Being a computer person makes you kind of twitchy. You want things to happen fast. Systems must boot up quickly. Programmes should load in a flash. Nothing irks you like the waiting. On the other hand, many people endure needless sluggishness from their computers when a few simple maintenance tips would greatly improve their system’s performance. Here they are.

Delete what you don’t need

Remember that 6GB guitar instruction course you installed in 2008 and haven’t used since? It’s taking up valuable space and forcing your computer to work harder (hence slower). Many hard drives are bloated with unnecessary, unwanted and unknown data that hurts performance. You should perform regular disk cleanups, either through your operating system’s cleaner or one of the many free programmes available at trustworthy sites like Download.com.

Defragging

Sounds nice, eh? Over time the data in your systems files become scattered over several sectors. Carrying out a regular disk defragmentation helps speed up access to data. Experts recommend running a defrag at least once a month. Again, your OS has a defragmentation programme and there are many others available online.

Fix the disk

Regular use can cause your hard drive to develop bad sectors. Bad sectors can slow down your system and hurt file integrity. Routine (once a week) checks and fixes for disk errors will help keep your hard drive healthy. Your OS has an error checker and… you know the rest.

Scan for adware and spyware

If you regularly use the Internet and have never scanned your computer for adware or spyware you are in for a big surprise. Most web surfers have hundreds of infections taxing their systems, from pop-up ads to information collectors on their browsing habits. Apart from being a resource drain on your systems, spyware in particular is very dangerous and can lead to identity theft or other misuses of your sensitive information. Thankfully a whole anti-spyware industry has sprung up and there are many top quality anti-spyware programmes available online for free like Ad Aware and Spyware Doctor. Regular ad and spyware scans and cleanings are essential for your system. Do not neglect this.

You’ll notice that all these applications are available either through your computer’s OS or online at software sites like Download.com. Most of them are either free or come with a free trial. Improving your system’s speed isn’t expensive or complicated, which should make doing it a no-brainer, even for those who aren’t speed freaks.