You’re trying to get something done on your computer, maybe it’s some work, or chatting with your family, maybe you started writing that novel you’ve thought about for so long, but this damn piece of junk is so slow. If you don't want to spend money on a new computer, what can you do to solve this problem? I’ve been there, and thanks to my tech-savvy friends, I've compiled this guide to help you clean up your old computer and give it a new lease on life.
First thing’s first: You need an antivirus installed on your computer! If you don’t have one, your computer might be infected with viruses, these nasty little pieces of software, used for a variety of things (gathering info, stealing passwords or just by people looking to be purposely malicious) – tend to hog the computing power of your Central Processing Unit (CPU) and slow down your computer’s response time.
According to tests performed in June 2014, the Antivirus software with the highest level of protection (99% success rate) were:
(credit: avira.com, 360safe.com, bitdefender.com, eset.com, kaspersky.com, cloudantivirus.com)
But before you install the Antivirus of your choice, make sure that you don’t have an old Antivirus installed – 2 antivirus programs don’t cooperate, they clash and slow down your computer. To check if you have an Antivirus installed, watch this video:
Pro-tip #1: Be sure to run a full scan on your computer once in a while, as there might be infected files lying dormant in your hard-drive.
Now that we made sure you have an antivirus installed and that it’s up-to-date, it’s time to check for the other problems that might be slowing down your computer. These include “cookies” or even internet toolbars that can negatively effect your computer's speed because they might be doing “naughty” things in the background (like sending your browsing data to a company, or giving you search results that aren’t the best, but instead were paid for by advertisers).
Currently, the 2 best programs for clearing such offenders are BitDefender & Malwarebytes Antimalware Free (99% success rate or higher).
Pro-tip #2: Run a scan once or twice a week, you’ll be amazed at what you might find.
Now that we've gotten the 2 biggest things out of the way, let’s clean up those nooks and crannies. You should download a program called “Should I Remove It” – it’ll scan your computer and let you know if you have useless programs installed, with an explanation on what each program does.
Some manufacturers install their own software on laptops and desktops and much of it is not really needed (called “bloatware”) and with ShouldIRemoveIt – you can easily get rid of all of these useless programs, clear space in your hard drive and speed up your computer.
Pro-tip #3: Most search-toolbars aren’t needed, and actually won’t display the best search results, consider uninstalling them.
(Credit: shouldiremoveit.com)
This process may take a while if your computer needs a serious clean-up, but if you follow these simple pieces of advice, you’ll enjoy a faster-working computer without the need to buy a new one or pay a technician to clean it for you!
|
WI-FI GUIDE: Stop People Hacking Your Wi-Fi Password
This is how you set up a password for your wireless Wi-Fi account, to stop people using your connection for free.
FYI: 7 Simple Ways to Avoid Hacking and Identity Theft
The internet is an amazing tool and a fun opportunity to add to your knowledge, it's important to remember to have fun while keeping yourself secure and safe from identity theft. These are the basic habits you need to have to keep your online identit
Did You Know You Could Do These Cool Things with Windows?
Windows has many built in tools and accessories with lots of cool and handy functions. Knowing how to use them will save you time and money. So here's how!
How to Easily Send Large Files to Your Friends and Family
Have videos, large images and music that you want to share with your loved ones? This is how you easily do so.
This Free Program Means You'll Never Lose a File Again
We all hate losing files and photos on our computers. Luckily, a free program called Recuva exists to help you get your deleted files back.
What Do Those 12 Mysterious 'F' Keys on Your Keyboard Mean?
Find out what those 12 curious F keys on your keyboard mean.
11 Remarkably Useful Websites You’re Not Using
Make sure you bookmark these incredibly useful and free websites. They might come in handy someday.
What Do Those 12 Mysterious 'F' Keys on Your Keyboard Mean?
Find out what those 12 curious F keys on your keyboard mean.
These Free Apps Turn Your Photos Into Beautiful Paintings
Your photos will look artistic with the help of these free apps.
Get the Most From Your Smartphone With These Tips & Tricks
These best tips, tricks and hacks for iPhone, Android, and Samsung users.
Spotting WhatsApp Spam: 5 Tips for Safe Chatting
Due to WhatsApp's increasing popularity, the number of spam texts in circulation has also grown. Here's how you can spot them.
This Site Will Allow You to Copy the Text Off Any Photo!
We are here to introduce you to a website that can assist in such situations by extracting text from images for easy editing, copying, recording and distribution.
Android 14: Learn All the New Features in the Newest Update
Sit back and learn what's new in your android phone in this informative video.
Take Your Computer Back to New with These Helpful Tips!
If your computer has become slow and is starting to lag, it’s probably about time you serviced it. Here's how to do it yourself, free of charge.
