Tips to Improve PC Performance

Nothing puts a damper on your work spirits like a slow PC. Waiting for 30 minutes for your PC to start responding is a productivity killer. And if it’s a Monday, you are already irritated by the time you open the first mail or file. Did you just think, “oh, I know how that feels”? It’s time you showed some love and attention to your PC. Here are 7 expert tips on how to improve your PC performance from our IT helpdesk in Perth.

1. Clear all unwanted files

One of the simplest steps to make your system faster is by deleting all the unwanted files. Go through your folders and delete old pictures and documents that you don’t need anymore. If you want to keep them anyway, think about moving them to Google Drive or OneDrive. By using a cloud service, you’ll be able to view them and still save some space on your system.

If you have a Windows system, clear all the temporary files. Open the run windows by clicking on WIN+ R. Type in %temp% and click enter. Select all the files and delete them.

2. Delete browsing history

Clearing the search history and cookies in all your browsers will contribute to a faster PC. Open each browser and go to Settings. Delete history for “All time”.

You can also try doing a browser reset by selecting the Advanced tab and clicking on the Reset option.

3. Do a hard drive clean-up

Doing a clean-up will maximize storage and significantly improve your system performance. You can use the built-in disk clean-up tool to do this.

• Type disk clean-up in the search box.
• From the list of results, select Disk Cleanup.
• In the window that pops up, select the drive you want to free and click on OK. 
• Select the boxes of the files you want to delete and click OK.

You can also use the Clean-up system files option and follow the same procedure to free more space. Remember to empty the Recycle Bin afterwards!

4. Uninstall applications that you don’t use anymore

Apps take a lot of storage. If you don’t use a program anymore, there’s no harm in uninstalling it, right?

• Type in appwiz.cpl in Search in the taskbar and click on Open.
• You’ll now get a list of all the applications installed on your PC.
• Hover your mouse above the app you want to uninstall, right-click and select uninstall.
• If that doesn’t remove the application, you can use app remover programs to remove the software.

5. Remove start-up items

You may have noticed that specific applications such as OneDrive or Discord start functioning as soon as you log in. While that can be helpful at times, they make the boot-up time longer. If you have a lot of such start-up items, it’ll take a long time for your system to load and for you to start using it. You need to cut down the number of start-up items to improve the performance of your PC. You can change the start-up settings in Windows systems via Task Manager.

• Open Task Manager through the run window using the “taskmgr” command.
• There, under the Start-up tab, you’ll find all the start-up items.
• You can disable the application by right-clicking on the desired item and clicking on Disable. However, make sure you don’t disable essential software such as antivirus software.

6. Do a system scan

Malware will have a significant impact on your system and can slow down your PC. Do regular system scans and ensure there isn’t any malware in your system. If there are any suspicious software on your PC, remove it as soon as you spot it. Make sure your antivirus software is working perfectly.

System performance can be slow because of delayed installation of updates as well. So, always keep your system up-to-date and ensure the latest updates are correctly installed for all applications. Don’t forget about warranty expiry either!

Have you upgraded your system to Windows 11? Read our blog to know more about the all-new Windows 11.

7. Upgrade the RAM

Random-access memory (RAM) refers to a computer’s short term memory storage that handles active tasks. Upgrading the RAM of your PC is one of the most straightforward methods to make your PC faster. Adding more RAM will make your system performance smoother. If you have a 4GB system, you can upgrade to 8GB. Depending on your usage, if 8GB is not sufficient, upgrade to 16GB. You can also check if your system is compatible with SSD (solid-state drive) and upgrade to an SSD drive for more storage.

A slow system will be a massive hindrance to your productivity. Most employees won’t have the time to wait 30-40 minutes daily to start their systems. We hope these tips will help you improve your PC performance. If your PC is still acting lazy, don’t hesitate to contact us! Alternatively, you can email us at helpdesk@computingaustralia.group. Our IT helpdesk is open 24/7 to provide quick and straightforward solutions for all IT troubles.

Jargon Buster

Malware: Malware is software designed with the intention to cause damage to a computer, server, or network.
SSD: A solid-state drive (SSD) is a new flash-based storage device used in computers.