Working or trying to entertain yourself on a lackluster computer is not fun. If anything, you get distracted and disgruntled because it takes longer to carry out certain tasks. Random crashes, freezes, and other performance issues also get on one’s nerves rather quickly.
Thankfully, there are multiple ways to improve a computer’s performance, even if you have a relatively old model, and have fewer worries about your productivity. Let’s take a look at these methods.
Method 1 – Eliminate Corrupted Files
Eliminating potentially corrupted files should be the first thing you want to do. Malware, viruses, and other threats might infect your computer without you realizing it. And if you leave these threats unattended, they will slowly make the computer’s performance worse.
Of course, malware and viruses are not something that you can just find and eliminate yourself manually. No, you need a reliable antivirus tool that is meant for detecting and getting rid of corrupted data.
Install antivirus software on your computer and run a disk scan. If the antivirus discovers corrupted files, you will need to delete these files from the computer. And if the scan shows that the computer is clean, you can move on to the next method.
Method 2 – Declutter the Drive
Too much clutter on a computer’s drive is a common issue that leads to worse overall performance. People do not pay attention to files that they download, nor do they bother checking whether there is too much temporary system storage data.
If you have a MacBook, we recommend checking this blog to familiarize yourself with system storage and how to counter it. For Windows users, there should also be a plethora of sources that can offer guidelines on clearing the computer from unnecessary data.
Keep in mind, though, that temporary files are not always the biggest source of occupied drive space. For some, it can be large media files, old downloads, localization files for software, and even duplicate files.
Removing unnecessary data permanently is one of the best ways to minimize storage issues. However, you could also take a different approach and transfer some computer files to external storage. For instance, an external HDD is relatively cheap these days, and it could be just the answer to storage problems you are having.
Method 3 – Clean Dust
The tricky part about cleaning dust inside a computer is that you need to do it regularly. Many people forget or simply neglect to take care of the dust inside their computers only to suffer from it later.
It is extra tricky to clean the dust inside for laptop owners. Hardly anyone is willing to risk taking a laptop apart because of potential damages to the internal hardware. If anything, most laptop owners leave dust cleaning to computer service stores.
Regardless of what cleaning approach you want to take, it is important to clean the filth inside a computer so that the internal fans can do their job properly.
Method 4 – Upgrade Hardware
Hardware upgrades cost money, but they are still a cheaper alternative to purchasing a new computer most of the time.
Laptop owners might feel limited when it comes to this method. Many laptop models come with integrated hardware, and upgrading it is not really an option. And even if it is, you will overspend money. However, that is not the case for all laptops, and if your laptop’s hardware is upgradeable, you should do it.
For PC users, the situation is easier to handle. Custom-built desktop computers have a lot of room for hardware improvements, and these upgrades usually come down to one’s budget.
Method 5 – Run Latest OS Version
As a rule of thumb, a computer should always have the latest operating system version installed. There are some exceptions, such as outdated hardware not being able to handle certain OS versions, but it should not be a concern if you have a relatively new computer.
Not only do OS updates introduce new features and security upgrades, but they also optimize the overall performance so that your device can run more optimally.
Even if it takes a bit more than you would like for an update to download and install, you should prioritize it regardless. It might be that an outdated operating system version is the primary reason behind poor computer performance.
Method 6 – Check Internet Browser Performance
For some computer users, it is the internet browser performance that causes the most trouble. While the rest of the computer is working fine, an internet browser takes unusually long to load. In some instances, it might also crash randomly.
The odds are that this is happening because you installed too many browser extensions. Running idle browser tabs is also another reason. Then there is a browser cache that you should remove regularly.
If the suggestions in the previous paragraph do not help, you should consider switching to a different browser and seeing how the internet experience on your computer feels like then.