You’re trying to get something done on your computer, maybe it’s some work, or chatting with your family, maybe you started writing that novel you’ve thought about for so long, but this damn piece of junk is so slow. If you don't want to spend money on a new computer, what can you do to solve this problem? I’ve been there, and thanks to my tech-savvy friends, I've compiled this guide to help you clean up your old computer and give it a new lease on life.
First thing’s first: You need an antivirus installed on your computer! If you don’t have one, your computer might be infected with viruses, these nasty little pieces of software, used for a variety of things (gathering info, stealing passwords or just by people looking to be purposely malicious) – tend to hog the computing power of your Central Processing Unit (CPU) and slow down your computer’s response time.
According to tests performed in June 2014, the Antivirus software with the highest level of protection (99% success rate) were:
(credit: avira.com, 360safe.com, bitdefender.com, eset.com, kaspersky.com, cloudantivirus.com)
But before you install the Antivirus of your choice, make sure that you don’t have an old Antivirus installed – 2 antivirus programs don’t cooperate, they clash and slow down your computer. To check if you have an Antivirus installed, watch this video:
Pro-tip #1: Be sure to run a full scan on your computer once in a while, as there might be infected files lying dormant in your hard-drive.
Now that we made sure you have an antivirus installed and that it’s up-to-date, it’s time to check for the other problems that might be slowing down your computer. These include “cookies” or even internet toolbars that can negatively effect your computer's speed because they might be doing “naughty” things in the background (like sending your browsing data to a company, or giving you search results that aren’t the best, but instead were paid for by advertisers).
Currently, the 2 best programs for clearing such offenders are BitDefender & Malwarebytes Antimalware Free (99% success rate or higher).
Pro-tip #2: Run a scan once or twice a week, you’ll be amazed at what you might find.
Now that we've gotten the 2 biggest things out of the way, let’s clean up those nooks and crannies. You should download a program called “Should I Remove It” – it’ll scan your computer and let you know if you have useless programs installed, with an explanation on what each program does.
Some manufacturers install their own software on laptops and desktops and much of it is not really needed (called “bloatware”) and with ShouldIRemoveIt – you can easily get rid of all of these useless programs, clear space in your hard drive and speed up your computer.
Pro-tip #3: Most search-toolbars aren’t needed, and actually won’t display the best search results, consider uninstalling them.
(Credit: shouldiremoveit.com)
This process may take a while if your computer needs a serious clean-up, but if you follow these simple pieces of advice, you’ll enjoy a faster-working computer without the need to buy a new one or pay a technician to clean it for you!
|
FYI: 7 Simple Ways to Avoid Hacking and Identity Theft
The internet is an amazing tool and a fun opportunity to add to your knowledge, it's important to remember to have fun while keeping yourself secure and safe from identity theft. These are the basic habits you need to have to keep your online identit
20 Easy Solutions To Your Annoying Computer Problems
A collection of 20 tips to help you troubleshoot common computer problems with ease!
How to Easily Connect Your Laptop to Your TV!
Want to view your internet videos on your tv? No problem!
Your Computer Mouse Can Do Much More Than You Think...
Knowing how to use your mouse can make computing so much easier than you ever realized. Here are some great tips on how to maximize the use of your mouse, which will increase your overall productivity on the computer.
What's the Healthiest Way to Sit at Your Computer?
Learn how to minimise the health risks of using your computer with this positioning guide.
How to Easily Send Large Files to Your Friends and Family
Have videos, large images and music that you want to share with your loved ones? This is how you easily do so.
How to Turn Your Phone Into a Wifi Hotspot!
If you've ever dreamt of sharing your smartphone's cellular connection with other Wi-Fi-only devices, such as a tablet or a laptop, then you're in luck!
Protect Your iPhone Today With These Handy Tips
Protect your privacy and improve your iPhone’s battery life by disabling these settings.
Computer Guide: Windows 11 Shortcut Keys!
Learn the best shortcuts for Windows 11 using your keyboard. From taskbar to screenshots, learn it all.
10 Safe & Free Movie Streaming Sites Anyone Can Use
Check out some of the best free and legal streaming sites for your next binge.
These 10 Keyboard Shortcuts Will Make Life Easy!
These keyboard shortcuts will help you learn the easiest ways to use your computer when your mouse is being less than cooperative!
If Your Windows PC Is Slowing Down, You Should Read This
NO - a slowing Windows PC isn't a fact of life. You simply need to know a few tips and tricks that you can apply to yours in order to speed it up! Read on...
Photo-Perfect: Learn How to Use the Basics of Photoshop
Whether you're looking to enhance your personal photos or create compelling graphics for your business, our Photoshop tutorial is designed specifically for you.
