So, your computer is running slow and you want to speed it up a little.
There are a few factors to think about. Your machine may require additional RAM or an additional Hard Drive if you require further storage space. Your machine performance can also deteriorate over time due to other factors. I will list a few here & will explain each as we go.
- Hard Drive Fragmentation
- Insufficient space remaining on the Hard Drive
- Unnecessary software, spyware, malware or even a virus infection.
In this FAQ we are going to assist you with cleaning out old files/folder and defragmenting your Hard Drive. If you suspect your machine has been infected with Spyware, Malware or a Virus, please see the Spyware, Malware, Virus troubleshooting FAQ.
In the steps below we are going to walk you through the following processes:
- Removing unnecessary files/folders
- Removing old or unnecessary applications from your computer
- Defragmenting (Optimising) your hard drive
Removing unnecessary files and folders
Over time all computers get cluttered with files and folders that are no longer required. To give you an example, usually when installing an application (e.g. Microsoft Office) the install process will copy the files and folders required to install the application on to your computer. When the install process is complete you should have a functioning application (or collection of applications). The majority of people don’t remove the temporary files and folders (as they don’t realise they are there) from their computers and this uses up unnecessary hard drive space as these files are no longer required. The easiest way to remove these temporary files and folder is by using the built-in features of Microsoft Windows.
…..FAQ in progress. If you require support before we have the opportunity to complete the FAQ you are interested in, please contact us by sending us a message or email and we will be more than happy to provide you with support.