Keeping Your Old Computer Running Longer
In light of the current economic conditions, many people are trying to save money by not making large purchases such as a new computer. Fortunately, technology isn’t advancing as quickly as it once did, so it is possible to keep computers for quite some time. Today I will share some tips on how to get the most performance out of any computer new or old.
The first step to performance enhancement is to only run the programs that you are using. This may seem obvious, but most computers start a number of programs automatically. For this reason, and to save disk space, it is recommended that you delete any programs that you no longer use via the control panel. If you only use a program rarely, you may want to examine the program options to see if it is possible for it not to start on computer startup.
Another way to make a computer run more quickly is to use a different program to accomplish a certain task. For example, anti-virus programs vary greatly in the amount of system resources they use. Uninstalling antivirus protection is not recommended, however using a different program may result in a quicker system. I currently recommend Windows Live One Care from Microsoft. Unfortunately, this product is being discontinued soon, so I would only recommend downloading the 90 day trial at this point.
An easy way to get more performance from your hard drive is to run the Windows Defragmentation utility. This program rearranges the way files are stored on the hard drive so they can be accessed more quickly by the computer.
A final way to speed up an old computer that will cost a small amount of money is to add more memory. The cost of memory has come down significantly in recent years so most users should be able to upgrade memory for under $100. As far as cost vs. return, this is the best option for most users looking to upgrade their computer.
If you have any questions or would like assistance performing these tasks, feel free to contact me any time. I’ll be glad to help.