Learn All About the Different File Types on Your Computer
Computer extensions can have such confusing names and functions. If you're like me, you will appreciate this guide to 12 different file types!
Computer Guide: How to Keep Your Computer Up-to-Date!
Follow this simple guide to update drives and resolve common issues on your Windows computer.
7 Things on the Internet Archive You Never Knew You Needed
The Internet Archive offers a lot more than you realized!
Losing Important Emails? Here’s How to Tidy Up Your Gmail
A helpful guide to setting up Gmail filters to prevent emails from getting lost or spam overflowing your inbox.
The Best Skillshare Courses for Learning and Growth
The best Skillshare courses for beginners
Your iPhone's Volume Buttons Have Tons of Hidden Features!
There is more to your iPhone's volume buttons than you knew about!
How to Make Your Windows the Most Safe & Secure
Take advantage of the following video tutorial to gain comprehensive knowledge about all the crucial security and privacy settings available within Windows software.
20 Easy Solutions To Your Annoying Computer Problems
A collection of 20 tips to help you troubleshoot common computer problems with ease!
Minimize Exposure to Cellphone Radiation with This Guide
Our cellphones can be harmful to our health because of the radiation that they give off. Learn these 14 ways of minimizing your risk of exposure to it.
6 Weird But Useful Apps You Didn’t Know You Need
If you’re not using these weirdly useful apps, you’re missing out on a lot of fun!
Check When Your Shipments Will Arrive on These 5 Websites
These helpful online tools will help you estimate delivery times and track shipments with precision and accuracy.
INSTAGRAM: A Complete Beginner's Tutorial
This tutorial is designed to help you understand the basics, from setting up your profile to sharing your first post.
I Never Knew Repairing a Smartphone Was So Simple!
Having phone trouble? Here are 6 of the most common smartphone issues and exactly how you can fix them.
Read Our Beginner's Guide to Microsoft Word Here
Get the most out of the most widely-used word-processing application in the world, with our simple beginner's guide to Microsoft Word.
12 USEFUL Chrome Extensions That Save Time
Improve your browsing experience with these free Google Chrome extensions.
Visit an Ancient Map Collection With Thousands of Works!
Visit this great, free collection for an enlightening journey through the annals of cartography.
These Shortcuts Make Using My PC SO Easy!
Shortcuts make life easier in many parts of life, and computing is no different. Here we'll show you how your keyboard can be used to speed things up.
It’s Almost a Crime Not to Use These Free Nifty Websites
Check out 15 really useful websites. They are completely free to use!
Samsung vs. Apple: Who Has the Better Smart Watch?
In this video, we look at the best iWatch and the best Galaxy watch to compare and see: who has the better smartwatch?
7 Reasons Why Your Computer is Running Abnormally Slow
There are many things that could be slowing your computer down and you'll find 7 of them in this article. Take a look!
Computer Tips: All You Can Do With the CTRL/Control Key!
The control key has more uses than just copying and pasting. These are the 20 more useful keyboard shortcuts you can do with the control key.
Learn to Avoid the Most Common Scams on the Internet
As we navigate the internet, there's a minefield of scams that we have to avoid that could potentially explode in our faces. Here are the 25 most common.
Photo-Perfect: Learn How to Use the Basics of Photoshop
Whether you're looking to enhance your personal photos or create compelling graphics for your business, our Photoshop tutorial is designed specifically for you.
Make Your Browser Safer With This Handy Guide!
Make your browser more secure by following these easy tips.
New WhatsApp Features: Edit Your Messages and More!
Have you tried this new WhatsApp feature yet?
These Red Flags Indicate That a Shopping Website is Fake!
With online shopping being more prevalent than ever, scams are also on the rise. These are 8 warning signs that a shopping website is fake.
5 Ways to Get the Most Out Of Your Security Systems
Learn some useful tips in this article that will let you know if your security system is working efficiently or not.
14 Useful Tips & Tricks to Get the Most Out Of Your PC
In this video, you will get to learn about some really handy computer tricks and tips that will make your life easier.
WARNING: Don't Fall for These Common Instagram Scams!
Protect yourself from phishing on Instagram with these tips.
If You Aren’t Doing these Things, Your PC WILL Wear Out...
All the basics of computer maintenance.
Can A.I. Outperform These 20 Professionals?
Here's a comparison video we're all secretly curious about...
9 Lesser-Known Tips for Using Facebook Messenger
Learn some of the hidden tips and tricks on the popular Facebook Messenger app.
Computer Guide: Windows 11 Shortcut Keys!
Learn the best shortcuts for Windows 11 using your keyboard. From taskbar to screenshots, learn it all.