A new computer is usually associated with optimal performance, while the old ones are criticized for running slowly: applications take time to launch, gestures as simple as opening a tab in the browser take forever… But in most cases they can be avoided with basic maintenance tasks that do not cost hundreds by piling up the boxes in your hard and tolerable activities, so that they do not cease, by completely abandoning them.
How fine-tuned is the computer to always have good performance? Windows has some tools to remove unwanted files, optimize your hard drive, adjust security settings, and much more. Combined with other software and some hardware upgrades, they guarantee an almost instant improvement in performance. These are the main measures that can be taken.
Install the operating system and program on the SSD hard drive
For several years now, many computers, even the cheapest ones, have installed a traditional SSD disk or disk drive. These drives deal with moving elements and instead use non-volatile NAND flash memory, similar to those used by memory cards or USB keys. This is the very property that makes it more reliable (there are no mechanical elements), more resistant and faster: access to information is immediate. That speed is perceived when it is engaged in the device, searching for data or running programs and applications. Ideally, if available, both the operating system and software are installed on an SSD, and one is reserved for traditional documents.
Keep the equipment up to date
Windows updates pose technical issues with the operating system that have the potential to affect both productivity and security. In this sense, it is possible to establish in the schema of the tools that updates are made automatically, and sometimes when it is not used for other tasks. Any compatibility issues or small bugs that software and drivers usually have can only be resolved by installing the latest version as possible.
clean hard drive
Photographs, videos, text files, audio… More and more files accumulate and are of greater weight. If there are more of them, and the hard drive does not have a certain margin to work, it will be very slow. In this case, it is useful to cut off the unnecessary ones and transfer the rest to an external storage unit.
Something similar happens in programs: it doesn’t take long for the PC to fill up applications that were installed “just in case” and then never used, or are no longer to be used. If so, it is best for experts to plan them so that they do not consume resources. This work can be done directly from the control panel, but it is important to use a specific program to remove all traces that remain after uninstallation. CCleaner, Revo Uninstaller or Mass Crap Uninstaller are some free tools that help with that.
clean registry
Most programs temporarily store data on the hard drive, but once you don’t use it anymore, don’t bother deleting it. So they accumulate until they take up a lot of space and slow down the flow of the computer. Although the cleaning can be done manually, it is not recommended for users without computer knowledge: they can cause problems in the operating system or software. For this reason, there are two better options: use Windows Disk Cleanup, which, although not designed for this task, can remove leftover applications and drivers; or use specific software that locates entries that can be deleted and allows backups to be prevented. Again, CCleaner and others like Smart Registry Cleaner are among the most used.
Lots of information
fraction of the world
When you save files or programs to a mechanical hard drive, it’s done in chunks, not a whole piece. And while Windows knows exactly where all those bits are, it has to find the work, causing the inevitable slowdown. The Microsoft operating system incorporates a function to automatically perform a disk fraction every day, once a week or once a month, although it can also be done manually if we are short of storage capacity or have noticed a decrease in computer performance.
Select start programs
If the problem is that Windows is slow, it is useful to list the programs that start from the operator, since many of them will not have to do so. And the more they are, the longer the conjunction will be between pressing the power until it can be used. The system “Task Manager” incorporates a tab (“Start”) with all the applications configured to start with the equipment, which can be disabled from the same file.
And if none of the above works… it remains to restore the operating system
This task is done from the Recovery option in the configuration, and it is possible to choose between keeping the settings or performing a complete reinstallation. So it’s always a good idea to save a backup copy of everything on an external drive and have the necessary elements — executable file, keys… — applications to restore.
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