A computer must be used to its fullest potential, one must never save oneself, within technical limits, in installing and using programs. The problem, as already explained many times, is that over time the PC becomes slower and slower and this is truly inevitable.
The causes of a slow computer depend, on the one hand to the filling of the data memory, on the other from the fact that the programs are always renewed and become heavier and much more so as to be extremely slow on older PCs.
If for the second problem nothing can be done but to change some parts of the computer to update it and give it new life, for the first, that of the data that fills the slow PC, you can do a cleaning every now and then, getting rid of all that no longer needed.
Below we see 5 basic operations to do to fix a slow computer and clean it from useless .
1) Disk cleaning
Windows has an internal disk cleanup tool that can be accessed in several ways.
It is found in Windows Explorer, by right clicking on the icon of a disk, the C :, going to the properties, in the general tab.
You can also start an advanced and more complete disk cleanup with a special command to be launched from the Run box ( % SystemRoot% \ System32 \ Cmd.exe / c Cleanmgr / sageset: 1 ).
You can click on System files to expand your choice.
By default, the Disk Cleanup tool erases temporary files, Internet Explorer browser data, Windows Update cleanup which can also recover 4 GB of disk space and even the Windows.old folder if it is no longer needed.
The More Options tab allows you to delete recovery points to free up space, and to access the Programs and Features utility to uninstall programs and remove Windows components.
2) CCleaner
If you want to do more and, in certain cases, you need to do more, not so much to free up disk space as to get rid of the ballast that can make your PC slower than normal, you can use the Ccleaner program.
Ccleaner can be downloaded for free to clean system files, temporary files, browser cache etc. everything at once.
CCleaner also has a registry cleaner that works well, without miracles, but without doing damage.
In another article, the guide on Ccleaner's hidden tricks and features
3) Uninstall unnecessary programs
A basic operation that will bring certain benefits is to uninstall all the programs that you never use.
In particular, it is better to get rid of the programs that were pre-installed in Windows, present since the time of purchase, which are never served.
There are programs like PC Decrapifier to remove unnecessary programs and crapware from your computer automatically and quickly.
Otherwise you can go to the Control Panel and open the tool to uninstall the programs ( Programs and Features ).
In Windows 8, store applications that are not used are also worth removing.
4) Check for large files on the disk
The large files on the disk can be a problem because, if the disk is almost full, the files become fragmented in various areas becoming slower to read.
To check and delete large files you can use a program like WinDirStat which is one of the tools to see the space occupied by each folder and file on the disk in a visual and graphic way.
After removing the larger files, it is worth seeing if you can defragment the disk.
5) Startup management
On Windows 8 and 8.1 you can use the Task Manager to disable programs that start automatically and that occupy memory in a stable way.
In Windows 7 or earlier versions of Windows you can use the Tools> Start in CCleaner to do the same.
Be careful not to disable useful or indispensable programs for the operation of external devices such as the printer.
Many Windows programs add to the automatic startup without it being necessary and, in the long run, they bog down the system.
6) Clean browsers from adware and toolbars
Even if it is not a virus, it is worth every now and then to scan with the ADWcleaner program to delete any toolbar or browser extension that has been installed as sponsored software.
These are often the primary culprits for computer slowdowns.
This is somewhat the basis of computer maintenance which, as explained, can also be more precise and thorough.
READ ALSO: 8 ways to free up disk space
