Although Windows is made to be a multitasking operating system, it doesn’t mean that you should leave open applications or documents that you are not using as this will cause active programs to be deprived of valuable memory. Therefore, if you found that your computer is slowing down, close down those idle applications/documents.

Go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmentation

Empty the Prefetch cache from time to time (say twice a month)
Go to Start > Run > Type in Prefetch > Delete all the files found there.

Limiting Autostarts In The Background

If you look at the system tray (bottom right corner of your desktop), you’ll notice that it’s chocked full with lots of icons. These are actually programs (such as firewall, antivirus, QuickTime, iTunes, RealPlayer, WinAmp) that automatically run when you start your computer. As a result, they slow down the boot up process.

To solve this problem,
Go to Start > Run > Type in msconfig > Startup tab

Once there, you see a list, look it over and see which has a check mark. If something is checked, but you don’t know what it is, Google it and find out. Uncheck everything that you don’t want start up. However, keep your firewall, antivirus, broadband drivers, graphics drivers, whatever that you absolutely have to have.

Once you are done, click Apply > Close > And Restart to reboot.

When your computer starts up, you’ll get a grey box, check the button for “Don’t show this message or launch the System Configuration Utility when Windows start” then click OK.

Clean Up The Registry & All Unwanted Stuff

One of my favorite softwares that I found indispensable is CCleaner. It helps to clean up the computer’s registry, temporary internet files, cookies, history among many others - all of which will cause the computer to get slower and slower. Likewise, any unnecessary programs you have on your hard drive will also slow down your computer. Therefore, It is also advisable to uninstall them.

Just download CCleaner from www.ccleaner.com and then install it.

1. To remove the unwanted files/cookies,

a) Click on the ‘Cleaner’ button,

b) Then click “Run Cleaner” button;

2. To clean up the registry just click the ‘Registry’ button,

a) Click “Scan for Issues”

b) Next click “Fix selected issues”

c) Click Yes > Save > “Fix selected issues” > OK > Close

3. To remove unwanted software,

a) Click on the ‘Tools’ button

b) Select the program you want to uninstall

c) Click “Run Uninstaller”

d) Follow instructions given