Your computer has to do many things when it starts up and as you use it. Each task the computer performs takes a bit of time and a bit of memory. After awhile, these seemingly innocent little tasks add up. You may also be slowing your computer down inadvertently just by the way you use it. Here are a few tips to speed up your computer.

Don’t Confuse Your File System And Your Desktop!

First, don’t store files on the desktop. It’s ok if you save a downloaded file there, or put a file on the desktop temporarily, but don’t turn your desktop into an alternate file storage area. The file system is very good at storing files; the desktop… not so much.

Each desktop item has an icon that goes with it. Now, you may say “Well, each item in my file system has an icon that goes with it, too, so how will storing files on the desktop make a difference in the way my PC operates?” The file system manages desktop items differently than it manages items in the file system. The file system is meant (and optimized) for file storage, so keep your desktop clear and your PC will thank you.

Turn off the animations. Your file system can be set to “animate” certain actions like opening files and folders, or showing “transparent” window borders. These effects are processed by the graphics card, but if your graphics card is under-powered when it comes to processing or memory, these can turn out to be a real drag on your system. If you’re not sure whether this makes a difference, turn these animations off for awhile and judge for yourself.

Verify that your memory is adequate to the task. If you’re getting by on the minimum recommended amount of memory, your performance will probably suffer. Software manufacturers usually recommend the amount of memory you need to run their software. Keep in mind that this memory is in addition to the memory your computer needs to run the operating system.

If you don’t have sufficient memory installed on your computer to run the OS and your favorite applications, your computer will seem very slow. The computer is trying to find memory to run your applications, and is furiously swapping information in and out of RAM (something like a shell game) to make your programs work. Add memory to your computer and see what a difference it can make.

I’ll have more performance tips in future posts.

Photo Credit: Chris Lae

Tags: improve computer speed, slow computer performance, speed up computer