Free Downloadable Things to Make a Computer Faster
There comes a time in the lifespan of every computer when the user notices that his once-speedy machine has become rather sluggish. Many would have you believe that hundreds of dollars must be paid to have a "professional" clean out your PC; the truth is that with some free, simple software, you can easily make your computer run like new again.
Spyware and Viruses
1. The No. 1 cause for computer problems is an infestation of spyware and viruses. These nasty bits of code dig deep into the computer's main systems and slow everything down. As always, the best offense against spyware and viruses is a good defense. Do not give them the chance to infect your machine. Even if you do not currently have viruses or spyware, it is a good idea to follow these steps regardless.
To get rid of viruses, you will need a good antivirus program. Large software companies make millions of dollars each year by forcing users to pay for their software, but there are several free antivirus programs that will work just as well as any paid option. The two most popular programs are Avast and AVG (see "References," below). Both programs will locate and destroy any viruses on your machine.
Next, you will need to get rid of any spyware on your machine. Spyware differs from viruses in that it exists solely to gather information about you and your computing habits. This is both detrimental to your computer and a major invasion of your privacy. One of the best methods of dealing with spyware is to use Microsoft Defender (see "Resources," below). Because the program is released by Microsoft, it has the ability to dig deeper into the operating system to find and destroy spyware.
Duplicate Files
2. As files begin to accumulate on your hard drive, they become disorganized. As such, the computer takes longer to access each file because part of the file is located on one part of the hard drive, while another part is located in a different section. This is called fragmentation. Windows has a defragmentation program built into the operating system. Be sure to use this before ridding yourself of duplicate files. The process will be much cleaner with an unfragmented hard drive.
In vast media libraries, you may have inadvertently copied a song, photo or even a movie. Over time, these needless files take up large amounts of space and can cause the computer to slow down. You could manually search for each and every duplicate, but a much simpler way is it to use a free program called Easy Duplicate File Finder (see "Resources," below). The software will scan your hard drive and give you a list of any files that are identical. You can then choose to delete those files and free up valuable hard drive space.
Tune-Up
3. After deleting duplicate files and ridding your machine of spyware and viruses, you can speed up your computer with the popular tune-up software Advanced SystemCare Free (see "Resources," below). This program will give you access to a plethora of options designed to speed up your machine. You can limit the number of programs that start up with the computer and the visual effects of the operating system. Advanced SystemCare will also purge your Internet cache and temporary files, making your browsing experience much more enjoyable.
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