Often as our computers get older and we have more and more documents, files, and programs running our PC can become slow and frustrating to start-up and to use. There are, however, some easy and quick ways that you can speed up your computer’s functions fast, and here are three things that you can do now to make your computer friendlier to use!

Manage Start-Up Items to boost Bootup

Every time you boot up your PC there are a number of programs and files that is starts up along with your operating system. This includes essential programs that are required to run your computer, but also includes programs such as your antivirus software, email or messenger programs and windows sidebar, for example. If you have too many unnecessary programs set to run at start-up the time it takes to get your PC booted can be frustrating. Eliminating these programs can dramatically decrease the start up time of your PC.

The best way to manage your Start-Up Programs is by using the Windows MSCONFIG function. Here is how you can easily eliminate unnecessary start up programs.

• Click Start > Click Run

• Type MSCONFIG into the text field.

• A new window will pop-up > from the tabs at the top, select Start Up.

• This will give you a list of all the programs that run when your PC is started. Unclick all the programs that you do not need running all the time. Click OK.

Microsoft provides you this list as a way of letting you dictate your computer's boot behavior.  Don't worry!  None of the programs listed here are essential; they're only those that have been set up as conveniences.  Since you may not want the so-called convenience of every program starting when your PC does, you can literally de-select every item in the list without risking harm to your computer.  To re-enable any given program, simply repeat the steps above.

• Once you've made your selection, clik OK

Your computer will ask to re-boot and when it does, it will pop up an alert reminding you that you've changed start-up preferences. Simply click the button that says: don't show this alert again and Windows won't bother you with it unless you make further changes. 

Uninstall Unnecessary Programs to boost Referencing

Another easy way to speed up your computer is to uninstall programs that you never use and are unnecessary to the function of your PC.

1. Click Start
2. Control Panel
3. Add or Remove Programs
4. (in Vista or Win 7 > Programs Category > Uninstall Programs)

From here you can select programs that you don’t use by clicking them and selecting the uninstall button. Again, if you are not sure what something is don’t uninstall it, and always look up a program before uninstalling it to make sure.

Run A Windows Disk Cleanup to minimize Errors

A final step you can take to help make your computer run faster, crash less and boot faster is to do a disk clean up.

1. Click Start
2. All Programs
3. Accessories
4. Systems Tools
5. Disk Clean Up

From here you can select whether you want to clean up all the files on your computer or your files only.

With these simple tips you can reduce the amount of your hard drive that is being used by unnecessary files and programs, and will make your computer run faster and more efficiently!