software that claims to speed up slow PCs. The good news is that there are several free, simple steps users can take to speed up their old computers, including:

• Shut Down Your Computer Frequently – You probably do not need to shut down or restart your computer every day. But, every time you do, your machine is cleared of temporary files and with them, the random access memory (RAM) is freed up. So, depending on your device and workload, you might need to shut down or restart it every few days.
• Uninstall Unnecessary Applications – Applications take up a lot of space in your storage memory. The more items on your drive (HDD or SSD), the longer it will take to search, find and retrieve files or load programs. Clearing out unnecessary clutter will improve the speed of your computer.
• Install All Updates – Updating your computer and all its programs will frequently fix bugs and conflicts. Therefore, it is essential to install all updates as soon as they are available. Ask your IT technician to set updates to run automatically.
• Remove Temporary Files – Temporary Files are used to execute functions. Once implemented, temporary files serve no purpose other than taking up space and slowing down your machine.
• Upgrade Your RAM – 8 GB has become the minimum sufficient RAM for today’s computers. Therefore, upgrading to 12 GB or 16 GB will significantly impact the speed at which your computer runs. The more RAM, the more functions you will be able to perform at the same time. Increasing RAM will speed up most computers.
• Offload Big Files You No Longer Need – Large files take up space and slow down computer systems. In addition, files such as videos and dense graphics take up much of the space on your storage drive. If you do not want to delete them, transfer them to an external drive or upload them to cloud storage.
• Remove or Disable Auto-Launching Programs – If your computer automatically launches too many programs at start-up, it will slow down your PC. Carefully consider which programs you need to open automatically and disable the rest. Otherwise, you could be causing your computer to be slower from the moment you start it up.
• Do Not Leave Tabs Open – When you are done using tabs on your browser, close them. Commonly, users forget to close tabs. Then, so many are open that it slows down the computer by exhausting available RAM.
• Clean Your Computer – Keeping your computer free of dust and other debris will help keep it operating faster and more efficiently. In addition to cleaning and blowing out dust regularly, you should open your computer and perform a careful deeper cleaning once a year. Blowing out the inside and carefully dusting away gunk with a soft brush or cloth will keep dirt from clogging fans and other components, thereby keeping your device from overheating. This is part of PC services and maintenance.
• Try Reinstalling Windows (or IOS) Operating System – Operating systems can slow down over time. First, back up everything on your computer. Once you are sure everything is backed up (on iOS, use “Time Machine”), reinstall the appropriate system software. A clean, freshly installed operating system can fix many issues and speed up your PC’s functionality.
• Use Overclocking – Overclocking is “the practice of increasing the clock rate of a computer to exceed that certified by the manufacturer.” Laptops generally do not permit overclocking. However, if your PC allows it, overclocking will speed up its operation. As many manufacturer warranties are voided by overclocking, you should consult IT professionals before performing this operation.
• Replace HDDs with SSDs – Hard drives have moving parts that can wear out over time. As a result, they are becoming “old school” technology. Installing an SSD or Solid-State Drive will instantly increase the speed of your computer because they do not have to spin and search to retrieve data. Also, the cost of SSDs has come down over time and it is no longer an expensive option.

Buying Time Before Buying New Computers

If you need to delay a computer upgrade or replacement, these “speed up an old computer” tips are a temporary fix. By applying some of the above techniques, you could potentially speed things up and buy some time before you must replace your computer. Contact your IT technician to discuss whether these PC services could work for you and for purchasing advice before investing in new business or personal computers. They have access to industry discounts and more solutions and strategies to keep costs affordable for small and midsized business clients.