1. Close Unnecessary Background Programs: Check which programs are running in the background, and close any that are not necessary for your current task. Some unnecessary programs may run automatically at startup, and can be disabled through the Task Manager.
2. Test for Malware and Viruses: Run a full scan of your computer with an up-to-date antivirus program to ensure that malware and other malicious programs are not slowing down your system.
3. Update Drivers: Outdated drivers can also cause performance issues and even system crashes. Use your device manager to check if any of your hardware needs a driver update.
4. Defragment Your Hard Drive: A fragmented hard drive increases access times and slows down your computer overall. Defragment it periodically to speed up load times.
5. Upgrade Your Hardware: If all else fails, upgrading your hardware can give your computer a significant performance boost. Consider adding more RAM and a faster hard drive or solid state drive (SSD).