A slow laptop is a problem many face at some point of time or another. Thankfully, it is easy to fix—and we will show you how to transform your slow-as-snail laptop into a fast and snappy beast that it used to be earlier.

Here are 6 DIY tips to make your old laptop running faster than a cat on the mouse.

Tip 1 – Update To Solid State Driver

No talk about PC maintenance can be complete if it doesn’t touch upon the importance of updating your device drivers. If you want your computer to run faster than a wink of an eye, consider upgrading to a solid-state driver (or SSD for short). With modern computers, jumping on the SSD bandwagon is pretty easy and straightforward. You can do so without reinstalling the operating system.

In case your drivers are outdated or corrupted, there is a strong possibility that some devices might not work properly or might not work at all. For optimal hardware performance, it is vital that you regularly update the device drivers. The device manager, an in-built tool for updating drivers in Windows, can be used for this purpose.

Tip 2 – Free Up Space on the Hard Drive

One of the quickest ways to boost your laptop’s performance is to free up hard drive space. If your hard drive is over-cluttered, it will invariably slow your laptop’s performance. First, identify and remove those programs that you do not use and that are taking up a big chunk of hard disk space individually. Next, remove smaller files. By removing programs you do not use, you would be able to free up a lot of space, which in turn will help boost your computer’s performance.

Tip 3 – Remove Unnecessary Files

Your hard drive will likely work at its top speed till it reaches roughly 90% capacity. So if your computer has reached more than 90% capacity, its performance will likely take a hit.

Browse through your files to identify and remove those which you never use. Also consider the Disk Cleanup utility, which can remove junk files like temporary files and previous Windows installations.

It is possible that you may not be able to remove large files because you use them. In that case, investing in a sizeable external storage device is recommended.

Tip 4 – Memory Upgrade

You can clear memory only up to a certain extent. However, eventually disk space will prove insufficient to hold all your files. When you reach this point, you will have two choices: (1) buy a new laptop or (2) add a new drive to increase the storage space.

The second option is more cost-effective. It also may be the right choice for those who want to continue using their old laptop.

Tip 5 – Scan for Malware and Viruses

Malware and viruses can cause all sorts of problems, including lack of performance. Scan your entire system using a reliable antivirus software. Before running a deep scan, make sure your protective software is up-to-date.

Tip 6 – Uninstall Unwanted Windows Programs

It’s easy to hoard programs and apps thinking you might need them later, but doing so is never a good approach. Keeping programs which you are not required can cause your laptop to work at a less-than-optimal speed because these programs use precious processing power and disk space. What is more, many programs run quietly in background even if you are not using them.

Go through all the programs and applications installed on your system to identify those which you do not require. Then, uninstall them permanently. You can always download these programs later if you ever need them.

Tip 7 – Preventing Programs from Running at Startup

Although many programs are designed in such a way that they launch themselves automatically when Windows boots up, you may not require all of them to start automatically. Having too many apps running at startup can significantly increase the time Windows takes to start.

Which brings us to the important question – how do you decide which programs should run at startup and which not?

Essential programs, like your antivirus tool, needs to start at startup. However, having a non-essential program, like a music app, start at launch doesn’t make much sense. Preventing all non-essential programs from launching themselves at startup can speed up the boot process.

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to access Task Manager. Now, click Startup. You will see all the programs that are currently starting with Windows. Remove those that you think are not necessary.

Tip 8 – Update Your Device Drivers

If you want a no-fuss approach to updating device drivers, use DriverDownloader. The tool will scan your laptop and update all the outdated drivers in a jiffy. The tool is free to download, install, and run, but you will need to register to get automatic driver updates. That said, the best part is that the software comes with a no-questions-asked, 30-day money back guarantee, meaning you can give the software a try without any worry. Registered users also enjoy customer support, which is an added bonus as you can get immediate help if you face any issue with the software.

Here is the link to download DriverDownloader

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