Computers can initially or after a point turn out to become really slow. There are many factors that can cause a computer to be slow, but that will be brought up a little later. But first you should know that you should never overload a computer with work to its maximum capacity. The factors that lead to a computer being slow are: Spyware, filled hard disk, lack of upgrades, alternate running programs taking high usage memory, etc. There are several ways with which you can speed up your computer and we provide you with a few recommended techniques.

The accumulation of certain viruses in the computer can cause your computer to become dead slow. To counter this problem, you will have to remove all the spyware and install a recommended anti-virus program which should be updated regularly to remove all bugs. We recommend you use the operating systems PC scan and the security essentials also.

Another reason for your computer to act really slowly is due to the lack of availability of space. The best method is to attach all the files to an external hard disk so that the internal hard disk has lots of space. Install a disk clean up software which will remove all temporary internet files, empties recycle bin, delete unwanted programs, etc. Keep about 30-50 percent of the hard disk free all the time to ensure great performance.

When you are using the computer, there will be a lot of other hidden programs running in the background that will probably be using up a lot of memory! If so, then you should go to the task manager and remove all those unwanted programs that are running in the background.

If it has been quite a while since you have updated your hardware to the latest new technology, then we would recommend you do that because programs that are coming up in the market these days require a certain amount of qualifications on hardware like high speed RAM, processor, etc.

An operating system requires a lot of files when running, but over time some of them become corrupted and requires an action by a user is required. By removing these corrupt files in the computer, you can speed up your computer. You can also uninstall all those unwanted programs you have installed in the computer to make your computer faster.

You can adjust your visual settings to default or low resolution settings to make the computer faster and better performing. Windows provides us with a bunch of animated visual effects, which take up a lot of memory. Exit or disable all the unwanted startup programs as these would take some amount of memory too and eventually make the computer slow.

Hardware Replacement

A powerful graphics board is often associated with a gaming PC but this isn’t necessarily true. Even if you don’t do a lot of gaming on your computer, replacing your graphics board could still work wonders for an aging PC, especially if you have Windows 7 and Windows Vista that use graphics-heavy user interface. Don’t worry about finding one that will fit your PC slot because graphics boards for older PCs are still being manufactured. Computers that have been around for a few years already have either a PCI or AGP slot, while newer systems use PCI-Express slots.

Make Your Windows ‘Lean and Mean’

If you don’t take action and fail to trim the fat off your Windows applications, it won’t be long before your computer eventually takes the slow lane. You might be surprised at how much you can still give your operating system a boost whether you are using Widows 7, Vista, or XP. For instance, you can deactivate some of the fancy effects that are automatically turned on by default.

In XP, you can do this by going to the system Control Panel, choosing Performance and Maintenance, then Adjust visual effects. Here you can see the different appearance effects that are currently activated. Uncheck the Adjust for best appearance and Adjust for best performance buttons to free up some processor time in running Windows. For Windows Vista, deactivate the Sidebar which hogs resources.

Remove Unused Apps

There could also be a number of programs running upon startup that you may be unaware of. Another method on how to speed up your computer is to check if there are any of these programs running silently in the background but are actually taking up a lot of your computer’s resources and therefore slowing the PC down. Find out what these particular applications are and keep them from loading when not in use.

For Windows 7 or Vista users, go to Start, key in msconfig in the Search programs and files field, and press Enter. When you get to the System Configuration window, choose the Startup tab. Check under the Command column and you’ll see a listing of the programs that also start up when you turn on your computer. See if there are any applications that you don’t really need to start as soon as your PC boots up and uncheck them.

Speed Up Your Network

If your computer is connected to a local network, slowdowns may be unavoidable, depending on what processes you’re initiating from PC to PC. To eliminate any delays caused by slow network connections, getting your Windows updated to the latest version and using the most recent drivers for your network cards is a good first step to take. In addition, your router should also be installed with the newest firmware.

Certain internet applications such as web-based phone services, online gaming sites, and video streaming can be very demanding on your resources and tend to hog a lot of the network’s bandwidth. The best way to lessen the pressure required of your router and to keep your PCs still running at optimal speeds is to utilize the router’s port-forwarding feature.

The truth is, a slow computer could be attributed to any number of issues within your system. It could take a major upgrade or some minor tweaks to get it back up to speed but there’s nothing to lose by trying all possible methods. If you’ve tried the above tips but don’t see any improvement, perhaps what you need is to clean up your registry. Avail of the Registry Mechanic free trial and find out if it’s the answer to optimize your PC. Hopefully with these tweaks I’ve shared, how to speed up your computer is no longer a problem for you.

• Beef up on security. Security is a major issue with every computer that has access to the internet because there are thousands of viruses, worms, and all types of malware that can be found on the web. By just visiting some sites, you may give these perpetrators a window to infiltrate your PC even without meaning to. While not all viruses wreak major havoc on your computer, most of them serve to bog your system down.

That’s why it’s so important to install security measures within your PC. This means setting up anti-virus and anti-spyware programs, and a firewall. Anti-virus programs keep your computer safe from any malicious software, while anti-spyware and adware prevents monitoring of your web surfing and feeding of unwanted ads. In addition, a firewall will keep your computer protected against hackers’ probes.

• Update security programs. Updating programs that protect your system is just as important as installing them. This is because viruses and all kinds of computer monsters are being produced every so often and what may be the biggest threats to your system today may change tomorrow. Even if you have already set-up computer security but don’t do regular updating, the security programs don’t serve their purpose too well.

