Tips for Speeding Up Your PC

Not everyone is lucky enough to have a fully dedicated machine for streaming their feed; most webcam models only have one computer. On occasion, these home machines can become slow and bogged down from everyday use. Luckily, there are many things you can do to speed up your PC without buying special software or paying a techie to fix it for you! Give your machine a breath of fresh air and consider the following tips. Your computer, feed, and clients may just thank you for it!

1. Turn Off Startup Programs

Scenario:
You’re home alone on a windy night, and a particularly big spender enters the room. You laugh, flirt, and smile. He tips! Oh my, he tips a LOT! Then BAM! Power surge. (You did have your computer plugged into a surge protector, right?) The lights flicker momentarily, and your machine goes dark. Oh no! Quick! Turn it back on! But it feels like ages for your machine to start up — five, ten, fifteen minutes pass before you’re finally logged in. By the time you start up your feed, your big spender has already deserted your room. You took too long.

This scenario can easily be avoided by minimizing your startup processes. Every program developer wants to believe their software is essential and must launch at startup. While well-intentioned, these programs can really slow you down. Let’s fix that!

Steps:

1. Open the Startup Programs Manager

   • Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
   • Type msconfig and press Enter.

2. Navigate to the Startup Tab

   • You’ll see a list of programs that start when your computer boots up. Deselect any unnecessary programs. (Don’t worry — this doesn’t uninstall them; it just stops them from starting automatically.)

3. Restart Your Computer

   • Apply your changes and restart your PC to see faster boot times.

Note: Be cautious when using the msconfig utility. It can configure other settings beyond startup programs, so make changes carefully.

2. Clean Up Your Files

Is your computer feeling sluggish? It may be weighed down by unnecessary system files like logs and cached data. Cleaning them up is simple with the built-in Disk Cleanup tool.

Steps:

1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type cleanmgr and press Enter.
3. Select your C: drive when prompted.
4. Review the list of file categories and select the ones you wish to clean.
   (Tip: Double-check your Recycle Bin before deleting its contents.)
5. Click OK to delete the selected files.

Pro Tip: Run Disk Cleanup once a month to keep your system in top shape.

3. Defragment Your Hard Drive

For older computers, defragmenting can significantly improve performance. Modern operating systems like Windows 10 handle defragmentation automatically, but if you’re using Windows XP, here’s how to do it manually:

Steps:

1. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type defrag and press Enter.
3. Select your C: drive and click Defragment Disk.

Defragmentation can take an hour or more, so it’s best to run it overnight.

4. Protect Your PC: Spyware and Antivirus Tools

Spyware, malware, and other harmful software can wreak havoc on your PC. A reliable tool like Malwarebytes Anti-Malware can save the day.

Steps:

1. Download Malwarebytes from this link.
2. Install the program and follow the default setup instructions.
3. Open the program and select Perform Full Scan.
   (Note: A full scan can take over an hour.)
4. Once the scan is complete, review the results and remove any flagged items.

If prompted to restart your PC, do so immediately.

5. Check Background Processes with Task Manager

Background processes from previously closed applications can still linger, using up valuable resources. To stop them:

Steps:

1. Right-click the taskbar and select Task Manager.
2. Go to the Processes tab.
3. Look for applications you recognize (e.g., Skype, iTunes).
4. Right-click on the process and select End Task to stop it.

Tip: If you’re unsure about a process, search its name online for more information.