How To Make an Old Computer Faster

Computers are supposed to make our work easier, faster, and more convenient, so we imagine it can be quite frustrating when your computer, which used to be fast, starts taking all the time in the world to complete the simplest tasks. When this happens, your first thought is to replace it. However, try our solutions to boost your computer’s performance before taking this step.

There are several ways to make your old computer faster, and we tried to provide as many as possible in this article. Here are 12 quick and easy ways to boost your old computer’s performance.

Disable Auto-Launching Programs at System Startup

Several programs run automatically when you start your device, slowing the startup process. These programs are important and should be left to run automatically by default. 

For example, the Windows Defender and your Antivirus app should not be disabled. However, if you have other unimportant programs running automatically on startup and slowing down your device, you should disable them. To do this, follow the steps below.

1. Open the Task Manager.
2. Switch to the “Startup” bar. This displays all the programs that run at startup.
3. Right-click on any of the programs and select “Disable”. To increase performance, target high-impact programs.

Adjust Power Options 

By default, your Windows power plan is set to “Balanced”. This ensures that your computer runs efficiently without consuming too much energy. The “Power Saver” option sacrifices performance for low energy consumption. If your computer runs too slow, battery power should be the least of your problems. 

Adjust your power options and select the “High-Performance” option to speed up your old computer and run programs faster.

Use a Faster Browser and Close Unnecessary Tabs

Browsers like Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox are recommended for fast and enjoyable browsing. If you’re still using Internet Explorer, you will most likely experience slow browsing. Additionally, many people are fond of leaving their browser tabs open for long periods, which slows up your browsing speed and affects other computer processes.

Close all your browser tabs to speed up your computer when you’re done browsing.

Uninstall Unnecessary Apps and Programs 

After buying a new computer, one of the first things we do is install applications and programs for fun. After a while, we use some of them regularly and forget the remaining applications like they didn’t exist. This could seem harmless at first; however, the applications and programs on your computer take up the bulk of space on your hard disk and slow down your system.

To rectify this, browse through the installed programs on your computer and uninstall the ones you haven’t used in at least six months.

Delete Unnecessary Files

Your computer performs optimally with enough free storage space on your hard disk. Similarly, your computer slows down when the free space is almost filled. Go through the files on your hard drive and delete all the unnecessary files. You can go one step further by moving your computer’s heavy files to an external hard drive to free up some much-needed space. 

After you’ve deleted the files from your computer, open Recycle Bin and delete them permanently.

Clean the Hardware

Not all issues are software-related. Sometimes, all your computer needs is a good taking apart and clean up of its hardware. Too much dust in the internal components of your computer can cause the device to malfunction or overheat. When the hardware components of your computer are not in good condition, your computer might slow down.

To make it run faster, take the computer apart and clean it. Call a technician if you do not have the technical know-how or the tools to do this.

Run Disk Defragmentation and Cleanup 

If your computer uses a Hard Disk Drive (HDD), it is not uncommon for your computer files to become fragmented. This creates a problem for the computer, which has to check multiple places on the hard drive to find the pieces. This fragmentation process slows down computer processes. Running disk defragmentation puts the pieces back together and makes your computer run faster. 

You should also eliminate unwanted junk files on your computer through disk cleanup. 

To defragment and clean up your hard drive, follow the steps below.

1. Open File Explorer and go to “My Computer”.
2. Right-click on your hard drive and select “Properties”.
3. In the “Capacity” section under the “General” tab, click “Disk Cleanup”.
4. Select the files you want to clean up and click “Clean up system files”.
5. Go to the “Tools” tab.
6. Under the “Optimize and Defragment Drive” section, click “Optimize”.

Update Drivers and Software

Your camera drivers, graphics drivers, and other software require regular updates to improve the security and performance of your computer. Check your drivers and software applications regularly and ensure they are up to date.

Update the Computer OS

To keep your computer running smoothly and ensure the security of your device, you need to update your operating system whenever it is due. Sometimes, your device runs slowly because of a bug in the operating system, which has been fixed in the latest update. You can keep your computer running smoothly and securely by downloading and installing the latest update.

To update your Computer OS, follow the steps below.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Click “Update and Security”.
3. Click on “Windows Update”.
4. Download and Install any available update.

Check for Viruses and Malware

Use the Windows Security Defender or any reliable third-party antivirus to run a complete scan on your computer. Viruses and malware affect the performance and speed of your computer and compromise its security. You can locate and eliminate these threats using any reliable antivirus software.

Upgrade the RAM

Your computer’s RAM determines how effective your computer is at running multiple operations simultaneously. When you have enough RAM, you can run several high-powered operations and open multiple tabs on your browser simultaneously without significantly affecting your computer’s performance speed.

If your computer has become so slow that you can’t even run several simple programs without hanging, you should upgrade its RAM. Upgrading the RAM from 2GB to 4GB or 8GB would significantly improve your computer’s performance and speed.

Install an SSD

A hard disk drive has its advantages, but when it comes to speed and performance, it pales compared to a solid-state drive (SSD). Whether you replace your hard disk drive with an SSD or install the SSD to complement your HDD, you will witness a much-needed boost in your computer’s speed.

SSDs are more expensive than HDDs of similar sizes, so be prepared to spend some money. 

Conclusion

If problems persist after trying all the options in this article, then we are afraid that your computer might be too far gone and is due for a replacement.