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DIY: How to Make Your Computer Run Faster for Free

Many new computers are purchased every year by people who simply do not need them.  Frankly, for what the average computer user does on his/her computer (email, surf the internet, documents, etc.) they really don’t need a lot of firepower.  However, as time goes by, most computers get clogged with unnecessary software, spyware, and viruses.   This is generally the time most people get frustrated with their slow computers and start shopping around for a new one.  STOP right there, and take the following steps, which might drastically improve the performance of you computer and at no cost to you!

Step 1: Download the Following Free Applications and Install them on your Slow Computer

• CCleaner – CCleaner is a freeware system optimization, privacy and cleaning tool. It removes unused files from your system – allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space.

• Malwarebytes – Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware is a high performance anti-malware application that thoroughly removes even the most advanced malware and spyware.

• AVG Free (only if you do not currently have an antivirus program installed) – AVG is a free antivirus software does nearly everything you could want from scanning your drives to monitoring your internet downloads.

Step 2: Run CCleaner

Let’s start by opening up CCleaner.  As you can tell, there are four main tabs on the left hand corner of the screen: Cleaner, Registry, Tools, and Options.  For cleaning up your computer you are going to want to run both the Cleaner and Registry functions. Leaving all of the defaults alone, click the “Cleaner” button and then click “Run Cleaner,” which is located at the bottom right corner of your screen (your internet browser is going to have to be closed). Next move to the “Registry” function and click the “Registry” button in the left column.  Next, click “Scan for Issues” towards the bottom left section of the application.  After the scanning is complete, then click “Fix Selected Issues…,” which is located at the bottom right hand corner of the screen.  You will then have the option to backup your registry, I usually do not save, but you may if you wish.  Continue to run the Registry scan until you no longer have any issues pop up.

Step 3: Run Malwarebytes

It’s now time to remove all of the spyware on your computer.  Start by opening up Malwarebytes, which should now be installed on your computer.  Upon opening, simply click the “Perform full scan” box and then click “Scan.”  Select your main hard drive or drives and start scanning.  Depending on the size of you the drive, this can take awhile to finish, it’s worth the wait. Once the Program is done scanning, you will want to remove all of the found problems.

Step 4: Remove Unwanted Programs

It’s a good idea to remove all of the programs on your computer that you no longer use.  To do this, go to your Control Panel by click Start/Settings/Control Panel/Add Remove Programs.  Browse your list of programs installed and click the ones you no longer use and then hit the “Remove” button.  If you are unsure what some of the programs are, or if somebody else from you home may use them, pay attention to the “Last Used On” option to get an idea of how often the programs are being run.

Step 5: Remove Unwanted Startup Files

Now it’s time to stop some of the programs that automatically start up with your computer, these unwanted programs can not only bog down your boot up time, but interfere with your computers performance even after the machine is fully booted.  Start by clicking Start/Run.  In the Open field type “msconfig” then click the “Startup” tab.  Here you will see a list of programs installed on your computer and each one with a box that is checked boots up when Windows starts.  Go through the list quick and uncheck any of the files you know you do not need starting with your computer like AOL Instant Messenger and Winamp.  Be carefully not to uncheck any programs that are needed by Windows.  The best way to determine if a program is needed is to Google the name of the file.  You can find the file name by expanding the “Command” tab and searching the .exe file names.  The first search results should explain what the program is and if you need it at startup.

Step 6: Remove Viruses

Hopefully your computer doesn’t have any viruses, but it can’t hurt to run a scan.  First make sure your program is up to date.  Once your updates finish installing run a full system scan, just like you did with Malwarebytes and remove any viruses found. If you do not have a antivirus program installed, download AVG, its free and is good enough to protect your computer from future viruses.

All in all, the above process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours depending on the speed of your system, size of hard drives, and the number of problems found.  However long it takes, it is definitely worth doing every couple months or so to ensure your system is running as efficiently as possible.  Literally doing this process to a computer that has been neglected for sometime can make it feel like a brand new machine.  Hopefully this tutorial can save you from prematurely buying your next computer $

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