Simple Everyday Computer Tips
To kick off the New Year we thought we’d introduce a series of everyday computer tips to help take away some of the headaches of owning and using a computer.
The first one in the series looks at the problem of a slow computer.
If there are any specific IT or computer problems you’d like us to include in this series, drop us a line and we’ll see what we can come up with.
Your Operating System (Windows) is a like a soup! A thick minestrone.
One of the most common complaints people make about their computer is that it’s slow. If your computer is over a year old it will start to slow down, but it doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with it and you can speed it up again – a bit anyway!
Windows (whatever version you are on XP, 7, 8 or 10) is very much like soup. When you make a soup you throw in lots of tasty things. If you take out all the big lumps of carrot some of the flavour will still remain. You can’t get rid of it completely just by taking out the lumps, there will always be a residue.
Think of software as the lumpy bits in your soup.
Every piece of software on your computer can be considered a big lump. Google toolbars, those free trials of things, Microsoft Office, process monitors and the software you download that promises to help speed things up for you. You can uninstall the big lumps but remnants of them will always remain in super techie secret places on your computer.
All of that software takes up space and time that your computer could be using for something else. Windows updates aside (which are annoying but do help keep you safe from the big bad internet) before installing something new ask yourself, do I really need it?
Steer clear of the clutter you really need.
Software (like toolbars) also manage to creep onto your PC without you noticing. For example when Adobe Reader tells you it needs to update itself don’t just blindly click next, check to see whether or not it’s offering you a free Google toolbar – you can untick that bit and reduce the amount of salt in your soup.
Before you throw it down the sink try these tips.
What if prevention wasn’t enough and now your soup is more leek and potato than bisque?
- Remove unwanted software through Add/Remove Programs
- Check how much diskspace you have – do you need a de-clutter?
- Is everything up-to-date, Windows and software updates?
Obviously uninstalling the big lumps will help, but there is more we can do to help – please get in touch with us or drop your computer in for a bit of TLC!