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5 Ways to Ignite Your PC’s Performance Without Spending a Cent
Is your PC slowing down? Or maybe it’s crashing more frequently? If that’s the case, your PC might be suffering from old age! Just like people, PCs can also age and become less efficient.
Good News for Your Aging PC
Unlike people, you can actually rejuvenate your aging PC and bring it back to life. With just a few easy-to-follow tips, you can reignite your PC’s performance and speed it back up.
1. System Configuration Utility
Even when your computer is idle, it could be running numerous programs’often more than 50! These background processes can drain your CPU and memory. Over time, the more software you install, the more unnecessary programs accumulate, many of which run in the background without you realizing it.
To check what’s running, hit CTRL + ALT + DELETE and go to the Processes tab. This will show you how many processes are running in the background.
To solve this issue, follow these steps:
- Go to Start (or Run for Windows XP) and type MSCONFIG.
- The System Configuration Utility will appear. Click on the STARTUP tab.
- Here, you’ll see all the programs that are running in the background. Disable everything except your antivirus software.
2. System Configuration Utility Part 2
While still in the System Configuration Utility, go to the SERVICES tab and uncheck the HIDE ALL MICROSOFT SERVICES option. This step is crucial for those less experienced, as turning off Microsoft services can potentially disrupt your system.
Once you’ve unticked that box, you’ll see non-Microsoft services. Again, I recommend turning off everything except for your antivirus services. After deciding which services to disable, click Apply to finalize your changes.
3. Performance Options
Your operating system (OS) can significantly impact your PC’s performance. For Windows Vista users, I recommend turning off some visual effects, especially on lower-end systems. For XP users, the performance increase may not be as noticeable, but every little bit helps. You won’t miss most of these effects anyway.
To adjust these settings:
- For Vista: Type PERFORMANCE into the search bar, select PERFORMANCE INFORMATION AND TOOLS, and click ADJUST VISUAL EFFECTS.
- For XP: Go to Start, then Control Panel, and select PERFORMANCE AND MAINTENANCE. Then choose ADJUST VISUAL EFFECTS.
Turn off all effects except the last one, which keeps the modern Windows feel’something many users enjoy.
4. Uninstall Unused Programs
A fast hard drive is an empty hard drive. If your hard drive is cluttered with unused programs and games, uninstall them to free up space and watch your boot times improve!
Tip: If you’re a gamer, consider saving your save game files and uninstalling the full game. This allows you to reclaim valuable storage without losing your progress in games like Crysis.
5. Defragmenting Your Hard Drive
One final step in optimizing your PC’s performance is defragmenting your hard drive. Although many are aware of this process, using a different defragmentation tool can yield better results, especially for those using Vista.
Many users find Vista’s defragmentation tool inadequate. It often lacks clarity on how long the process will take and how fragmented your hard drive is. Instead, I recommend using Auslogics Disk Defrag. It’s quick, easy to use, and does a great job of optimizing your hard drive.
Best of all, it’s completely free to download. Just search for Auslogics Disk Defrag online and you’ll find it in no time.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it’s quite easy to improve your PC’s performance without spending any money once you learn how to do it. The most challenging part is finding reliable methods and tools. By following these simple steps, you can breathe new life into your PC and enjoy a smoother, faster computing experience!