How to Make Windows Faster
- 1). Look at the programs that are running in the background. An excessive number of opened programs will hog memory resources, subsequently resulting in a sluggish or unresponsive machine. The taskbar, located in the lower right corner of the computer screen, will show icons of active programs running in the background. Right-click on these icons and click on "Close" or "Disable".
- 2). Run Windows Update. Windows Update will download and install proper drives and programs that will ensure proper communication of computer components. You will need Internet Explorer to run these updates. All Window operating systems will have a version of Internet Explorer installed.
- 3). Disable visual effects. Visual effects like shadows and themed backgrounds tend to take up memory resources. By disabling these visual effects, your computer will have memory to run more smoothly. Right-click on an open area on your desktop and select "Properties". Click on the "Appearance" tab. Under "Windows and Buttons," select "Windows Classic Style."
- 4). Defragment your hard drive on a regular basis. As your computer ages, various files become scattered on your hard drive, subsequently resulting in a sluggish computer. Click on "Start." Select "All Programs," "Accessories," then "System Tools." Select the "Disk Defragmenter" to start the process. Click on "Defragment" and wait for the tool to re-align computer files.
- 5). Run a virus scan. Computer viruses hijack computer memory. By removing these viruses, you will allow your computer to run faster. Run your antivirus program and select "Run System Scan." Depending on the number of files on your computer, you will have to wait a few minutes or up to a few hours for the virus scan to complete. Allow the program to detect and remove infectious files.
Source...