A slow laptop is a problem many face at some point of time or another. Thankfully, it can be easy to fix.
Here are 6 great tips to speed up your old laptop.
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 to a solid state driver. If you want your computer to run faster consider upgrading to a solid-state driver (or SSD for short). With modern computers, jumping on the SSD bandwagon is pretty straightforward. You can do so without reinstalling the operating system.
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 reduced 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.
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 launch 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 Driver Updater. The tool will scan your laptop and update all the outdated drivers.
Outdated drivers can cause serious problems with your PC. With Driver Updater keeping your drivers up to date is very easy. With just a few clicks, you can update all your drivers. A free trial of this Driver Update Tool means you can give it a try without a worry.
Automatic driver update tools offer many benefits, the most important ones being:
- You can update device drivers automatically
- The software scans and updates all outdated or missing drivers at one go
- The tool picks the right drivers for your device and operating system, so you won’t have to worry about installing an incorrect driver by mistake
- Automatic driver updates are 100% safe
Driver Updater is one of the best driver update tools out there. Outbyte Driver Updater will give you access to a database of over 1 million drivers. It will regularly scan your PC, suggesting new driver versions to install. Driver Updater contains drivers for a variety of Windows devices. With just one click, you can update drivers in your system.
Step 1
Click here to Install and launch the app
Step 2
Scan all devices
Step 3
Install or update drivers automatically
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