Often a computer is so cluttered with useless information and data that it’s near impossible to deduce if it has a virus or if it just needs to be cleaned up. Bob Al-Greene explains five tips which should help clean and speed up your PC.
Our computers rarely run as fast as we want or expect them to. Whether you're a Mac or Windows user, it's maddening to sit in front of a taunting hourglass or spinning circle of death, especially when you have work to do.
In the spirit of spring cleaning, we invite you to clean the dust bunnies out of your PC (literally and digitally). Here are five easy ways to get started.
1. Organize everything
Your computing experience could seem slow if you spend eons clicking through endless subfolders or waiting for search to retrieve files. The first step toward a smooth-running PC is to remove human error.
That means setting up an intuitive filing system for your documents to make sure they're always where you want them, when you want them. Clearing and reorganizing your dekstop is an incredibly cathartic experience and will leave you with more peace of mind. Have fun with it — maybe use a grid wallpaper to organize icons precisely before switching back to your usual background.
2. Cut out the unnecessary
Run disk cleanup. It will free up space on your hard drive and improve the performance of your computer. Picture your PC as a hiker with a heavy backpack — you can help him move faster by unloading all the unnecessary junk you've accumulated — temporary files, duplicate files, downloads — as well as the crapware and trialware that came installed on your machine.
Continue reading to see the final three tips to speed up your PC >>