7 Things on the Internet Archive You Never Knew You Needed
The Internet Archive offers a lot more than you realized!
How to Identify the Owner of a Phone Number: 5 Methods
Received a call from an unknown number? Use these sites to identify the caller.
Struggle to Remember Your Passwords? These Tips Will Help
Passwords can be difficult to remember at times, but here are some tips that will help.
Computer Guide: How to Keep Your Computer Up-to-Date!
Follow this simple guide to update drives and resolve common issues on your Windows computer.
Losing Important Emails? Here’s How to Tidy Up Your Gmail
A helpful guide to setting up Gmail filters to prevent emails from getting lost or spam overflowing your inbox.
These Shortcuts Make Using My PC SO Easy!
Shortcuts make life easier in many parts of life, and computing is no different. Here we'll show you how your keyboard can be used to speed things up.
Take Your Computer Back to New with These Helpful Tips!
If your computer has become slow and is starting to lag, it’s probably about time you serviced it. Here's how to do it yourself, free of charge.
6 Unnecessary Windows Programs You Should Uninstall
Your Windows PC could be filled with unwanted and outdated apps and programs... Delete them today.
Read Our Beginner's Guide to Microsoft Word Here
Get the most out of the most widely-used word-processing application in the world, with our simple beginner's guide to Microsoft Word.
A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Use Chrome Remote Desktop
Chrome Remote Desktop can be pretty useful for those who want to control their PC or Mac from their phone, tablet, or other computer.
5 New Windows 11 Features You Don’t Know About
You may have missed these new Windows 11 features.
Samsung vs. Apple: Who Has the Better Smart Watch?
In this video, we look at the best iWatch and the best Galaxy watch to compare and see: who has the better smartwatch?
The Best FREE Health Apps That Can Transform Your Life
Keep yourself healthy this year with the help of these great apps.
Make Your Browser Safer With This Handy Guide!
Make your browser more secure by following these easy tips.
Can’t Download Facebook Videos? Just Watch This Guide
Want to download some videos from Facebook? This guide will help.
The Easy Way to Clean Your Computer's Keyboard
Cleaning a dirty keyboard is quite a straightforward task, as you're about to find out.
WARNING: Don't Fall for These Common Instagram Scams!
Protect yourself from phishing on Instagram with these tips.
Easy Ways to Watch Content from Your Phone on Your TV
Cast and screen share your phone to your TV with these tips.
5 DIY Solutions to Better Organize Your Cords and Cables
Computer cables have an annoying tendency to tangle and create an unseemly mess. Here are some easy ways to prevent that.
These Password Tips Will Ensure You're Safe from Hackers
Cybercrime is increasing thanks to ever-improving technology. Therefore, it's very important that you have a strong password. These tips will ensure you do!
12 USEFUL Chrome Extensions That Save Time
Improve your browsing experience with these free Google Chrome extensions.
Your Phone Battery Doesn’t Last All Day? This Might Be Why
Is your phone's battery dead again before you know it? Here are 8 potential causes that could be draining your phone's battery life...
What Do Those 12 Mysterious 'F' Keys on Your Keyboard Mean?
Find out what those 12 curious F keys on your keyboard mean.
This Site Will Allow You to Copy the Text Off Any Photo!
We are here to introduce you to a website that can assist in such situations by extracting text from images for easy editing, copying, recording and distribution.
The Best iPhone Tips and Tricks for 2023!
In this video you'll learn a bunch of tips and tricks that have just recently been added.
8 Common Netflix Problems and How to Solve Them
Trying to watch the latest Netflix show and encountering problems? Here's how to fix it.
Learn All About the Different File Types on Your Computer
Computer extensions can have such confusing names and functions. If you're like me, you will appreciate this guide to 12 different file types!
20 Terrifically Helpful Chrome Keyboard Shortcuts
Welcome to the ultimate guide to mastering 20 essential keyboard shortcuts for the Google Chrome browser!
These Gmail Shortcuts Will Save You Time & Frustration
If you use Gmail, but you don't know how to use a single keyboard shortcut, then you well and truly are missing out. Here are the most useful ones...
There's a keyboard Shortcut for Nearly Everything Here!
These shortcuts will cut down the time you waste fiddling about on the computer, and make you into something of an expert.
New to Spotify? These Easy Tips Will Help You Get Started
New to Spotify? Here’s everything you need to know about the music streaming service.
Want Better Google Search Results? Try These Tricks!
Use Google like a pro with these useful tips and tricks.
If You Do This, Then You Could Be Damaging Your Phone...
Many people end up damaging their phones without even realizing that they are doing so, and here are 9 of the most common ways this happens.
My Email Has Been Hacked! What Should I Do Next?
Don’t panic if your email has been breached. Just follow these steps to secure yourself.