First let’s perceive what affects the computers performance. The two key factors for your pc speed are processor (CPU) utilization and RAM utilization. CPU utilization is the % of processor that is being utilized by your Pc when it’s running (Max 100%).
Optimize windows settings for performance
This is one tip which very few really use, Windows includes a feature where you'll be able to set the pc to be setup for better appearance or performance, by default it is set for better appearance. If your pc includes a lot of RAM (2+ GB) then you'll be able to set it up for Appearance and the performance would still be fine. However if you're short on RAM, to speed up pc performance configure windows settings to be optimized for performance.
Uninstall any programs that you simply don’t use
A ton of programs are installed with the pc which you will never use. There might be many programs you installed but don’t use them anymore. These programs use disc space and load a heap of programs into the memory at start up. To speed up pc performance simply remove all the programs you do not use.
Remove un-necessary startup programs
The following step towards to speed up pc performance would be to get rid of un-necessary programs that get loaded at startup of windows, if your pc takes terribly long to start up then this could be as a result of there being too many programs in the start up. These days nearly every programs that is installed, installs itself to startup on Windows startup. Remove the un-necessary start up programs to see a significant improvement in pc performance.
Don’t litter your desktop
A terribly common issue that I have seen with friends and colleagues is that they save every file on the desktop, a large reason to slow up the pc; it’s best to save only shortcuts on the desktop. This won’t be a drawback if you have got an enormous quantity of RAM on your pc like 2+ GB of RAM. If not, it's vital to understand that the desktop is the active space of the Pc and gets loaded onto the RAM when windows loads up. To speed up pc performance remove all the files from the desktop, instead add these files in a folder and add a shortcut to the folder on the desktop.
Release more space on the C drive to speed up pc performance
Windows uses the C Drive space to store information when it is out of space on the RAM, if the C drive is brief on space than Windows needs to do a ton a of data swapping of information hence slowing down the computer. To speed up pc performance leave atleast 3 GB space free on your C drive.
It is a smart practice to have a separate partition for the C Drive and put all your personal documents, multimedia and data on the partition drive like a D or E drive, and leaves the C drive totally for Windows. This can be also helpful if the C drive crashes, then all your information would be intact on the D or E drive.
Defrag your hard drive
Defragmentation is another factor you can use to speed up pc performance. Let’s understand the fundamentals of a hard disk to understand why it is necessary to defrag the hard drive. The hard drives are made up of blocks of information, and therefore the hard drive maintains an index to the blocks of data. Whenever we access something on the pc the hard drive looks-up the index and accesses the block of information and presents the information to us.
Any information that we access can be spread across many blocks of data. If the information that we access is stored across a row of continuous blocks of information then the hard drive gets all the information together block after block. However, if the information is fragmented over non-continuous information blocks then the hard drive accesses a information block and then needs to go back to the index to get the location of the subsequent information block, hence slowing the process of information access. Defragmentation aligns the blocks of information in continuous order therefore access speed would be faster.
Clean up registry to speed up pc performance
The registry is the knowledge database for Windows. Windows stores all data in regard to windows components, installed applications, services, start-up programs, and each feature that is present in Windows within the System Registry. Because the system is used over time and software applications and windows components are installed and uninstalled, the windows registry keeps growing larger and it becomes more time consuming to search out information. This could slow down your pc, hence it is advisable to clean-up your registry every once in a while to speed up pc performance.
Prevent and Remove Trojans, Spyware, Malware
Another concern for your computers performance is Trojans, Spyware and Malware. What these unwanted programs do is find a means into your pc through the web, network backdoors and security loophole in windows and sit on your pc, transmitting information from your pc to folks who designed these software’s.
Trojans, Spyware and Malware mainly come in through network, web, flash drives, warez sites and warez programs. Whenever your pc is connected to a network or web then your pc is accessible to the remainder of the world connected to the network or internet. Currently there are tons of hackers who are attempting to get something out of your computer.
To speed up pc performance and protect yourself from hacks, have your windows firewall on and use a good anti-virus and spyware program to keep your pc safe.