Many computer users experience slowdowns over time with any desktop PC. Unfortunately, as a computer gets slower, many of these users decide that it is time to purchase a new PC, but with just a few simple steps, it may be possible to regain much of this lost performance and speed, making your PC more enjoyable to use. Here are a few steps you can try to speed up your desktop PC.

The main cause of a computer slowing down over time is the amount of software installed on it. Many of the programs in your computer may be running in the background, consuming resources. Go to Control Panel, then Add/Remove Programs to see if there are any unused programs that can be uninstalled.

Viruses, spyware, and other malware can often cause a computer to run much slower. If you have antivirus installed, make sure it is up-to-date and then do a full scan of your PC, removing any malware it finds. There are many good free antivirus programs such as AVG antivirus available if you do not already have one installed. Many programs start automatically whether they need to or not. Check the Startup folder in your Start menu and remove any unnecessary programs. Also, you can right-click any programs in your taskbar and look for a setting to disable automatic startup. Remember that you can always open these programs manually when you actually need them.

If your desktop PC can support more RAM than it currently has installed, it is a good idea to upgrade the RAM to the maximum amount. This can have a significant impact on performance, as it allows more programs to be run at once with less slowdown. You can find out maximum amount of memory your computer holds by contacting a parts locator service. Defragging a hard drive will often not have a significant impact on performance, but a computer that has been in operation for a long time can sometimes have a very fragmented hard drive, which can hinder performance. Use the Windows defrag tool every few months or set it to run automatically for a little better disk performance.

If you try all of the steps above you should notice increased performance from your desktop PC. It may just be enough to save you from a costly upgrade or new computer purchase.