How to Optimize Your Computer

How is your computer running? Is it taking forever to boot up? It is just slowing down and driving you crazy? It doesn’t take long for even a new computer to get bogged down with too many files, programs, and just too much stuff. Here’s some simple, fast, and easy ways to love yours again.

Update Windows
Yes, it’s a pain when your computer wants to reboot after downloading updates. Be a big bee and just do it: a lot of good stuff essential to the health of your PC is in those updates, from security patches to new software updates. Running the most up-to-date version of Windows will keep your PC running optimally. Start>All Programs>Windows Update>Custom>All Available Updates>Install Updates.

Get rid of Unneeded Programs
Uninstall programs that you don’t want or need – they can take up a lot of valuable space. Start>Control Panel>Add or Remove Programs.

Defragment Your Hard Disk
Defragmenting your hard disk helps your computer run more efficiently.  All of the fragmented files are consolidated, which improves your PC’s speed and performance. You have a built-in Defragmenter on your PC. Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools>Disk Defragmenter>Analyze Disk. For more information, read Defragmentation: A Little Housekeeping Now, Less Headaches later.

Clean your Computer’s Registry
Your computer’s brain – or Registry – is a central place that has plenty of room when you get a new computer. It stores and records information about your programs and files, and over time, becomes overloaded with duplicate files and errors. Running a free scan of ChicaPC-Fix™ can show you just how cluttered your computer’s registry is, and will fix the first 20 errors for free. When the Registry is cleaned up, your computer will speed up and the performance will be improved.

Small steps, but performing regular maintenance on your computer can keep it running faster and more efficiently for years. Don’t buy a new one, optimize the one you have!

Do you perform regular maintenance on your computer?

–Angela Skinner Mullen