The end of the year is nearing and usually that means a lot of work needs to get done so we can enjoy the holidays. Nothing is more annoying when you’re in the zone than a computer that simply can’t keep up with you. Computers often freeze or crash when you need them the most; in the middle of an important presentation, a document that needed to be emailed 10 minutes ago, or while installing your latest software. Computer Doctors of South Florida would like to provide you with a few tips to improve performance and keep your PC running smoothly.
* Backup - Ok, this isn’t a performance tip. However, before you do ANYTHING on your computer, make sure you have a good backup in case something happens.
* Virus/Malware Scan Program – An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Make sure you have protection so spyware and viruses don’t rob you of performance. Trojans and other types of spyware often run completely hidden…their only symptom is a pc that performs slow. We recommend Spyware Doctor with Antivirus or Trend Micro (learn more).
* Keep your computer tidy – Hard drives have TONS of capacity nowadays. But did you know that the speed of hard drives have not gone up very much? In fact, if your hard drive is more than 50% full, it will slow down because it has to search through more stuff to find the file you need. What to do? Delete programs you don’t need any more (Control Panel->Programs and features), move pictures and movies to an external drive, and defragment your hard disk.
* Don’t install trial programs unless you are actually interested in them – You’d think that if you uninstall, everything would be exactly the same. Well, it’s not. Some programs don’t uninstall completely. Even if they do, Windows (Vista and higher) caches ALL dlls in the “Windows Side by Side” directory. You can lose lots of space there. Wasted space makes your hard drive slower.
* Do you need more RAM? Techs will often say “Add more RAM” before diagnosing the issues. So check it yourself. While you’re using your computer during the day, press Ctrl + Shift + Esc (Windows only). A program called Task manager will open up. Go to the performance tab. If the memory graph is above 75%, you should see about getting more RAM. Otherwise, performance issues are due to some other culprit.
* When in doubt, start over. This means format your PC back to factory and reinstall everything. This is not for the faint of heart and definitely only a last resort. After reformatting, the PC will run like it was brand new. This process is best left to a technician to do (such as Computer Doctors of South Florida ;) ). Unlike many other places, we only charge a flat rate for this service when done at our shop. If your PC is less than 3 years old and you don’t feel like spending $500+ for a new PC, this is a good option to look at.
Troubleshooting your PC’s problems does not have to drain your wallet nor does it always require technical expertise. Common sense and the use of a few software programs can prevent a lot of problems and you will find that your PC is more efficient and reliable.