• Add memory (RAM) or hard disk space if necessary. Lack of memory can also cause computer slowness, as does a hard disk space that’s already filled to capacity. Ideally a Windows XP needs 512 megabytes of RAM, while Vista and Windows 7 require 2 gigabytes. Check your RAM and see if you have the right size for your Windows version. Also, if your disk space is almost fully utilized, get a bigger drive and see if this will work to speed up your computer.

• Use a Windows registry cleaner. Another surefire method that can optimize your computer is to do regular maintenance with a registry cleaner. A registry that is already filled with unnecessary files and unwanted data that’s been accumulated over years of computing is a major culprit that slows down the computer. While you can also solve this problem by reinstalling Windows, not everyone can do so. Most computer users would need to take their PC to a professional, and sometimes, even end up just buying a new one to get it over and done with quickly.

With the use of registry cleaner software, it’s easy enough to do maintenance yourself without having to spend too much time or money. Some programs are even available for free although you’d best do some research first before downloading any program, and especially one that comes at no cost. Personally, I use Registry Mechanic by PC Tools and ever since I did, I haven’t had to deal with a slow computer any more.

Try these tips to optimize your computer and hopefully, you won’t have to deal with a slow computer again.

Additionally, to create free space for the hard drive, the best registry cleaners empty the recycle bin, delete temporary internet files, and remove other unneeded files to give free disk space. It sounds like a dream come true, but you do have to make sure that just like with any purchase you make, you do your homework beforehand.

True, the word free makes the heart of any consumer skip a beat. It would indeed be so nice to get something for your computer that is free like a hard disk or even a registry cleaner but here’s a word of warning: be wary of free registry cleaners. They may be good products but may lack customer support or upgrade features. Initially, this won’t be a problem, but down the road when you encounter a horrendous problem you may need to contact customer service and there would be no one to address your concerns. It is completely uncertain. Also, companies may just offer a trial period, but eventually you will have to pay for the software, so it truly isn’t free.

While this one is pretty obvious, an additional reminder never hurts: check to make sure the software advertises that it is 100% spyware free. It would be a misfortune to download software that would possibly cause more problems down the road including a costly repair bill, or even the purchase of a new computer. While a new PC would be nice, times are tough and a major purchase such as this might strap you.

If you are looking for computer optimization, elimination of error messages, and disk cleanup then purchase a registry cleaner to assist you. Before you’ll need to shell out anything, Registry Mechanic offers a free trial so you will know exactly what you will be getting in the long run for the few dollars it will cost you. Registry cleaners are useful to free up hard drive space and are only a small investment to protect your big investment down the road.

Before you do any disk cleanup ensure that you backup your system. If you accidentally delete or change a configuration, at least you know that you can revert to backed up files. It is a definite safety precaution that you don’t want to skip over.

Eliminate Wasted Space

Getting rid of unused programs by utilizing a registry cleaner is a great way to improve PC performance. During the install/uninstall process, extraneous paths remain on your computer, and can cause a slow down. It is wise to eliminate these paths as you don’t need them any longer to tidy up the registry.

Defragmentation

When a file becomes fragmented, it takes your speed computer longer to read the files. It takes more time for the computer to find the information on the hard drive because it has to skip to different sections to complete the task. You can utilize the “defragment now” button under the tools tab found under “my computer”.

Disconnect

If you have used different network drives for sharing files between other computers, you may speed up PC performance by disconnecting unused network connection. Most operating systems automatically connect to networks when Windows begins. You can organize your networks under “my computer”, and then under the “tools” tab, click “disconnect network drive”. Then you can select which networks to delete.

Autostart Programs

It can be a convenience, but programs that start automatically when you turn on your computer can slow it down. You can reconfigure these by accessing the “system configuration tool” in Windows XP, or running msconfig.exe. You will see a menu of programs that automatically start, and you can uncheck them to stop them from autostarting.

These are just some of the easiest steps that you can take to optimize your computer. Many of these tools can be found on your computer and are available for free but you can actually get more services from paid programs. For instance, if you check out the Registry Mechanic review, you’ll find that it will be more worth your money than just using free services. But whether you get these programs for free or pay for them, they can save you a lot of time and speed up PC performance.

First of all, I purchased a disk cleanup program that assisted me in getting rid of invalid entries within the Windows registry. The registry is the center of the computer which holds pertinent information that the operating system accesses to run software and hardware. I paid a small price for this software, around 20 dollars. I was tempted to buy free software, but didn’t trust it. At times free software programs may be laced with spyware, malware or scareware.

Additionally, prior to performing any maintenance or cleaning on your computer, it is important to back up files on the hard drive. You can use a hard disk to save information. Most registry cleaners perform registry back ups in case something doesn’t go right with the cleaning and you’d need the old registry. A tool like Registry Mechanic actually even does a lot more than just clean and backup the registry and you can find all there is to know in the Registry Mechanic review page.

One other method that helped speed up my computer immensely was eliminating programs that autostart. I accessed the system configuration tool and changed my autostart list. Now I don’t have to wait for the computer to open programs that I am going to use every time I turn on my computer.

I also got rid of old network connections. In the past, I simply didn’t take the time to delete them as I went, so now I can definitely see a difference in speed by performing this simple task.

Another process that could make a difference in computer speed is by performing “defragment now”. Every time the computer searches for files which have been broken down into “pieces,” it takes time to find and read the fragmented files which affects the speed as well.

These simple do-it-yourself tasks really helped in my computer problems. With a software like Registry Mechanic and some patience, it was actually quite easy to speed up my computer, and I could see the marked improvement in its performance.